April–June 2006 The Magazine of the International Child Art Foundation April—June 2006 Volume 9, Issue 2, Number 32 Art and Sport 4 Movement and Art 6 Why Art and Sport Editor’sEditor’s CornerCorner 8 Futura Powers Brazil Dear Readers, 10 One Million Chinese Artists 8 The third Arts Olympiad (2005–2008) is underway, and this issue presents a few highlights from across the globe on this The Croatian First Lady Inspires largest and most prestigious arts initiative in the world. Our 12 current Arts Olympiad leads to painting and digital art com- petitions on the theme “My Favorite Sport” to celebrate the 14 Art and the Pharaohs artist–athlete ideal of a creative mind and healthy body. AArtworkrtwork byby ChunChun YYatat WWongong We invite you to take a look at some of the entries from ((SeeSee pagepage 110)0) places where the Arts Olympiad competition results came in 15 The Amharic Arts Olympiad early. You see the digital art of Juraci, a 12 year old in Bahia, Brazil, who attends an institution that specializes in educat- editor writers ing persons with mental disabilities. You see how the Shang- Ashfaq Ishaq, PhD. Heba Ali 16 Israel Gives Lesson in Integration hai Cultural Development Foundation got more than one Dr. Isaak Azmi 1166 million students in China to create art for the Arts Olym- assistant editor Shona Hammond Boys piad. You meet the First Lady of Croatia, whose support for Alex Hasson David Butler Jody Butler 17 New Zealand’s Art Houses the Arts Olympiad is greatly appreciated in her country and art direction Renata Couto by the International Child Art Foundation. Wyndeth Davis Sergey Gagauzoy Dr. Naomi Jaffe Pushing for Creativity in Palestine You learn about the National Museum of Children’s Art design Nina Liu 18 in Egypt and the Ethiopian Arts Olympiad. You meet Dr. Suzanne Finn Alida Matkovia Naomi Jaffe of the Israeli Ministry of Education and see Professor Iordan Popescu how she innovatively executed the Arts Olympiad. You contributing editor Shimelis Tsegaye 20 Art and Silk in Siberia become acquainted with the Children’s Art House Fund Patricia McKee Samih Abu Zakie in New Zealand and see how the Arts Olympiad is help- ing children at the Palestinian Child Arts Center. You see Olympic Rainbow in Romania how Russian children in the Republic of Komi express their 22 All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without 2200 favorite sport on silk. You imagine what the art of Nicolae written permission is prohibited. ChildArt (ISSN 1096-9020). Copyright 2006 from central Transylvania must be like when his peers in International Child Art Foundation. Printed in the United States of America Art, Sport, and Culture in Sharjah Romania paint so wonderfully. In the United Arab Emirates 24 you meet talented young artists in Sharjah. Finally, you reach The International Child Art Foundation (ICAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofi t organization that prepares Texas where the Arts Olympiad inspired a teacher/coach children for a creative and cooperative future. ICAF is the only national art and creativity organization for children in the 26 Art and Handicap in Texas couple to combine an Olympic sport event with making art United States. ICAF is also the only worldwide umbrella organization promoting for 44 students with physical and mental handicaps. children’s creativity and imagination through the arts.

To subscribe to ChildArt magazine, call 202-530-1000, fax 202-530-1080, or Happy reading! email [email protected].

Childart is published quarterly by ICAF. Submissions may be edited even when accepted. Submissions of artwork and other material to ChildArt are made at the risk of the sender. Cover Art by Eman Ali Ahmed (11) United Arab Emirates Childart quarterly magazine, published since 1998, is a commercial-free arts learning, self-discovery and global education periodical. Next issue: Creating Peace 2244 Ashfaq Ishaq You can also make a donation to ICAF by sending a check to: International Child Art Foundation www.icaf.org 1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036, USA Tel: (202)530-1000 Email: [email protected] Introduction

