Liberty Children’s Art Project (LCAP) in cooperation with Lakeview Elementary School provided our third year of after school art programs at the school located in the Negaunee area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 2023.  Chloe Fortune Michigan certified art teacher, taught classes one day a week in two winter/spring six week sessions.  These classes are held immediately after school is dismissed in the school’s art room. These sessions included the interdisciplinary study of art production with  art history and world cultures as well as a variety of academic subjects such as science and language arts. Examples of art taught in this program include:

 Oil Pastel Identity Drawing

Clay Animal Tiles

Favorite Memory Printmaking

Contour still life flowers

Wayne Theibaud ceramic cupcake boxes 

Andy Warhol inspired bee prints (printmaking mixed media

Abstract Painting on Cardboard

Our Owl-y Friends in Oil Pastel

Art enrichment classes have a profound effect on children in remote area such as this. Artists modeling self-confidence, motivation and curiosity have the potential to be highly inspirational role models. A recent report on area youth assets from the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development  indict that time spent in creative outlets is the lowest asset reported. An after school art enrichment program provides students with a way to build confidence, participate in a social situation while developing an outlet for creative self expression in a safe and healthy environment. This program was attended by 25 students from the schools and was  made possible by the Hirvonen Foundation  and a  MCACA/NEA grant.