Catching up

 2020 is over and done with but we are still dealing with the COVID19 virus and its variants, though we are out of the pandemic shut-down mode.  There wasn't much to write about over the past fifteen months other than COVID.  Now things are opening up, most people have stopped wearing masks, and the last statistic I heard on national news this morning is that 67% of the American population has received at least one dose of a vaccine. Most businesses are fully open with no restrictions, though we are still being warned by the medical community that we should still be careful, wear a mask in crowded places, and use common sense in washing hands and general hygiene. 

The Watongan Republican newspaper has a new editor and I had a nice visit with him a week or so ago.  I had dropped off a press release about the Watonga Kiwanis Club's summer youth program, with specific mention of art being added to the program.  I submitted photographs of the kids (with permission by the program's director) and one of the art projects they did, and the short article and photos were included in last week's issue of the newspaper. We did four sessions in June and had attendance of fourteen to thirty kids.  The first week we talked about some elements of art and some well-known artists. The kids did a self-portrait and then spent the last fifteen minutes drawing on the sidewalk with chalk.  

The second week we talked about the American artist Alexander Calder who "invented" the art forms of mobiles and stabiles: art that moves (like a windchime) and art that is stationary but implies movement. I showed them some examples of Calder's work and photos of mobiles made out of coat hangers. The kids then each made their own mobile out of twigs and pine cones of different sizes. 

                   
  

The third week the kids learned about the French artist Henri Matisse and his collage work that has been called "painting with scissors".  The fourth week the kids each painted their own "July 4th" inspired work of art.  

   The Watonga ArtWorks building will continue to be open in July on Fridays for "free time" from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

 We've also had some interest in private or small group lessons, so if anyone would like more information on that, contact Linda Barrett at 940-735-1065 and leave a message for a call back.  

The public TV station OETA recently broadcasted an episode of "Back in Time" that focused on the Oklahoma Historical Society's program of placing roadside historical markers across the state. There was a mention of Clarence Nash from Watonga who was the voice of Disney's Donald Duck.  Though there is no historical marker for Clarence Nash in Watonga, the main highway that goes through the town is named Clarence Nash Blvd.   Neither do we have any kind of historical marker for the T.B. Ferguson Home and Museum.  I think both of these subjects should be recognized by the Oklahoma Historical Society and I am working on getting in touch with someone from the OHS to discuss whether or not the town can get roadside markers installed.  I'll keep readers posted! 

Hope everyone has a happy and safe Fourth of July! 

/Linda Barrett