the importance of studying the structure of the body in order to successfully capture its move- ment and gesture. Movement and Art With their interest in the human form, many artists use the context of sport to showcase the pinnacle of the body’s abilities. Engaged in movement, artists see the beauty of the inter- nal coordination within the body and translate it through paint, marble, or any other medium. Artists such as 19th Century painter Edgar Degas used jockeys and graceful dancers as his subjects. George Bellows painted gritty boxing scenes in the early 20th Century. Jacob Lawrence depicted stylized runners for 1971 Olympic posters. Currently, the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama honors one artist every year with the Sport Artist of the Year Award. To fi nd out more about this award and past recipients, visit www.ussa.edu. With all the different sports in the world and all of the complexities of movement, there are unlimited opportunities for artists to continue rendering the human body in motion. The next time you kick a soccer ball or throw a football, think of all the muscles you are using and how Anatoly Hamidulin (12) Russia your body is balanced—try to translate this coordination within your body onto paper. What does it look like to you? hances are you don’t notice all the ways your body moves during a single day. CTake for example walking; this simple movement takes a great amount of coordina- Tyler McGillivary (11) Maryland, U.S. tion between the transmission of signals from your brain, muscles, bones, joints and ligaments to work. Just imagine all the internal workings when you are jumping to shoot a basketball or sliding into home plate in baseball. The internal and anatomical structure of the body has always fascinated artists. In the pursuit of depicting a realistic human form and its po- GGeorgeeorge BellowsBellows tential for movement, artists during the Renais- LLeonardoeonardo dada VVinciinci sance, like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo EEdgardgar DDegasegas secretly dissected bodies to fully understand Danielle Shen (12) Michigan, U.S.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bellows; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitruvian_Man; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degas. muscle structure. Today, artists still recognize 4 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 5 Arts Olympiad

On the Road to the 2007 ington, DC for the World Children’s Festival to World Children’s Festival: live and experience the reality of the connections they imagined onto paper. Finding the empower- Why Art and The distribution and completion of Arts Olympi- ment to become leaders, the festival will lay the ad lesson plans distributed to schools worldwide foundation for cultivating and inspiring the has passed, but each participating country has creative potential and tolerant minds of the it’s own story to tell, as does each child artist. world’s next generation. Implementing programs in nearly 100 countries SPORT is no small task, but thanks in part to the ICAF partner organizations, the positive infl uence of the Arts Olympiad was able to reach even the s a recent Art Olympiad participant, Chanjuan Ma (12) from New Jersey most unexpected places. By explained her entry as an inspiration to others to spend more time playing using the universality Asports rather than sitting indoors watching television. Most likely, Chanjuan of sport, this creative does not know she shares a similar belief with many artists who have worked program asked par- throughout the twentieth-century. ticipants to look at its Beginning in the early 1900s, avant-garde (a French term message and values Key Term meaning art that questions what is accepted in society) move- that provide the foun- Avant-Garde: any ments rejected the idea of being passive and inactive, especially dations for Olympic when it came to viewing art. Just like the goals of Chanjuan, ideals. With the intent on creative group balancing the development active in the in- avant-garde artists did not want the viewer to turn off their brain like a couch potato. Instead, they wanted to engage them and of the mind, body and character novation and inspire individual responses. of children, the Arts Olympiad translates application of new into any language the global need for concepts and tech- By combining art and sport for the third Arts Olympiad, the idea tolerance, friendship and creative prob- niques in the arts. of passively viewing and making art has been transformed. Art is lem solving. no longer separate from the everyday, nor is creativity disconnected from such common activities as sports. Roles such The Arts Olympiad allows the celebration as artist or athlete are no longer limited to what is commonly of different cultures—for each participating accepted. Cultivating the imagination is dependent on the freedom of questioning country has it’s own identity and interpreta- and the redefi ning of what is and what could be. tion unique to its customs, ultimately infl u- encing how each child approached the theme “My Favorite Sport”. However, the diversity “Art and sport have the power to change the world, did not separate countries the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way or children from each other. that little else can. Art and sport speak to people in a The simple task of picking language they understand. Art and sport can create up a pencil or paintbrush, hope where there was once only despair. They are no matter where, connected the imaginations of children instruments for peace, even more powerful than in identifying a shared vision governments.” of coexistence. – Nobel Laureate Nelson R. Mandela In June 2007, the world’s children will gather in Wash- Klavdija Lakner (11) Slovenia

