HeartSpeak

Through art, children express their emotions, inspire others

Children from all over the Permian Basin now have an outlet to express their emotions and inspire others, thanks to a new program that blends art and therapy.

Inspired by children’s reactions to the tragedy and terror of September 11, Centers for Children and Families decided to put all the creativity — from the pain and fright that ensued in children as well as adults — into a positive community project.

“We know how so often children have no voice,” said Pam Smith, HeartSpeak coordinator and a Centers’ therapist. “We wanted to hear from the kids, to hear the language of their hearts through art and to give them the opportunity to move past the loss.”

Eighteen Midland children gathered in June 2002 with renowned muralist Jo Dufo, and through art instruction, meditation and guidance, all produced at least one piece of original artwork that held a special symbol or message of hope for them.

Ms. Dufo has completed many public mural projects in Midland and Fort Worth, including the “Change The World — One Child At A Time” mural at the corner of Big Spring and Cuthbert Streets, across the street from Centers’ location in Dinero Plaza, 1004 N. Big Spring.

She said the art benefits the young artists as much as it does all those who see it.

“It’s a way to give children the opportunity to have a voice,” Ms. Dufo said. “It’s very empowering for these kids to be able to give others a positive message and know that they, too, can change people’s lives.”

The program is especially designed for children that have experienced tragedy, violence or loss — but one could never tell that from looking at the room filled with the 18 children who were bustling around, eagerly showing off their artwork to the supervising adults and quick to talk about their work.

Most of the childrens aid they weren’t artists and some even admitted to not like art before they met Ms. Dufo.

“She’s a really good teacher ands he inspired me to do it,” said 13-year-old Krystal. “I never liked it before but I like it now, it’s fun. It’s challenging to draw it.”

For the children who have trouble getting their creative juices flowing, Ms. Dufo has samples of art that the children copy and color however they wish or use the examples as inspiration for another piece.

Thirteen-year-old Reagan chose a piece of a musician, drawn with Picasso-style blocks and sharp angles. She said she chose the piece because she likes music and the picture is calming.

Krystal chose a drawing of a woman with her hands outstretched to the sky — a piece filled with stars, eyes and other symbols.

“She has her hand up, it’s like she’s giving thanks and she’s really happy,” Krystal said. “ I just think she’s asking God for something, maybe thanking Him.”

Other children focused more on bold color statements than on the symbols themselves, saying that the eye-catching nature will have the best effect on the mural. Ten-year-old Carolina selected a card of Ms. Dufo’s of an eye, now emblazed with bright yellow, red, purple and blue in her smaller version.

After almost three hours of pure creativity, painting the background for the colorful mural, making individual works of art and showing them to the eagerly awaiting facilitators, the children were invited to share their reasons for using the symbols they chose, whether they created them alone or copied an already-existing piece of art.

“We’re going to ask them to talk about what they chose, we may attach some phrases or symbols of hope for the mural,” said Ms. Smith. These are things that are going to reach out to every man, woan and child who comes to Centers.

The mural project was the first of many individual projects that together will become “HeartSpeak,” a program enabling children of all ages and families in need to express their emotions through art and other constructive avenues.

“It has to start with teaching them how to use the colored pencils, paints and pastels, and evolves into a way for them to express themselves,” Ms. Smith said. “It will help them to discover that place within themselves where the symbols come from and where the hope is born and to express it outwardly.

“Ms. Dufo helps us if we can’t draw,” said 12-year-old Brooke, who insists she couldn’t draw before the workshop. “She told us if we could draw a ‘u,’ then we could draw a face. I used to not like art at all. Now, evday this week, I go home and draw.”