Pitman High artists draw on inner child to teach Turlock kids

Teens who came together over a love of art are sharing that creative bent with younger kids.

Members of the Pitman High School Art Club have been spending one afternoon a month working with elementary students after school. On Thursday, 20 art club members took a crafty art project to Medeiros Elementary School.

“We get to interact with kids. It’s a good feeling,” said Pitman student Ana Teresa Vargas.

“You get to see kids’ creativity come out,” Alexia Diaz said.

“It’s making sure to keep your imagination alive,” Arcelia Ortega said. “It’s really nice to contact your kid self and keep it going.”

Thursday’s project, designed by the teens, involved creating creatures with colored paper, yarn, feathers and cupcake wrappers. The feathers worried one youngster – what happened to the bird?

“We have a contract for feathers with the ducks,” Ortega told her with a smile. “We trade tortilla chips for them.”

“I like that the birdie’s OK. They were nice people,” said first-grader Hailey Mariscal as the activity finished up.

Second-grader Audrey Saavedra said she already knows how to make art. “I learned a little bit more,” she said.

Sitting between Medeiros students deep into decorating with shiny confetti pieces, Afterschool Play staff member Montana Gardner said the young kids get something more than their artwork.

“It shows them when they get into high school there is more than just school. They can have friends because they have this other interest,” Gardner said. “It’s good to see they can have things in common and get to know other people.”

Twenty Pitman students volunteered at Medeiros on Thursday, their eighth campus, working with the city of Turlock’s recreation department Afterschool Play programs. In May the club will finish up with an afternoon at Walnut Elementary, said rec supervisor Karen Packwood.

Club adviser Larry De Tomasi said 30 to 40 members are in the club, most current or former art students working with the city of Turlock’s recreation department Afterschool Play programs. He and the club’s other adviser, Terri Gianotti, pitch in for materials.

“It’s about 15 bucks. It usually doesn’t cost much,” De Tomasi said.

But what the teens are learning is priceless, Gianotti said.

“The program not only promotes the arts and community service, but also gives the art club members invaluable real-world experience in public speaking and working with kids and the challenges of teaching,” she said via email.

This story was originally published April 17, 2016 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Pitman High artists draw on inner child to teach Turlock kids."