6 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 7 Brazil Futura Powers Brazil

The winning artworks came than 12,000 from Bruna Dadão de Assis in institutions in the painting category and from Brazil. Futura’s Juraci Edvan Gomes Fonseca staff also played in the digital art category. Bruna a signifi cant role is a 10 year-old fourth grader in the process of from State School Professor motivating peo- Sebastião Teixeira Pinto in São ple of numerous Paulo. Her drawing portrayed schools to take soccer and she said that she part in the Arts loves “to play it with her friends Olympiad. just for fun.” Bruna said she has always been good at drawing, Juraci is a 12 and she was so happy when year-old third she got the news she was one grader, who stud- of the winners that she imme- ies at Associñçao diately started jumping with joy. de Pais e Amigos Regarding the trip to Washing- dos Exceptionais ton, Bruna said she can hardly (APAE) Educa- wait to travel in an airplane and tional Center in also said that she’ll never forget Bahia, an institu- Juraci Edvan Gomes Fonseca (12) Brazil the experience. tion that special- Bruna Dadão de Assis (10) Brazil izes in educating that took part in the Olympiad. anal (Channel) Futura, Brazil’s educational televi- Favorite Sport” offered students the In addition to the partnership persons with mental disabilities. The gallery provides informa- sion, has partnered with the ICAF since 2000 with chance to refl ect on the value of art with the ICAF, Futura has sup- The sport activity Juraci rep- tion such as names, age and the common goal of helping to educate children through sports. port from American Airlines, resented in his artwork was C school and how one can be- and promote creativity. Canal Futura’s television programs Globo Publishers (Editora swimming because he consid- Teachers like Andreia Heimback come involved in the project. reach more than fourteen million viewers throughout the Globo) and the Art Room (Gabi- ers it the “coolest one.” Juraci Silva said that developing the activity vast country, many of them children. nete de Artes). These compa- was also motivated to enter the The Arts Olympiad in Bra- was benefi cial because it sparked nies were also involved with contest because he thought he zil has been very positive and The number of institutions that took part in the project discussions that looked deeper into the conceptual development of could win. He said he was truly fulfi lling. As a way to celebrate reached 484 schools, and an estimated 29,000 students the message and values of sport, not the project, and recognized the happy when he found out about the positive results and give were involved in the schools’ selection rounds. Canal Fu- just the actions themselves. importance of investing in the his victory. recognition to all the children tura received the artwork of the school fi nalists, including For the fi nal selection, a jury of art promotion of education. that took part in the Arts Olym- 363 drawings in the drawing/painting category and 121 in As a result of the Arts Olym- educators, coaches and the staff of piad, Futura developed fi ve the digital art category. Canal Futura counts on a piad, a virtual exhibition of the Canal Futura gathered to evaluate the animated shorts from a compila- staff that promotes community fi nalist’s drawings can be found The schools received the ICAF lesson plan, translated work. More importantly, these profes- tion of all the drawings received. mobilization. The staff also de- at the project Web site (www. into Portuguese, which helped educators optimize their sionals supported the Arts Olympiad’s The animations aired on Canal velops content for Futura’s pro- frm.org.br/icaf). Through the students’ experience of the Arts Olympiad. Through this initiative of promoting art as a positive Futura, to promote the project, gramming in locations through- online gallery, people will see study plan, educators and students learned about the Arts force in the lives of the children. and generate excitement for the out the country, reaching more the drawings of all the children Olympiad and about ICAF’s mission. The theme of “My young artists.

