March 4, 2022

Press release from Shreve Memorial Library:

March 4, 2022

Shreve Memorial Library is inviting youth to take a journey through art in celebration of Youth Art Month. Library branches throughout Caddo Parish will host a variety of programs to encourage creativity, expression, and appreciation for the visual arts. Programs include painting and drawing classes, crafts and interactive games, manga and anime workshops, and opportunities for youth to create their own artist trading cards and zentangles. All programs are free and open to the public. Registration may be required.

Youth Art Month was started in 1961 through The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. as a way to recognize art education as a viable factor in education, a necessity for the development of better quality of life, and to direct attention to the value of art education for divergent and critical thinking. Youth Art Month provides a medium for recognizing skills that are developed through visual arts such as problem solving, creativity, observation and communication. Art shows, special exhibits, fundraisers and school and community activities take place annually throughout the month of March across the country to celebrate visual arts for grades K – 12.

Shreve Memorial Library branches will host programs throughout the month of March as part of the Youth Art Month celebration. Children and teens will have multiple opportunities to learn to draw, paint and create, while infants, babies and toddlers will have opportunities to learn about art and color at special storytime programs. Storytime programs will be held at the Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch, located at 2105 Hollywood Avenue, on Wednesday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m. and at the Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch, located at 8303 Line Avenue, on Wednesday, March 16 at 3:30 p.m.

Children and teens are invited to visit the Broadmoor and North Shreveport Branches to show their creativity through zentangles. Zentangles are miniature abstract works of art created by drawing structured patterns to create a beautiful image. They are fun and relaxing ways to express creativity. On Tuesday, March 8, teens (11 – 17 years old) are invited to visit the Broadmoor Branch, 1212 Captain Shreve Drive, to create their own zentangles from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., while teens at the North Shreveport Branch, 4844 North Market Street, can create stunning zentangles out of sidewalk chalk from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  School-age children, ages 6 to 10, can make their own zentangles at the Broadmoor Branch on Wednesday, March 23 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Teens at the Mooretown Branch, 4360 Hollywood Avenue, are invited to learn more about manga, comics or graphic novels originating from Japan with a distinct artistic style, and how to draw their own manga characters. A “How to Draw Manga” workshop will be held at the branch on Tuesday, March 8 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. The workshop is designed for teens ages 12 to 17. Additionally, children, ages 6 to 11, at the Mooretown Branch will have an opportunity to learn how to make their very own comics on Friday, March 25 from 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.  All materials will be provided for both programs, and no previous artistic experience is required.

The West Shreveport Branch will also hold a drawing workshop for teens during their Youth Art Month celebration. Teens are invited to get creative while decorating scratchboards. Scratchboard is a clay-coated board that is covered by ink. Artists draw on it by scratching away the ink with a tool to expose the color underneath. Teens can learn more and try their hand at this drawing technique on Monday, March 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The West Shreveport Branch is located at 4380 Pines Road.

In addition to drawing, several Shreve Memorial Library branches will host painting programs, introducing youth to various art mediums and painting techniques. All supplies are provided for the painting programs, however attendees are encouraged to wear aprons and/or old clothing that they do not mind getting paint on. Space may be limited for painting programs. Currently, the following painting classes are scheduled for Youth Art Month:

For those interested in do-it-yourself and hands-on crafts, several library branches will also host crafting sessions as part of the library’s journey through art. Both the Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch and the North Caddo Branch (615 N. Pine Street, Vivian) will host artist trading card sessions, in which youth will design and create their own trading cards with their original works of art. Children ages 5 to 10 are invited to visit the Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch on Monday, March 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the North Caddo Branch on Wednesday, March 16 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On Thursday, March 17, Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch’s SMartY (Shreve Memorial Art Youth) program will host a cupcake junk mail collage class. Elementary-age children will draw and create a collage using junk mail and other up-cycled paper. The program takes place from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, March 22, children and teens will have several chances to make unique crafts to take home. Patrons are invited to stop by the Higginbotham-Bryson Branch, 9359 Greenwood Road in Greenwood, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. for a “Make & Take” craft. At 3:30 p.m., patrons at the Belcher-Wyche Branch, 409 Charles Street in Belcher, are encouraged to make their initials using jigsaw puzzle pieces on canvas. Teens at the Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch can make a shiny, super cool fish craft using old CDs from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

All Shreve Memorial Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration may be required. Program dates and times are subject to change.

This press release was produced by Shreve Memorial Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.