The EPA Library and Youth Community Service co-hosted a Youth Art Workshop on Thursday, inviting families to come together to decorate canvases with vibrant, hand-made flowers. From 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., participants crafted flowers while enjoying snacks provided by YCS.
Student volunteers guided participants in making two different types of flowers before participants were set off to create as many flowers as they wanted to. “It’s fun to teach everyone how to make the flowers and seeing their creations come together,” Medha Muppidi, one of the student volunteers, said. Muppidi helped plan the event by creating flower prototypes. She settled on a flower made from pipe cleaners that resembles a daisy.
Other than pipe cleaners, participants were also taught how to make flowers out of tissue paper. Once the flowers were completed, student volunteers helped hot glue the flowers to canvases. Afterward, participants used paint pens to further customize their artwork. Finally, each person filled out a name card to be displayed alongside their work in an upcoming exhibition.
While some people had found out about the event through fliers and announcements, some participants were passing by when they decided to join. Ethel Santos was visiting the library with her daughter when she saw the event. “I love events like this. It just takes kids away from the screen and you get to see their creative side,” Santos said.
The event was organized by Aubrey Parke, the high school programs manager at YCS, and Kenny Gabe, the community program specialist at the EPA Library. “I used to work in community arts in my hometown and now I’m working with high school students through YCS. This event was a perfect opportunity to bring those two together,” Parke said. “I was impressed with the student leaders and so grateful for all the community members who came to make all this beautiful art.”
Beyond a fun activity for the evening, Gabe hopes that the workshop and exhibition will allow the community to connect more deeply with each other. “The library is a community space so it feels like the perfect opportunity to have our community decorate the walls of the library,” Gabe said. “I know how empowering it is, whether you’re a kid or adult, to see the art they’ve made be put on display.”
All the finished artworks will be featured in a community art exhibition at the EPA Library next Thursday, Feb. 27. The display will remain for a month, and afterward, works will be returned to participants. After this success, the library hopes to host more art workshops and exhibitions to showcase the community’s creativity.
To check out more events from the EPA Library, click here.