8 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 9 China

Chun Yat Wong (12) Hong Kong One Million Chinese Artists ith the largest population in the world, there is enormous potential for artistic growth in China. WAs the ICAF partner in China, the Shanghai Vienca Wan Ka Chan (11) Hong Kong Cultural Development Foundation (SHCDF) initiated a program to help reach that potential. Now, looking back provided evidence of activities such as archery International Culture Development Co., Chil- on this fi rst endeavor, the executive director of SHCDF, and competitive lifting as a part of everyday life dren’s Palace of China Welfare Institute and the Professor Shen Genlin, estimates more than one million over four thousand years ago. Today, with the Shanghai ToonMax television. Chinese children participated in the Arts Olympiad. upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics, sports remain just as important to the Chinese culture. To mark In the end, the chosen theme of sports helped After contacting and sending the ICAF lesson plans contemporary time, children who participated in boost the children’s passion for creation but also to schools, the SHCDF also helped launch a series of the Olympiad chose to depict sports that fi ll their encouraged them to try new activities and focus activities on the themes “My Favorite Sport,” starting in lives, including swimming, rope skipping and on a healthy lifestyle. From the exuberance of June 2005. These activities included a sport sketching running. the imagination to observational study, the art- summer camp and various community mural projects. works represented colorful and meaningful lives Although many schools became involved and carried out In the concluding competition held in Shang- shared by the participating children. After receiv- the lessons, the SHCDF reached an even greater number hai, the entries went through three rounds to ing a positive response from the child artists in through the use of television media. reach three fi nalists. The judges included na- this event, the SHCDF hopes to continue the tionally renowned artists, art critics, educators Arts Olympiad with themes that strongly connect Sports and athletic competitions have long been a part and child art experts. Along with the SHCDF, with children’s lives, allowing the innovative spirit of Chinese culture, as ancient archeological relics have the co-sponsors helped support a successful of a child’s experience and vision reach new Yu Kiu Chan (11) China competition, including the Shanghai Children heights of creativity. 10 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 11 Croatia

Olympiad and their new friend- ships with an evening of danc- ing and karaoke. To rest up for the busy second day, the children were treated like true Olympians, staying in dorms normally reserved only for Olympic athletes. The second day began with sports lessons for the children while the adults were treated by a visit from the Croatian First Lady Milka Mesic. Later in the day, there was much excitement from everyone as the Croatian The Croatian First star swimmer Gordan Kozulj ar- rived to show his support. The closing ceremony Lady Inspires brought together friends who had been strangers two days roatia may seem like a distant country before, and celebrated the that has little in common with you; how- creativity of all the participants, Cever, the third Arts Olympiad has helped encouraging them to continue connect children from all over the world through to explore and develop their art making and sport. imagination and involvement in sports. The fi rst lady congratu- The Croatian Arts Olympiad was organized by lated the winner and all the chil- the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports. A dren were awarded a certifi cate national celebration was hosted at the Croatian from the ICAF and the Croatian Olympic Center outside the capital of Zagreb Ministry for their hard work, for 30 winners. For this two-day event, these recognizing the importance of young artists from all over the country gathered each individual child’s creative with their parents and teachers to compete and expression. participate in art and sport activities and attend a culminating award ceremony. To close the celebration, everyone gathered for photo- The children got to know each other through graphs with the fi rst lady and the creation of group posters while their teach- swimmer Gordan Kozulj—pre- serving these wonderful memo- ers headed to the classroom for a lesson from Agata Lucic (10) Croatia the Institute of Education. Afterward, the chil- ries forever. dren celebrated their participation in the Arts

12 ChildArt www.icaf.org Apolonjia Lucic (10) Croatia April–June 2006 13 Africa

Art and the Pharaohs

ome to Cairo, the largest city in Africa and to one of the most signifi cant ancient civilizations, HEgypt has also brought together an incredible number of 18,000 Art Olympiad participants to com- pete this past year. Under the executive patronage of Dr. Isaak Azmi and in cooperation with the Egyptian National Museum of Children’s Art and the Ministry of Education, children from all governorships throughout the country became involved in the Arts Olympiad.

