Mrs. Claus delivers early gift to kids in Niles

By Sean Barron

The Art Outreach Gallery in Eastwood Mall hosted the two-hour gathering.

NILES — You could probably sum up Maria and Nathaniel Leskovec’s day at Eastwood Mall on Sunday by the numbers: They went on one outing, appeared in at least three pictures, and met Santa and Mrs. Claus five days before Christmas.

“It was exciting to meet Mrs. Claus,” said 9-year-old Nathaniel, of Girard. “She’s a very good storyteller and a very nice lady.”

Nathaniel, his sister, Maria, 8, and their 1-year-old brother, Isaac, were at the mall Sunday to spend part of their day with Mrs. Claus, who read to and appeared in pictures with them during a two-hour gathering hosted by the Art Outreach Gallery.

Many children of all ages and their parents came to the gallery to meet Mrs. Claus, who brought an estimated 30 books, many of which contained Christmas or winter themes and messages. Most youngsters also took delight in seeing themselves and Mrs. Claus in the same photos.

Her selection included the famous “Frosty the Snowman” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas,“ as well as a book about Kwanzaa. Also in the mix was “Stranger in the Woods,” a photographic fantasy by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick that tells the story of two children on an adventure in the woods who come across and befriend a snowman. One of its main themes is that someone who is assumed to be a stranger can turn out to be anything but.

Other books featured pop-up illustrations that have educational purposes, Mrs. Claus noted.

Beforehand, Nathaniel said, he got to meet Santa Claus, who made an appearance in another part of the concourse.

“She was funny,” Maria said of Mrs. Claus’s animated storytelling ways.

Both children said they plan to write a note to Santa Claus just before Christmas thanking him for all of the gifts they’ve received as well as what they hope to get this year. A kitten is a top priority for Maria, she said.

“This [event] is awesome,” added their mother, Tammy Cornell-Leskovec, who also came with her mother-in-law, Dolly, and sister-in-law, Lisa.

The three siblings sat next to Mrs. Claus and heard the popular “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” After that, she pulled out the book with her namesake: “Mrs. Santa Claus.”

“I love the children just to look at their eyes, and they’ll ask, ‘Are you the real Mrs. Claus?’” she explained.

During a typical appearance, some youngsters state what they would like for Christmas; others want to know if she will forward their requests to her husband, Mrs. Claus continued, adding that part of her reading style includes stopping at certain points and asking her young audiences questions related to the story.

Even though the event was free, her appearance also was a fund-raising effort for the Art Outreach Gallery, noted Esther Gartland, a board member. Pictures of the children with Mrs. Claus were printed for the families, who were encouraged to make a donation, Gartland said.

The gallery opened Nov. 24, 2006, at the mall and hosted eight shows in its first 11 months, she continued. Since then, more than 4,000 students in kindergarten through grade 12 from about 32 area schools have exhibited their works, which included photography, paintings and drawings.

In addition, more than 100 local artists have shown about 660 works, most of which are for sale, in the main galleries. The exhibits are in partnership with the artists, who give back by volunteering for the gallery via teaching, hanging works of art and other means.

The AOG also has hosted robotics and drama performances, poetry readings, solo guitarists and pianists, and musical groups.