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Waco Tribune-Herald
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Waco Tribune-Herald
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 Staff photos--Rod Aydelotte
Cameron (front) and Andrew Garland push rollers of paint
that spread paint patters of their hands and initials on a large cardboard sheet
Saturday at the Open Door Arts Fest.
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"When they are
creating together,
it's all about the
art. You'll find the
kids forget they
are operating at
different levels of
ability"
Artist Dwayne Szot |
Inclusion the theme of
project designed for kids of every level of ability
By MIKE ANDERSON Tribune-Herald staff writer Andrew Garland spread paint-covered handprints far and wide Saturday, but his mom didn't seem to care. While Andrew and his brother, Cameron, had a blast running and pushing giant, paint-covered rollers, they did not know the tools that made their fun possible have an important purpose — making art accessible to those with disabilities. The brothers were taking part in a dem- onstration set up by Wisconsin artist Dwayne Szot as part of the Open Door Arts Fest in the Freedom Fountain Plaza in downtown Waco. Szot's project, called "Arts -For All" is his attempt to give everyone a chance to create art, regardless of physical limitations. |
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Szot had several tools on display
that he makes and sells around the
country. The rollers Andrew and Cam-
eron were playing with were designed so
they can be attached to the front of a
wheelchair. The same goes for several
sticks of sidewalk chalk fastened to a pole,
a device Szot calls "Chalk, Walk and
Roll."
"The whole point is inclusion," he said.
"I wanted to design these things so every-
one can participate. When they are creating together,
it's all about the art. You'll find
the kids forget they are operating at different levels of ability.
"I grew up in a foster home with individ-
uals with different levels of abilities, and
learned how important it was for everyone
be involved. I started this up after I got older
and realized something had to be done. I
really questioned the limited accessibility
to art out there."
Szot sold several pieces of his equipment
to Art Center Waco, and they will soon be
available to the public.
"We are going to rent it out for a minimal
fee," said Doreen Ravenscroft, co-chair-
woman of the Open Door Arts Fest. "This is
a remarkable program and we are so grateful to those who made
it possible for us to keep it in Waco, including some anonymous
donors."
This is the sixth year for the festival,
which is sponsored by Art Center Waco.
The event offers a chance for both adults
and children to learn about different types
of art as well as roll up their sleeves, grab a
brush and create a masterpiece of their
own.
Justine Simms stood in front of an easel
surveying her work as her mom looked on.
Justine, 5, had filled the paper with red, blue
and yellow swipes and splotches, before
pausing to survey her work. She added a
green smudge in the middle and she was
done.
"My little abstract artist," mom Judy
Simms said as she helped clean her daughter's hands.
"It wasn't finished until she added that last touch."
Mike Anderson can be reached at 757-5755 or at manderson@wacotrib.com. |
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