With a well-organized system, the ICAF lesson plan was distributed through the Ministry of Education with Dr. Azmi using a video conferencing system linking all educational administrations with nationally employed teachers. In addition, weekly student exhibits inau- Tinsae Wubshet (11) Ethiopia gurated by famous artists at the National Museum of Children’s Art inspired many students to participate. Eleni Hebtamu (12) Ethiopia

Due to the high number of submissions, the artists waited patiently while their artwork went through many elimination processes. When the number reached one The Amharic Arts Olympiad thousand, a jury panel was elected to continue the selection process. The jury was headed by the famous hrough the African Child Policy Forum, chil- of entries. The jury comprised of a well-known artist Egyptian artist Adam Henen, along with the critic dren from all the states of Ethiopia took part in who shared her inspiring experiences creating art as Art from the Egyptian Arts Olympiad poster Kamal El-Geouli and artists Ezmeralda Hada, Sherif Tthe Ethiopian Arts Olympiad. All together fi fty a child, while others included art teachers and educa- Kamal and Sara Fouad. After the juried selection, the ing. For, example, nine-year-old Hanan Bassem’s ex- schools participated in the competition facilitated by tors. Ethiopia’s Arts Olympiad was well attended and number of works totaled 500 and were sent to the fi nal perience with the Arts Olympiad has helped her realize teachers of art and sport, with a total of 3,268 stu- covered by Ethiopian Television and Radio. round. Though very diffi cult, the judges decided on her love of drawing, infl uencing her desire to become dents. three winners, including Mohamed Amr (11), Perihane Tinsae Wubshet, the eleven-year-old fi nalist from an engineer one day in the future. Omar (12) and Peter Patrick (9). Due to the remote locations of the participating Addis Ababa depicted his favorite sport as running. In June, a ceremony was held to honor the par- schools, donkeys and mules had to be used to carry in He attends Hope Enterprises School. Eleni Habtamu, With the avid involvement of Egypt’s First Lady ticipants and selected artists at the El Shona Art the necessary art supplies. The arrival of these special a twelve-year-old girl from Guente Primary School Suzanne Mubarak, the success was overwhelming for Center and Museum in Agamy Alexandria. Along with deliveries signaled the link between the children of chose volleyball as her favorite sport. Other students many of the organizers and inspirational for the partici- Egypt’s First Lady, the Minister of Culture and Gov- Ethiopia to the children of the world brought together depicted basketball, tennis, swimming and jump rope pating children. ernor of Alexandria, many artists and critics gathered by the Arts Olympiad. With the use of blackboards as their favorite sport. in schools, announcements in classrooms and the According to one of the child artists, there is also a to celebrate with the Arts Olympiad winners and their translation of ICAF’s lesson plan into Amharic, (the Following the successful fi nalist selection, the new found appreciation in his family for losing oneself families. national language of Ethiopia) students readily joined African Child Policy Forum (http://www.africanchildfo- in the act of play, allowing necessary time for expres- In a country known for its historical signifi cance, this global community of children. rum.org) now hopes to hold a national exhibition of all sion and nurturing the imagination. Also, many chil- Egypt is now able to see a bright and colorful future— the children’s works. In order to involve the children dren now have a new perspective and appreciation and the importance that children play in Generously hosted by the Bulgarian Embassy from the most remote locations, the organization is for the everyday activities like sports that fi ll their lives, reaching this achievement. in the capitol city of Addis Ababa, the Arts Olympiad now raising funds to bring Ethiopian children together, connecting them with artistic possibilities and mean- took place on December 15, 2005. During this time a giving them the chance for more creative and inspired jury selected the two Ethiopian fi nalists from the pool futures.

