ARTIST IS BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
Painter and teacher helps students cope, create and connect
Each week, this series will introduce you to an exceptional American who unites, rather than divides, our communities. To read more about the American profiled here and more average Americans doing exceptional things, visit onenation.usatoday.com.
What does it mean to you to be an American?
It means that I have to work really hard. And try to be, I don’t know, try to make myself useful in the community because there’s so many people out here that want help and need help and want to have fun at the same time. So I try to be a part of that circle with everyone. Being American, it seems very hard to describe because there is no one description for what an American is. I think it’s just working.
What moment touched and motivated you to launch this effort?
In school, they teach you how to cut and paste, or paint something very simple. But I try to take what I learned as a kid and bring it and offer it to other kids, (like) drawing something that doesn’t make any sense, or coming up with ugly characters that only exist in your head. … Let’s experiment with color. Let’s learn about Frida Kahlo. Let’s talk about our emotions. I try to open it up more to just talking about why kids are doing it. … I always wanted to take art classes as a kid, but it wasn’t offered to me.
What gives you hope, or what concerns you?
Truly being happy with what I’m doing for a living. I get a lot of joy from working and making art with kids. … I just think that the world needs to have a little more of that freedom to express themselves in art. That’s what makes me want to drive all the way out to Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs and Cathedral City. It’s like, well, if I’m not going to show up and bring a bunch of my messy crayons and markers, it’s not going to happen.
What do you hope to accomplish through your efforts?
That (students) cannot have any fear when they’re creating something when they’re older.