From artists to entrepreneurs at Eastwood Mall

By Ed Runyan

The Eastwood Mall is among the few malls regionally to provide free space for an art gallery.

NILES — Kids need art to develop the entrepreneurial skills vital to today’s workplace, which means the work of the Art Outreach Committee of the Warren Junior Women’s League has more importance than just giving kids an opportunity to be creative.

“Futurists, economists speak of the importance of entrepreneurship today, the ability to create,” said Gail Stark of Warren, one of the organizers of the Art Outreach Gallery in the Eastwood Mall.

“Our committee believes we should continue to bring creativity out of everyone, but especially our children, because we know that a creative mind develops entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship drives the economy.”

With that as a backdrop, the committee organized a holiday exhibition that began Friday that consists of paintings, photography, sculpture, print making and graphic design contributed by adults and children.

The gallery, which occupies 6,800 square feet of space near J.C. Penney, is provided free to the committee by the Eastwood Mall. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Artwork can also be purchased, with proceeds in some cases going back to the gallery and other cases going directly to the artist. Read the full story today in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.