Gleaner News

Arts fest allows youth to 'let down their hair'

By JUDY JENKINS, Gleaner correspondent
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
 
North Middle School teacher Doyle Woodard (R) hands out dog-tags to students after they are drafted in the fight against drugs by signing a pledge not to use drugs . The event was part of Red Ribbon Week.North Middle School teacher Doyle Woodard (R) hands out dog-tags to students after they are drafted in the fight against drugs by signing a pledge not to use drugs . The event was part of Red Ribbon Week.  Photo by Mike Lawrence 
Stacey Eldridge shows off the pumpkin mask she made at Tuesday's 10th annual Audubon Arts & Music Fest for disabled students in Henderson, Daviess, Webster and Union County.Stacey Eldridge shows off the pumpkin mask she made at Tuesday's 10th annual Audubon Arts & Music Fest for disabled students in Henderson, Daviess, Webster and Union County. Photo by Mike Lawrence 
Bendgate Elementary school teacher Rachel Couch (L) and Sevion Whitlock look through a rain streaked window at a lama on display for students at the 10th annual Audubon Arts & Music Fest for disabled students in Henderson, Daviess, Webster and Union County. Bendgate Elementary school teacher Rachel Couch (L) and Sevion Whitlock look through a rain streaked window at a lama on display for students at the 10th annual Audubon Arts & Music Fest for disabled students in Henderson, Daviess, Webster and Union County. Photo by Mike Lawrence 
 
There was one place in Henderson County where the sun was shining Tuesday morning in spite of a heavy downpour and gray, thick clouds. That was inside Audubon Museum, which this week is hosting its 10th annual Audubon Arts and Music Fest for area students who have disabilities. As rain pattered on the museum roof, some 120 happy youths ranging from elementary school age through high school explored their creativity, sang with gusto, and tried out instruments. They also welcomed a mama llama, her month-old baby, a couple of goats, a silky chicken, pot-bellied pig and lop-eared rabbit. Anastasia, the mother llama, was the sole entity who expressed any displeasure in the event and she did so only when her 20-pound "infant" was briefly taken from her to be shown to the students. As Debbi Taylor of Equestrian Enterprises here carried baby Sophia to the museum foyer and a waiting audience, Anastasia uttered a continuous hum of concern, and her ears stood up like antennae.
The three-day fest, which began Tuesday, will include nearly 400 students from Henderson, Union, Webster and Daviess counties and there's never a moment for them to become bored. In the museum's Nature Center, high school students were following local artist Sherry Wilkerson's instructions to create humorous "Bat Hats" and intriguing "Mystery Masks." In the observation area of the Nature Center, Sharon Ford demonstrated how to draw and paint Jack-o-lanterns, whose images were then transferred to take-home T-shirts. Henderson County High junior Logan Hoggard put aside his pumpkin art briefly to tell a visitor that this marks his fifth year of participation in the fest. He enjoys the event, he said, "because I learn a lot of things," including "how to paint better."

On the museum's lower level, Louisville's musical pied piper John Gage was leading elementary and middle school students in Halloween songs that made them giggle. Watching them was Pam Hancock, a North Middle School special education teacher who can relate to youths with disabilities. Since a vehicle accident years ago, she has relied on a wheel chair for mobility. Hancock beamed as the boys and girls dropped their inhibitions and sang at the top of their lungs. "This is wonderful," she said. "It gives them the freedom to express themselves and be themselves and not worry about social rules. They let down their hair and sing and make friends. "This gives them the courage to get up in front of other people and shine."  Elaine Higgs, a County High English teacher, was touched by the overwhelmingly positive atmosphere and by the compassion of the ninth grade volunteers who were assisting in numerous ways.

As the clock's hands neared 11, Museum Arts Educator Kim McGrew prepared to herd the youths into the lower level gallery for an indoors picnic with face-painting and whimsical creations by Balloon Artist Daniel Herron.  McGrew, who strives to add new features to the fest each year, said much of the expense is underwritten by the local Preston Family Foundation. Other sponsors include Audubon State Park, Friends of Audubon, RC Cola, The Henderson County Board of Education, and the Watson Lane Sureway. There was one near mishap on the fest's initial day. "Ten Pen" the black and white goat, decided to have a guest's jacket for lunch, and was the picture of disappointment when the coat was quickly rescued.

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