Owensboro Elementary Art Camp Kicks Off With a Bang!

Last fall, Owensboro artist Will Evans participated in United Way of Ohio Valley's Barrels of HeART event. There, he was inspired to find or rather create an opportunity to give back to the community.

It's no secret that Owensboro has experienced way too many tragedies due to gun violence. Especially in the past few years, it seems. Will shared with me how these events have hit close to home, "My family has been deeply affected by gun violence. It's not uncommon to hear gunshots in my area."

He continued, "On Oct 6, 2022, we lost my wife's cousin, Chris Green. On Nov 22, 2023, we lost Stephanie Green, my wife's sister, both to gun violence. If we can give kids a safe place to express themselves through art and support and teach them, we can change our community for the better at the foundation."

In collaboration with LJ Douglas from Estes Elementary, local artists, businesses and restaurants, the very first FREE Estes Bulldog art camp kicked off yesterday and it was a total blast!

Kindergartners through second graders spent the morning at First Christian Church in Owensboro expressing themselves by drawing with pens and sidewalk chalk, playing outside, and learning how to use watercolors.

Will's lovely daughters Courtney, Sykiah, and Imani helped us wrangle the kiddos and Will and I helped them with their creations. Here I am with my new buddy Giovanni AKA Double G! He may look confused here, but he got the hang of drawing Pokemon super quick!

Mainly encouraging them to try new things and that its ok to make mistakes! Art isn't about perfection, it's about having fun and expressing yourself, and camp is about making friends.

And boy did we have fun and make friends! Thanks to the beautiful outdoor space at First Christian, we got to explore the beauty of nature too.

Look at the little friends we found!

Aaron Kizer of Kizer Construction has provided all of the art supplies that the kiddos will get to keep and take home with them. Will has also invited quite a lineup of local guest artists to volunteer for future dates including Brittany Samsil, Coty Michelle Vance. Camille Armstrong, Bobby Edge, Arianna Hayden, Heather Maas, Zion Riley, and I'll be popping back in to see all of my new Bulldog friends again!

Gotta also give a shout out to the locally-owned restaurants, food trucks, and catering services who are chipping in to provide breakfast and lunch for the campers and volunteers each day. Once again, totally free!

Some of Owensboro's best, including Lure Seafood and Grille, Fetta Specialty Pizza, Dee's Diner, Real Hacienda, Kim's Diner, Lizzie's Diner, Gramps Coffee and Donuts, Rolling Pin Bakery, Basil's Food Truck and McHenry's Event Planning, Mechanicsville Kitchen, and Pinky's Snow Cones and Snacks.

Yesterday we had Real Hacienda and they hooked us UP! It was delicious and they gave us so much food, we had enough for volunteers, parents, teachers, and some of our First Christian Church friends. And I have a renewed love and respect for lunch ladies after plating all that food!

The next camp will be July 15-19th for 3rd through 5th graders. Will is planning to make this at least an annual event. My hope is that this inspires us all to jump in when we see a need and make a difference

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