Arts council hosts free collage project

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The Arts Council of Wayne County is hosting a free "My Military Life Time Capsule Art Workshop" with Robert Jones for active-duty military families from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 8.

"This free art workshop is for military families and is recommended for families with children ages 5-18," said Becca Scott Reynolds, arts council gallery and education director. "Children need to be accompanied by at least one parent. That parent does not have to be the active-duty parent."

Local artist Robert Jones will be on hand during the project to help participants bring their visions to life.

"He is a wonderful artist and a great guy so it really was a natural fit," said Sarah Merritt, executive director of the arts council.

"He will instruct participants how to create a time capsule art piece to remember their lives while in the military," Ms. Scott Reynolds said. "Participants will create a collage design on a canvas to document their travels, locations and events in their military life."

Families should bring any items they would like to use for their collage, such as letters and photos. Other recommended items include pieces of uniforms, small flags, photos, postcards, letters, plane tickets, items representing countries the family has lived in, maps, and mementos from duty stations and deployments.

"You may want to make copies of these items if they are particularly special and you do not wish to use the originals; as they will be incorporated into a piece of art," Ms. Scott Reynolds said. "Color copies will work best."

The collages will be displayed in the Weil-Rosenthal Gallery as part of the "A Country, A People: Afghanistan through the Eyes of the Men and Women of the U.S. Military" exhibit. Artists can take their collages home Feb. 28.

This is a great way to create a work of art that has personal meaning to the people making it, Mrs. Merritt said. "It's a real feeling of satisfaction to have a work of art to display that was made by your own hands."

The project is limited to 15 families, so Mrs. Merritt encourages those who wish to participate to make their reservation as soon as possible. The registration deadline is Jan. 3. To reserve a canvas, call the Arts Council at (919) 736-3300.