14 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 15 Israel New Zealand Israel Gives a Lesson in New Integration Zealand’s n order to introduce the Arts Olympiad in Israel, a conference was organized Ifor art and sport instructors at the Art Israeli Sport Institute by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport. Lectures presented art and sport in history, including ancient Greek Houses vase paintings, early photography and Matthew Bastion (9) New Zealand a visual history of the grace of human s the ICAF partner, the Children’s Art House athleticism and movement. Also, along people of New Zealand) and drew on a long tradition Fund arranged the Arts Olympiad in the island with the ICAF curricula, teachers were of sculpture carving and art making for their entries. nation of New Zealand. The Art House Fund Parawera is an example of how connecting children encouraged to brainstorm integrative A seeks to ensure the right for all children to explore from remote areas to global ideas and goals in very and engaging classroom activities. their creativity with safe and valued community proj- much within reach. Upon conclusion, the instructors left ects, supporting the development of creative children Once each art house fi nished their individual ex- the conference with new inspiration to in assuring creative communities. Through the use of community art centers called art houses, twenty- hibit and voting process, the art works were sent to implement the Arts Olympiad in their the National Conference of the New Zealand Chil- schools across Israel. The 200 partici- fi ve separate competitions were held before the fi nal round of judging and exhibition. A majority of the art dren’s Art House Fund. An exhibition of 100 fi nalists pating schools within six regions held houses used the ICAF lesson plan, organizing activi- took place at Kihikihi Town Hall, on the North Island individual exhibitions of submitted art- ties integrating sport and art. in Central New Zealand in November 2005. A panel work, encouraging both digital and two- of judges comprised of professors, principals and art dimensional entries. For each region, a In New Zealand sports take center stage. In fact, it house artists and coordinators that made the fi nal committee chose twenty artworks that is known as one of the world’s best countries for ex- decision on the winning work. The exhibition was were sent to the national exhibition at the treme sports. However, through the Arts Olympiad, opened by Maori leader Kaumatua Koro Maikuku Ministry of Education in Tel Aviv and then children of New Zealand gained a new perspective and Dr. Ian Hassall, former Commissioner for Chil- onto the Ministry in Jerusalem. Yarden Arditi (9) Israel on the importance of the arts. They also recognized dren. The Second Arts Olympiad winner, Ella Gor- a need for new policies related to public funding of don Latty, who participated in the ICAF 2003 festival In May 2006, the opening of the exhibition has become a great national arts programs in their schools. In helping to open a in Washington, D.C., also addressed the gathering welcomed the artists, their teachers, art and celebration in Israel. Combining dialogue between the Children’s Art House Fund and and advocated arts education. sport inspectors, educational leaders of the six the government, the participating children voiced regions and the Ministry of Education Director. the elements of art and sport has their words and expressed their feelings about the With the help of the Children’s Art House Fund, Of all the entries, a panel of judges that included helped unite children through lack of art programs available to them. the New Zealand Arts Olympiad has established a stronger voice for arts advocacy and its impact on artists, museum educators and teachers select- shared ideas that are supported ed two fi nalists. Another remarkable story emerged in Parawera, a children’s creative futures. Importantly, the Olympiad by history and the positive small school in the Waikato Region, where children has inspired New Zealand’s children to take interest From the perspective of Dr. created exceptional wire sculptures for the competi- in their educational opportunities, taking charge of development of the future. tion. The school has a small population of thirty- ensuring the necessary tools for a better tomorrow. Naomi Jaffe, the Arts Olympiad seven students of Maori descent (the indigenous

