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"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."
- Pablo Picasso
Be An Artist Program
“Darden's ability to work with groups of students and produce a class composition is nothing short of a miracle. The students have excellent rapport with Darden and truly enjoy their time working with him. His gift to inspire the kids continues long after he is gone.”
Becky Dykhuis - Music Teacher, Barton Hills Elementary, Austin, TX
In 2003, Singer-songwriter Darden Smith began the Be An Artist Program as a way to talk to children about creativity. It all began with the simple idea that we don’t have to become artists, we’re all born that way, and that what we do in our free time is what we love. If we do that thing more, we’ll be happier.
The Be An Artist Program is designed for elementary school age children.
Mission Statement: The goal of the Be An Artist Program is to show children that we are all artists, that every action of our day has the potential to be art, and that each of us possess the raw tools to make this a reality using our own natural creative abilities.
How it works:
Darden goes into the classroom and talks with the students about his work, how he started as a musician and writer, and how it became his job. He introduces inspiration as the key in the artistic process, discusses where it comes from, and plays a few original songs to demonstrate how inspiration becomes art. The focus points include:
- Everyone is an artist at something. Everyone is creative.
- Art surrounds us, from the clothes we wear, the car we ride in, to the music we listen to and the buildings we live in. There’s no escaping it!
- The Big Three -- attention, intention, & the love of doing something. If you have those ingredients, you’re making art.
He takes them through a process to help them realize the things they love to do (what they do when they don’t have to do anything.) and talks to them about the ability to make themselves happy by doing these things every day. Then, as a way to show that we are all capable beyond what we’ve told ourselves we’re able to do, he leads the students, as a group, in writing a song. Every student is encouraged to contribute, be it a word, a few lines or a theme for the song. Darden acts as a guide and editor, keeping the song on basic course, but letting the students be the authors. The song is then recorded in the classroom and a CD copy of the song is left with the teacher. Each Be An Artist Program session lasts approximately 50 minutes.
For pricing and booking info, contact Steve Hoiberg or Elyse McKenna at Third Coast Artists Agency; steve@tcaa.biz, elyse@tcaa.biz 615.292.6400
“Darden -- thank you so much. It was an amazing day and the kids were really pumped. It was an amazing process to observe. We hope you will return and that you can do programs at the other schools in town. Your program is wonderful and we look forward to having you back.”
Ami Stix -- Arts Created Together - The Bridge School, Lexington, MA
Some of the schools and museums where the Be An Artist Program has been presented include:
The Iowa Children's Museum -- Coralville, IA
The Edgewood Center & Guadalupe Elementary -- San Francisco, CA
Ronald McDonald House & The Kunsberg School -- Denver, CO
Beth Yushuran Day School -- Houston, TX
Brebeuf Preparatory School -- Indianapolis, IN
Carmen Dragon & John Muir Elementary Schools -- Antioch, CA
Lamoine, ME Public Schools
The Bridge School -- Lexington, MA
Monte Cassino School -- Tulsa, OK
Theatre Cap-A-Pie -- Dipton, UK
The Lewes Guitar Festival -- Lewes, UK
The International School -- Paris, France
The American Library -- Paris, France
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