Orangeburg Preparatory School first-grader Anjali McDaniel dexterously follows a cutout outline for a little paper light shade.

Her young fingers are guided along by the encouragement of her mom, Roshan, and Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five visual arts teacher Tunisha Summers.

A dimpled smile lights up her face, revealing that at least for this 7-year-old, there is no place she would rather be on a Saturday morning than participating in "This Little Shade," a children's art workshop recently offered at South Carolina State University.

"Art is fun because you can do a lot of crafts," Anjali said. "I can build a house out of paper. I use those little Play-Doh things and mold Play-Doh and do origami. You can use a lot of colors and make the pictures look beautiful."

Mom Roshan says although more and more children now resort to computers and television for entertainment, for Anjali, artistic expression has always been a favorite.

"She loves it," Roshan said. "Art is ... an outlet where they can express their creative side. You have to nurture that, too. It is hard to find outlets for children to express themselves like that. Workshops like these are important."

The children's workshop was just one of a number of events held as part of S.C. State's Department of Visual and Performing Arts and Visual Poets Art Club's first-ever Spring Arts Festival, April 17-18.

For 9-year-old Sheridan Elementary student Loredon Mitchum, art is intellectually stimulating.

"I like art because I get to imagine my creation," he said. "I like making things out of paper. I make things like airplanes and do painting and drawings and coloring. I once made a big man on a piece of construction paper."

Mitchum says an artist needs some flexibility to exercise their genius. The workshop gave him just the outlet he needed, he says.

"I get to do whatever I want to do in my creation," he said. "In school, I have to do what the teacher says."

Mitchum's mom and Felton Laboratory School art instructor Gwendolyn Sewer says artistic expression is a cultural indicator steeped in history.

"Art is a reflection of life, and life is a work of art in progress," Sewer said. "There is always a need for art and for self-expression in some form. Children should always be allowed to express themselves, whether it is through happy feelings or something sad or traumatic. They need to have that outlet."

In addition to children's artistic opportunities, there were many activities for adults to enjoy, both indoors and out. Mother Nature also displayed some of her best brush strokes, painting a beautiful day for festivalgoers.

"Today, we are leading a learning exchange," said Ebony Golden, a facilitator for Researchers for Social Change, a program of Alternate Roots, which is designed to use art and creativity to bring about community dialog and change. The weekend's theme was "Bridging the Gap."

"Through experiencing art, through performing art, through using the creative process, we can dream and image ideas and possibilities that we would not necessarily be able to if we did not tap into our creative selves," Golden said.

Adrian Simmons, festival student coordinator and an art major, says the Spring Arts Festival was an attempt to bring more awareness of the value and importance of art to the university and the community.

"It is vaguely disappearing," Simmons said of that awareness. "I am hoping today that even by somebody coming out here ... that the next time they look at a piece of artwork, instead of passing it by ... they will take the time to notice the colors and the beauty."

A dozen vendors were also on hand selling original works of art, crafts, jewelry, natural beauty products and temporary tattoos. Additionally, performances by students, faculty, staff and community artists in music, theater and the spoken word highlighted the weekend.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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