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Several
years ago,
Alice Williams, former President of Sierra Watercolor Society (SWS)
recognized the need for art instruction in the elementary schools
of
Washoe
County School District.
Due
to school funding cut backs, art instruction in most of the Washoe County
Elementary Schools was eliminated. Teachers were to incorporate one hour
of art/craft activities per week into their schedule. The majority of
these teachers have no formal art training.
Under
the direction of Alice Williams, she and Jean Braden formed a volunteer
group of artists, who go into elementary school classes at the request
of the teacher, and provide up to two hours of watercolor basics.
There
is about 20 minutes of discussion and demonstration, and the students
are then given supplies and have a period of hands-on watercolor
painting.
The
supplies, paper, brushes, paints, etc. are furnished by Sierra Watercolor
Society members, either by donation or a silent auction that is held
once
a year to fund this
project. There is no charge to the school, teacher or student for this
art session.
All
demonstrators and helpers are artists, and most are members of Sierra
Watercolor Society. SWS schedules approximately 25 such visits a school
year, with an average of 25 students per class. SWS also holds two sessions
of instruction at the Wilbur D. May Museum in Reno, with 50 students attending
each class.
In
this way, Sierra Watercolor Society provides a much needed service to
the schools, teachers, and students, and “gives back” to
the community that has supported
SWS for many years.
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