February 22,2022
Children’s Art Foundation on
How to create joy!
Photos by Dieter Storr
& Hannah McCurley
After two long years of lockdown the young children of San Miguel are so eager to start their favorite learning subject again: painting and writing stories. They giggled and laughed behind their masks while drawing and are so happy to be outdoors in the courtyard creating their beautiful artwork.
Their classes are part of the Literacy Through Art program, the unique education program designed for local children to experience moments of joy in their otherwise hard dull lives.
In February the CAF foundation reopened its art program in five full communities. Plus a new program in Los Galvanes, a community near Las Labradores taught by their favourite teachers: Dieter and Michelle.
All Classes are outdoors, with teachers and students wearing masks.
Artwork from the children of Los Galvanes
An outdoor art class with maestro Dieter Storr
Betty Ann of Amistad Canada visiting an art class at escuela Ignacio Allende (before Covid)
The Children’s Art Foundation was founded in 2010 and over ten years in action it has helped thousands of children from age 6 to 12, to gain self confidence and to look at a brighter future. Many young students of CAF art program are now learning a profession at university, becoming great craftsmen or artists. The success of the CAF program is attributed to the dedicated volunteers, donors, a great partnership with Amistad Canada and thanks to some major figures in the art of San Miguel: Michael Hoppe, a world class composer who gave six annual benefit concerts to a packed theatre;Toller Cranston estate and many notable artists in the Fabrica La Aurora.
In the words of CAF founder, Hannah McCurley:
Everyday Toller asked me about the children’s art program in the far flung villages where we taught little children age 6 to 12 drawing and painting. Then one day Toller said:
“I can help you with your foundation!
I don’t want to be on the board but there are other things we can do for the kids.”
Several weeks passed before Toller said suddenly: “I know a place where we can buy ostrich eggs for the kids to paint on. Would you like to bring the children here to paint ostrich eggs?”
I was surprised!
We have 40 kids from the dump, plus our teacher and 4 volunteer parents to come along to Toller's studio on Sollano in centro. Not a problem! Toller got two long tables and had 40 ostrich eggs delivered and bought 40 sets of paints and brushes!
So we invited the school principal and 40 kids from the slump of Palo Colorado who came by bus from the dusty campo to Toller Cranston’s sparkling art studio and painted ostrich eggs. The experience left them speechless.One that inspired them for a better life and what they saw that day they will never forget.
40 Kids were invited to Toller’s studio and painted their proud ostrich eggs.
Today the Children’s Art Foundation operates in six locations:
Six SCHOOLS in San Miguel:
Escuela FRAGUA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA, Barrio San Juan De Dios .
Escuela Ignacio Allende
Escuela Nueva Senda Colonia San Luis Rey
Escuela Avenida Independencia
Escuela Community Don Diego
Community Los Galvanes (near Los Labradores) by Dieter Storr& Michelle McGowan
And is the latest campo location with an art program.
