Liberty Children’s Art Project (LCAP) in cooperation with Sandy Knoll Elementary School provided our second year of an after school art program at this  school located in the Marquette Area Public School district of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 2023. Barb L’Huillier,  Michigan certified art teacher,  along with an assistant taught classes one day a week in a winter five week session.  These classes are held immediately after school is dismissed in the school’s art room. These art production sessions included study in art history and cultures around the world interwoven with academic subjects such as science and language arts. The classes involve methods of techniques using a variety of contemporary media. Examples of art taught in this program include:

Native American Nature Art with Clay
Found Object Sculpture
Abstract Printmaking Experiment
Winter Landscape Watercolor, Japanese Tree

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 30 students from the schools and was  made possible by a grant from  the Hirvonen Foundation and the MCACA/NEA.