The Duncan Banner

Local News

July 10, 2011

Creativity to explode at camp

Kids tap talents in CTAC program

Jeff Kaley The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Creative muse doesn’t care about social status — high or low.

The urge to create, regardless the medium, isn’t restricted by age, race, gender, ethnicity or physical impairment.

During a teaching career that spanned three decades, Cindy Parks came to understand the realities of the creative muse. Much of her tenure was spent teaching gifted and talented students in the Duncan Public School system, where Parks discovered creativity is unlocked by opportunity.

That’s why the new President of the Chisholm Trail Arts Council is sold on Arts Explosion, the youth-oriented, multi-media arts program that begins Monday at Stephens County Fair & Expo Center.

“Arts Explosion is just wonderful. I usually go the whole week and watch the students, and they are so engaged. You can feel the creative juices flowing,” said Parks, whose sons Sam, Blake and Joel participated in the program that is geared toward youth who will be in third, fourth and fifth grades in the coming school year.

Since joining the CTAC Board of Directors two years ago, Parks’ belief in the opportunity provided by Arts Explosion has intensified.

“To me,” she said, “Arts Explosion can be geared toward any child, and that’s why it’s so marvelous. In the classes, you can have a child who may not excel well in school sitting next to one who does, and both of them benefit.

“It’s a way to bring all different kinds of kids together and those kids can shine.

“And it doesn’t have anything to do with economic status, because we offer scholarships for those who may not otherwise get to go due to their family’s economic situation.”

The line-up of classes for the week-long 2011 Arts Explosion mirrors the diversity that has marked the program since it began in the 1990s. Visual arts like tie dye and mono printing meld with kite-making and pottery, two disciplines that combine craft-making and visual skills.

Arts involving movement and music can be found in two classes of dance and exercise.

“I look forward to an extraordinary week,” Parks said. “Our instructors are always entertaining and it’s just a great way for any child to spend a week of their summer.

“No matter if the kid’s interest is visual art, music or whatever, a program like Arts Explosion is a tremendous outlet for creativity.

“I saw it in my gifted and talented classes, and I see it in our camp; something like Arts Explosion can be great for a child who might seem hyperactive or who struggles with traditional education. If they can find a creative outlet, they become focused and their talent can come out and be something wonderful.”

Arts Explosion runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 p.m. to noon. On Friday, students return at 5:30 p.m. for a showcase presentation that reveals where they were led by the creative muse.

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