WELCOME TO OUT FIRST ZEN GALLERY EXHIBITION

Cultural Arts of Waco recognizes the importance of the arts in the developmental and social needs for students with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy or on the Autism Spectrum. The arts open the world of learning to students who have trouble with traditional teaching methods as key components in the therapeutic interventions which have profound and lasting effects on cognitive, social and communication abilities.  Drawing and painting reinforce motor skills and can also be away of learning shapes, contrasts, boundaries, spatial relationships, size and other math concepts. Students can develop vital problem solving skills through collage and 2D, 3D works without having to rely on areas of expression that may be more challenging.  The arts offer students dynamic ways of learning, and just as importantly, away to fully discover their own self self-worth.

Space Series: Each student painted their own background color. Wide circular arm movements are used to pour the glue, tempera paint and grit. They watch the interaction of the paint and glue. Often repeating the process with the occasional dump of a medium!  The arm movement helps with dexterity/stretching of the arm muscles together with good finger grip for pouring, and hand eye co-ordination to follow the glue lines.

Geometric Series:  First involves pulling masking tape, cutting and stretching across a canvass to make a multiplicity of geometric shapes.  Hand eye co-ordination and muscle strength are important in producing the finished work. Fingers and brushes are the painting tools!

Abstract Series: Simple card board tube is cut to open as a sea anemone then used as a stencil dipped into plates of tempera paint creating a riot of color.

Arts activities stimulate creativity, cognitive skills and empower the students to communicate beyond the constraint of verbal communication. 

We hope you have enjoyed their magical world of color.

This Cultural Arts of Waco virtual exhibition project is supported by Dorothy Fornoff, The Arc of McLennan County Opportunity Center and a matching grant from Texas Commission on the Arts.