wfn.org | Presbyterian childrens' art exhibit begins cross-country tour

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Note #6116 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

12-July-2000
00255

Presbyterian childrens' art exhibit begins cross-country tour

by Alexa Smith

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The first thing 11-year-old Bruce Spigener did when the
cameras stopped flashing was take his blazer off.
	"It's hot," he said after posing for pictures next to his award-winning
drawing, "Time for Prayer," which is one of the 145 drawings done by
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) kids which will be exhibited across the country
as part of the denomination's "Year of the Child" celebration.
	Spigener was here for a reception celebrating the exhibit's inaugural tour,
which will begin in early August when 45 of the drawings are shipped out
from the Presbyterian Center where they now hang. His church, First
Presbyterian, in Anderson, S.C., sent him to Louisville, accompanied by his
mother, Susan, for the event.
	Four smaller exhibits of 25 drawings each — called "suitcase" shows — are
on tour now, after being viewed at the 212th General Assembly in Long Beach,
Calif.
	The exhibit is called, "Whoever welcomes this child ... welcomes me."
	"Right now we're doing an evaluation of the General Assembly," said Pat
Chapman, who is the PC(USA)'s child advocate, stressing that the goal is for
churches to observe the "Year of the Child" by doing local outreach. "The
general opinion is that it went well.  People are responding positively and
are thinking of ways to mark the "Year of the Child" in their own
congregations.
	"Our primary emphasis is to expand the baptismal experience ... not
(reaching out) just to our own children, but beyond the church community
into the wider community, the nation and the world. (Imagine) ... if
everyone does just one thing for the benefit of children."
	That's the idea behind shipping a exhibit of children's work nation-wide  —
 to call attention to childrens' experiences. Over 1800 kids entered pencil
sketches, crayon drawings and watercolors to be considered for the exhibit.
According to Amy Stewart of Mission Interpretation and Promotion, the
drawings were selected by 15 pastors and elders across the country via a
closed Web site.
	So, there are paintings of bible stories and illustrations of church life.
Ten-year-old Nathan Brown shows a red-shirted child surrounded by the
kneecaps of adults, with the caption: "Let the little children come to me."
Collaborators Rebecca Lee and Julia Shoh, both 9, have Baby Moses deep in
the bullrushes, with a brilliant orange pyramid rising in the background,
and his sister Miriam, grieving. Jan Inman, 17, has done a pencil sketch of
a basket of loaves and fishes.
	Stewart — who is coordinating the art exhibit — said some of the drawings
were chosen because of the commentary children included.
	Take Spigener, for example. His framed drawing includes a tiny commentary
that says:  "Children are a part of God's world. God always hears our
prayers. It really doesn't matter what age you are, God always listens."
	He says that he knows that is true from experience. His mom had bypass
surgery in 1995.  In Spigener's words, "I prayed and she survived . . .
Prayer is so important in my life."
	The exhibits are one aspect of the denomination's effort to call attention
to the special needs and gifts of children.  Moderator Syngman Rhee is
wearing a stoll designed especially for the "Year of the Children," a gift
he received from children at the General Assembly.  Commissioners there
heard statistics on issues that adversely affect children and saw a preview
of the video that has been done by the denomination to commemorate the "Year
of the Child."
	Then, of course, there is the denomination's 2000 planning calendar.  This
year's issue features childrens' artwork each month, all pulled from the
exhibit's pieces.
	Spigener — who is featured in March — says that getting picked to be part
of the exhibit has been not only an honor, but something his church and his
family have celebrated. Take the planning calendar, for instance.  His
grandfather, a lifetime elder, according to Spigener, ordered a box of 20.
	The major exhibit will be viewed in August at Providence Presbytery, Rock
Hill, S.C.; September, First Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, N.C.; October,
Mission Presbytery, San Antonio, Texas; November, Palo Duro Presbytery,
Lubbock, Texas; December, Middle Island Presbyterian Church, Ridge, N.Y.;
January, 2001, Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, Seattle, Wa.; February,
Church of the Palms, Sarasota, Fla.; March, Second Presbyterian Church,
Kansas City, Mo.; April, Third Presbyterian Church, Rochester, N.Y.; May,
Highlawn Presbyterian Church, Huntington, W.Va.; June, Westminster
Presbyterian Church, Pisqua, Ohio; July, United Presbyterian Church of
Sackets Harbor, Sackets Harbor, N.Y.; August, Reid Memorial Presbyterian
Church, Augusta, Ga.; September, First Presbyterian Church, Conrad, Iowa;
October, First Presbyterian Church, Plymouth, Mich.; November, Woodstown
Presbyterian Church, Woodstown, N.J.; December, First Presbyterian Church,
Topeka, Kan.; January, 2002, Park Hill Presbyterian Church, North Little
Rock, Ark.; February, Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, N.C.;
March, Carmichael Presbyterian Church, Carmichael, Calif.; Fourth
Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Ill.; and May, United Presbyterian Church,
Clarion, Iowa.
	"Year of the Child" resources may be obtained by calling 1-800-524-2612.

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