Preschoolers get artistic as part of Longview Museum of Fine Arts project

Michael Cavazos/News-Journal PhotoJosiah Clough was excited to share his knowledge of shapes as he used the figures to design a sculpture Wednesday at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts. Josiah, 3, made a project inspired by blown glass sculptures using coffee filters, washable markers and spray starch. “(I’m writing) my name (on) my paper thing. … (I drew) a zig-zag, my shapes, my pentagon, my oval,” Josiah said. “I write my name in it like this: ‘J-O-S-I-A-H.’ “ The class is part of Art Days, a collaboration between LMFA’s ArtWorks department and the Asbury House Child Enrichment Center, said Pilar McLemore, museum art education director. She said each class of 3- to 5-year-olds will have the opportunity to walk from the nearby preschool and create a different art project that will be displayed at the museum in February. “It’s really great because it’s part of our mission here in ArtWorks to have outreach into the community, and this is just one of the projects that we do to try to support our community and say, ‘We appreciate you. We love your mission.’ It’s great to do these collaborative things together,” McLemore said. Laylanie Turrubiartes , 4, said her mother’s favorite color is pink, so she made sure there was enough of that color on her sculpture. There also was a splash of blue, which is her favorite color, Laylanie said. To sum up her creation, she said, “It’s a rainbow.” High school students from Trinity School of Texas escorted the children to the museum. The preschoolers call the Trinity students their “big buddies,” said Asbury House Executive Director Melissa Miller. Trinity junior Dillon Taylor said it’s his second year volunteering as a big buddy, adding that he tries to get to know Asbury House students by talking with them on their walks. “I thought it would be a good time to help with the community and help the kids,” he said.