Art for the love of art

Our Tuesdays Painting and Coffee group is a group of 8 ladies spending three hours a week exploring watercolours. Since the inception we have been using these sessions as a way to raise money, and talk more about how we can use it to make a little art difference around us. So when Natalie came to one of our sessions to tell us about the community centre Abriendo Camino we all jumped at the idea of creating a morning of creativity.  None of us really knew what to expect, so we all planned this morning in May, on the eve of mothers day with no expectations. We organised a van and all huddled in with our paint supplies and snacks on Tuesday morning and headed out to an area in Santo Domingo that most of us have never been to.

Abriendo Camino

We arrived and set up waiting in anticipation for the 15 kids from 9 to 14 years of age to arrive. Chatting to the resident Art teacher in a lovely art room filled with recycled materials made into lovely art. We learned these kids have art in their lives at least once a week. The students for this class were chosen based on their interest in art and it really did show. The level of concerntration in the space of 3 hours was impeccable.

Each table of about 5 were accompanied with one of the ladies from our art class as I thought the class with the help of the resident art teacher and psychologist who volunteers there as well as Natalie. We are so proud of being part of such an inspiring community centre even for a day and most of us went away with the feeling that we wanted to make this a regular event. Art is something that touches our lives in one way or another and sharing it with aspiring artists is the most rewarding.