Young artists learn to paint mural at Community Arts of Elmira

ELMIRA N.Y. ( WETM ) — Kids completed the painting of a mural named the Butterfly Garden on one of the sidewalls of the Community Arts of Elmira building. The kids attended a three-day mural camp this week and worked on the project with the professional muralist, Filomena Jack.

The camp aimed to give the kids a platform to express their artistic creativity. It encouraged them to collaborate and execute the project as professionals.

Muralist Filomena Jack said, “I love talking to them about being part of their community. One of our artists already talked about riding by with his bike with some of his friends to sort of highlight what he’d been working on. I want them to feel proud that they made our environment more colorful.”

The kids enjoyed learning how to paint their design as well as interacting with one another during the camp. It allowed them to share their interest in painting together and put it into practice.

One of the kids Kiarra Olney said, “I really liked meeting all the other people here and painting.” Another kid Jasmine Schultz, who enjoys painting as a hobby added, “It definitely gave us a chance to hang out with people that we’re not used to or random people that we haven’t known and it gives us a chance to communicate, and show our personalities and talk.”

Jack emphasized that this could be an opportunity for the kids to pursue a career in painting. Olney mentioned how she plans to sell mural art at craft fairs as a side hobby.

Next week the Community Arts of Elmira is holding a filmmaking camp for teenagers from Monday, July 29 through Friday, August 2. It is free for anyone to join, and teenagers can register at info@communityartsofelmira.com.

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