16 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 17 Palestine

Wafer Abu-Alyaraiz (12) Palestine Anwar Al-Atras (12) Palestine

Beezer Sohan (12) Palestine Pushing for Creativity in Palestine

n the eyes of the Palestinian Child Arts Center and black disrupted the portrayal of green playing (PCAC) located in Hebron, the Arts Olympiad grounds. Eli Abu-Jandia (12) Palestine Wisal Aieida (12) Palestine Iwas an opportunity for the children of Palestine to visually report and express their lives to the outside Samih Abu Zakieh, an artist and a founder of world. PCAC, says the Palestinian children’s ability to play The PCAC was founded in 1994 as the fi rst Pal- Although the PCAC has faced hardships in funding, and learn from sports is in danger, as opportunities estinian network for children to provide activities and the founders remain passionate and dedicated to their The guideline to create artwork was based on the and activities are being taken away as the issues of programs for the intellectual and creative development original goals to serve and cultivate the minds of chil- theme of “My Favorite Sport,” however, the Pales- safety worsen. of Palestine’s children. In the fi rst years of PCAC, the dren. This commitment has given hope to the children tinian children’s submissions were infl uenced by importance of bringing smiles back to the faces of the who have had the rare opportunity to freely express the current confl ict and violent realities of their daily ““LookLook aatt oourur ddrawingsrawings ttoo children was the key goal—to create an environment themselves. The optimism that fuels PCAC continues lives. Their visual expressions were invaded by fear. sseeee thethe tragedytragedy wewe lliveive iin,”n,” where they could freely play, dance, sing and learn. to rest on the open possibilities of children creating a Soccer fi elds transformed into battlegrounds fi lled Now PCAC has expanded to include opportunities for better, more peaceful future. with barbed wire and tanks, while the use of red ssaysays a childchild aartist.rtist. festivals, art workshops and children’s rights education.

18 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 19 Republic of Komi Art and Silk in Siberia

Ildar Ibragimov (10) Russia

Olga Rudzey (12) Russia

With its location in the Arctic Dasha Kot (12) Russia Circle, weather infl uences all aspects of life, including the favorite sports depicted in the third Arts Olympiad. Some of these favorite sports included hockey, ice-skating and skiing. From the participation of over 5,000 children, a majority of the entries came from the Children’s Art School in Vorkuta under the Katya Ivanova (11) Russia Darya Kremlevskaya (12) Russia direction of Sergey Gagauzoy.

ith your atlas in hand, fi nd the Republic available media includes painting and photogra- As under previous Arts Olym- of Komi. What do you think this small phy but also extends to experimental methods, piads, a special jury was chosen WFederal Subject of Russia is like? such as silk painting. Teachers have observed to select the winning artworks. that silk painting creates colorful, emotional After many diffi cult decisions, In the Republic of Komi, art plays an impor- responses and an increased desire to be en- the artworks were narrowed tant role in the early development of children gaged in the art making process. It has become down and for some, the dream and nurturing their creative potential, as art pro- a benefi cial tool in opening the imagination and of participating in the World Anton Chervinsky (12) Russia grams begin in school at age fi ve. The variety of helping children express their own perceptions. Children’s Festival became a possibility.

20 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 21 Romania

Gheorghita Petru (10) Romania Chisalita Roxana (11) Romania OOlympiclympic RainbowRainbow iinn RomaniaRomania eld in Brasov, the Romanian Arts Olym- local and global ideals together with a multina- piad Exhibition took place in November tional vision and message to the world. Savanciuc Beatrice (11) Romania H2005. As sponsors, the Euro–Asia Pro- motion and Cultural Foundation, the European As head juror, professor and President of the Literature Circle and Brasov County’s Federa- Romanian Artist Union, Nicolae Daicu declared tion of Youth NGO’s supported the last stages Cosmin Moga (12) from central Transylvania the of the competition, including the fi nal selection offi cial winner. His painting, Olympic Rainbow, from 33 regional fi nalists. As a truly national communicated a discovery of the Olympic spirit event, from the widespread involvement of through a child’s eye, unifying diverse color and schools to the national media coverage of the shapes while capturing the gesture and grace of Olympiad, the winning artwork helped bridged movement. Croitor Monica (11) Romania Constantinescu Cosmina (10) Romania 22 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 23 United Arab Emirates

