WARREN SCHOOLS Butler program paints art in whole new light

Last year, the pupils prepared reports about artwork for their parents.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Keith King and Hayden Smith, both sixth-graders at Warren Western Reserve Middle School, demonstrated their artistic acumen, informing their younger peers about a painting displayed in the Butler Institute of American art.
Keith, 11, and Hayden, 12, were among about 30 Reserve pupils participating Thursday in the Butler Art Program. The pupils acted as docents for third-graders from McKinley Elementary, also in Warren.
The boys picked "New Castle on the Delaware," an 1856 painting by Edward Moran, to educate the younger children. The stormy seascape depicts a ship and its cargo being tossed about on turbulent waters.
"It's interesting and shows a lot of action," said Hayden of their choice.
"It really catches your eye," Keith added.
This marks the second year of the program at the Butler. At last year's, pupils presented a report about an artwork to their parents.
Program developers
William Young, a Reserve art teacher, developed the program with Carol O'Brien, Butler educational coordinator, schools Superintendent Betty J. English and Ruth Zitnik, Reserve principal.
"I'm really into peer teaching," Young said.
He contacted Judy Sullivan, art teacher at McKinley, and the idea of pupils' teaching pupils was born.
O'Brien and museum volunteers visited Reserve five times, and the pupils have spent each Thursday since December researching art and preparing their presentations.
McKinley third-graders Justin Cruz, 10, and Chance Harper, 9, took turns shooting their hands into the air to answer questions about the painting posed by Keith and Hayden.
"If you could pick anywhere in the painting, where would you be?" queried Keith.
"I'd be up in there," said Justin, pointing to a tower on dry land, overlooking the scene.
Pastel on paper
Reserve fifth-graders Ashely Cool, 12, and Shaniqua Crenshaw, 11, picked "Agatha and Her Child" by Mary Cassatt as their piece. The pastel on paper shows a mother holding an infant.
"We thought it would be neat to pick something by Mary Cassatt," Shaniqua said.
"Plus we thought it looked cute," Ashely said.
The program's aim is to teach the middle school pupils about art and public speaking and to provide some elementary children with what may be their a first trip to a museum, the teacher said.
"It's a free museum, but a lot of parents work many jobs or the kids don't have transportation," Young said. "If I can play a part in giving them that opportunity, it's a joy for me to do that."
denise_dick@vindy.com