Art expresses childrens’ compassion

Second-graders at Clear Stream Avenue School have found their own special way to help those affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Each student designed a T-shirt to show they care for fellow children in another nation.

Art teacher Leslie Freiberg said she found an organization, Fashion Delivers, to get the T-shirts in the hands of those in need. “They said as long as it was new clothing, they would deliver it to the children in Haiti,” she said.

Freiberg said she had more than two dozen plain white T-shirts around from a previous art project. She will purchase the rest so that each of her nearly 70 second-grade art students can contribute to relief effort.

The assignment was very simple — she asked her students to draw something that would bring a smile to a child’s face. Freiberg had a discussion with each class on how art without words can show joy. Children used fabric crayons and colored on a regular piece of white paper. Freiberg then ironed the designs on to the T-shirts.

Student Miles Howard wanted his design to make others happy. In his picture, the sun is shining and there are smiley faces, flowers, hearts, stars and peace signs.

Nathaniel Moore drew a picture of the Earth with people around it holding hands. “It’s supposed to symbolize peace and love,” he said. The second-grader added that he hopes that people in Haiti will eventually be able to forget about the past and move forward with their lives.

Steven St. Claire’s design depicts the grass growing, the sun shining and birds flying. “People need to be happy in the whole world,” he said.

A little girl with a pot of gold was the theme of Yazmeine Morgan’s drawing. She talked about people in Haiti need food, water and money for medication.

Assistant Principal Gerard Finelli said the school has already made a $1,500 donation to UNICEF, thanks to contributions from students, teachers and staff members. He explained that it is important for children to learn that there is a responsibility to help those who are less fortunate.

Finelli praised Freiberg for thinking outside of the box with the T-shirts. “It gets the children involved in a significant art project,” he said, “but it also gets them involved in a real effort to help people who need help.”

Freiberg said the project took three classes to complete. She was very proud of her students’ work. “I think they did a really nice job,” she said. “They were very detailed about what they were doing and why they were doing it.”