Noura Mohammed Ahmed (7) UAE Art, Sport, and Culture in Sharjah

ctober 12, 2005 was unlike any other day in Fatima Ali Saif (15) UAE the urban square of the Sharjah Art Museum in the United Arab Emirates. Set against the O development of a critical mind and adventurous dents activities and Mrs. Wafaa al Khazendar dramatic lighting of the setting sun, the fi nal selec- spirit, the collaboration with the ICAF helped to head of local & international art competitions. tions for the third Arts Olympiad were displayed successfully spread the competition throughout in the square and attended carefully by a panel of the country. By providing a safe and nurturing With a clipboard in hand, the judges visited judges. From a total of 275 entries, eighteen had environment for children and especially young each easel, taking notes and carefully making been selected for this exhibition and for the fi nal girls, the Children and Girls Centers look to their selections. round of judging. instill not only a strong cultural identity but also With a wide variety of sports represented, the While the child artists and their families eagerly an open international exchange. winning artwork by Noura Mohammed Ahmed waited in the square, the light highlighted the radi- To launch the Arts Olympiad, classes in depicts a unique sport specifi c to desert coun- ant vitality of the artworks, creating glowing colors digital art and painting workshops were held tries: a camel race. The commotion and excite- throughout the space. This special moment, just throughout the country, as were bicycle races ment depicted in Noura’s drawing helps paint before the sunset, brought stillness to the busy and other sports. a picture for viewers and sparks their interest urban square, and brought all attention towards the experiencing unique activities that take place children’s creations. Upon completion of the workshops and once around the world. the entries had been narrowed down, it was As the UAE partner of the ICAF, the Supreme time for the fi nal exhibit and round of judging in In the end, the child artists were able to take Council of Family Affairs brought the Olympiad to life Sharjan. Judging the remaining eighteen art- away a new sense of self-discovery, uncovering through its Children and Girls Centers. As an edu- works were three members from the Ministry of unknown capabilities and learning more about cational, non-profi t organization that supports the Education, Dr. Nagat Meky, head of education themselves, redefi ning their self-image and Maitha Ahmed Ali (11) UAE techniques, Mr. Saleh al Ostaz head of stu- confi dence. 24 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 25 United States: Texas Art and Handicap in Texas

nlike other Arts Olympiads held around the world, the Spring Branch Indepen- Udent School District in Houston, Texas created a unique format for students to actively combine an Olympic sport competition with making art. With the help of volunteers, 44 students with physical and mental handicaps participated in twelve events that combined art and sport, in- cluding: boxing with painted gloves, painted feet hurdles, archery with painted nerf arrows, and Students from shot put with foam Frisbees. Spring Branch Independent Of course, an Olympic event would not be School complete without a torch lighting ceremony, and District in the children of Spring Branch were treated with Houston the world’s fi rst neon torch made by two Hous- Texas ton area artists. Once in place, the torch fi lled participate in the gymnasium with a glowing bright orange the Arts light, and signaled the beginning of the games. Olympiad. Activity and color soon fi lled the gym, as each They event created a “whirlwind of action, abstraction, participated in laughter and joy.” The fi nished result: sixteen a torch canvases that captured the activity of each lighting event, best described as “wild splashes and ceremony, Olympic explosions of color.” Naomi Malyar (7) Texas, U.S. archery, and other In the closing ceremony, Eric Thomas, a 2000 Italy to study ancient sculptures and their rela- activities. USA Olympian in Track and Field awarded the tionship to the modern Olympic Games. All students artistic athletes with a medal, as the surrounding received torchlight highlighted the “thrill and pride in their After meeting with archaeologists, artists, medals wide eyes.” athletes and traveling to Olympia, the site of the presented fi rst Olympic Games, they were inspired by their With teaching and coaching backgrounds, the by 2000 USA experiences and an article in ChildArt Magazine organizers Jody and David Butler were inspired Olympian Eric to arrange the Arts Olympiad for the children of to create this unique Arts Olympiad from a fel- Thomas. Spring Branch. lowship they earned to travel to Greece and 26 ChildArt www.icaf.org April–June 2006 27 Please subscribe to ChildArt Magazine online at www.icaf.org or email us at [email protected]. Annual subscription is $30 for US and $40 for international. Published since 1998, ChildArt is a commercial-free arts learning, self-discovery and global education periodical.

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