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She grabbed a lime green fuzzy ball from a plastic bag in front of her and placed it on the spot of glue.
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Winona Parks and Recreation staff member Lydia Schlittler shows two double-hulled canoes full of St. Stanislaus and Bluffview Montessori students how to row Saturday before their Paddle for Life Regatta on Lake Winona. (photo by Katie Derus/Winona Daily News) |
She was one of dozens of kids getting hands-on art experience at the Family Art Extravaganza, which was part of Winona’s recall of the Capital for a Day celebration, which first took place May 16.
The original celebration was so well-received, the city decided to fire it up again.
The Blue Heron Committee, the same committee that organized the blue heron statue project last year, organized local artists to give workshops for families.
Bernadette Mahfood, the art fair’s project coordinator, said it was a good way to use proceeds from the blue heron project.
“We raised a lot of money,” she said. “This is a way to use the money.”
Art-loving kids sculpted, painted, drew and weaved their way around the multiple stations, set up under white tents to avoid the on-and-off rain.
“She loves to do art,” said Cranor’s mom, Kam. “This is super.”
Art wasn’t the only thing at the fair. Participants enjoyed writing poetry, making music and dancing.
Even though her favorite school subject is music, Kaia Hamilton, 6, hadn’t made her way over to make beats. Instead, she wove colored yarn around a string loom.
“I really like doing stuff with string,” she said.
Many of the kids working on art projects were waiting to watch older siblings to participate in the Paddle for Life Regatta.
Former British Olympic rowing coach David Train helped kids from St. Stanislaus and Bluffview Montessori prepare to race in their heats.
The trophy for the winner? An opportunity to sign the Paddle for Life � which Train created to spread the message of climate change � next to names such as former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
The paddle will be displayed in City Hall.
Train said he hopes to get President Bush to sign it soon.
“The most precious commodity is water,” he said, gesturing out to Lake Winona. “(The lake) could be a theater for events with mass participation.”
Train steered the double-hulled canoe for Bluffview Montessori, and Winona Parks and Recreation community service director Chad Ubl headed up St. Stan’s boat.
“Dig! Dig! Dig!” both men chanted as the boats glided across the water.
When Bluffview crossed the finish line in the first heat, a chorus of “Hip! Hip! Hooray!” rang out.
“It’s really fun,” Jake Parker, a 9-year-old Bluffview Montessori student, said. “Your arms get really tired.”
The strategy for Bluffview was working together, Parker’s classmate, Sky Robinson, 10, said.
“We tried to follow the leaders at the same time,” he said.
Both Ubl and Train hope the regatta will become an annual event.
