West Side students create Plaza banners

Colorful banners painted with poems hang among the trees in
Healdsburg’s plaza this month in honor of National Poetry
month.
Resident Artist Sandra Novia worked with a dozen students from
West Side School on the banners as part of the enrichment program
that teaches students about calligraphy, working with canvas,
poetry and painting.
“We start with three different bags, one is full of objects,
another one full of color cards and the other with word cards. They
reach in the bags and pick one of each element and with those three
elements they create their poem,” said Novia.
The hands on project is designed to teach students about working
with raw materials and about creating pieces that are more
abstract. Students are asked to conceptualize a poem and work with
the materials to prepare a canvas to paint the poem on.
“It sort-of bridges the gap of old world and new world art
technique in the way that we are not just doing craft, they get to
use tools and work with the raw the canvas and realize that they
can create,” said Novia.
The lesson also helps the students with handwriting by
practicing writing and painting in calligraphy.
“I liked our teacher because she taught us calligraphy,” said
Anna Whiteley. “I learned that when you are doing calligraphy you
need to keep your brush in the same direction and just move your
hand.”
Second grader Gabriel Morales said he enjoyed the painting
aspect of the project and that, “it is the best part of
school.”
The Healdsburg Parks & Recreation worked closely with Novia
to get the banners hung, which are currently sharing space with the
Jazz Festival banners.
The art enrichment electives are taught at the West Side campus
by a collaboration of school staff, community volunteers and
parents. The instructors donate their time to teach children in
subjects outside of their traditional curriculum that broaden their
creativity in the arts.
“I believe that art connects to every part of the education,
it’s math, it’s history, there are so many parts to art,” said
Novia. “And it is such a struggle to keep art in the schools now,
that any chance I get, I show the public what kids can do.”
The banners will be on display at the Healdsburg Plaza during
the first two weeks in May.
“It is great to have the project hanging in the plaza and having
it be public, it alerts them to a lot more than just being in the
classroom,” Novia said.
Sandra Novia offers kids art programs including summer camps.
For more information call, 433-ARTS.
Staff Writer Robin Hug can be reached at Ro***@hb*****.com.