Kids. Think.Art at The Boston Kiddie Carnival
This weekend, we held an event at the Boston Kiddie Carnival. It was a fantastic cultural experience where we embraced Caribbean culture and heritage. This festival featured a parade where kids dressed in colorful costumes, danced to traditional Caribbean music, and celebrated with their families. There were also lots of fun stands scattered around the venue with exciting kids activities. One of these amazing stands was our interactive Kids.Think.Art. arts and crafts stand.
Textile Activity Inspired by Gio Swaby
The inspiration for our activity was the Bahamian artist Gio Swaby who specializes in creating portraits using beautiful textiles. Each child made their own unique textile portrait by tapping into their inner creativity and using their critical thinking skills. At the end of the creation process, Ms. Yawa, founder of Kids.Think.Art, would remind each kid of the most important step, framing their portrait. She would remind them that their art was not official until they framed it. They were overcome with joy as they framed their artwork.
Connection with my Caribbean Roots
This was an amazing experience. Being with my Caribbean community reminded me of the deep connection that we all have with each other. Even though I was meeting all the wonderful families for the first time, it felt like we had a connection that I had not felt in a long time. Working with kids and assisting them with activities has always been a passion of mine. Spending time with them always brings a smile to my face as I see the excitement and joy in their eyes. There were many times where I saw my younger self in a lot of these little kids, which brought back many meaningful memories from my early childhood.
Written by Ryan Denny. A student at Milton High School.
Kids.Think.Art 