Art bombs from CAFTA

Young artists go with ‘Nutcracker’ theme

TORRINGTON — Young artists ages 5 to 10 from the Connecticut Academy For The Arts After School Creativity Program recently dropped their “Holiday Art Bomb” on the City of Torrington at 104 Main St., in the old Libby Furniture Building. The students have worked on this project since Nov. 1.

The theme they chose was “The Nutcracker,” because they had been studying about Tchaikovsky's holiday masterpiece and watching videos of the famous Mariiinsky Ballet in Russia for inspiration. Students began by choosing their favorite characthey ters and developing them into drawings, and eventually made 3-D cutouts to appear in the window vignettes.

There are three scenes. In the first, they staged a battle between the armies of the Rat King and the Nutcracker Prince. There is another vignette with a Christmas tree and three Sugar Plum Fairy ballerinas. The third scene depicts the Nutcracker Patrol as stand guard in a snowstorm. Many of the final cut-out characters are larger than the students who created them.

“This was our holiday gift to the city for all to enjoy,” said John Sullivan, development director for CAFTA. “The children did not go to the store to buy their decorations. They began with old cardboard boxes (which

were donated by Staples), some old paint, (a gift from Writeway Signs), and their incredible imaginations.”

Sullivan continued, “The directors of the Nutmeg Ballet were so impressed with the children's enthusiasm that they gave 15 tickets for all the children and their parents to attend a real performance of the Nutcracker at the Warner Theater in December. The children were beyond thrilled. This collaboration of community is the true spirit of the holidays.”

The windows will remain for all to enjoy through mid-January.

For more information, contact CAFTA at 860-2015706 or visit www.cafta.info.

Photo by Teresa Graham-Sullivan CAFTA students, from left, set up their art bomb in the Libby’s window: standing, from left, Nick, 9; Tariana, 9; Daniela, 9; Alixis, 9; front row, Yarelie, 5; Elizabeth, 10; Zalisha, 7, and Sophia, 6.