GEORGETOWN—Last spring, when the Guild of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was founded by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, its mission was to promote the sacred arts in the diocese. Since then, events such as the Gaudete Market, Heart to Heart Evenings of Adoration, and the Burns’ Night Scottish celebration have drawn scores of men, women, and families to the Guild’s oratory at Sacred Heart Parish in Georgetown.
As the Guild’s scope continues to broaden, a program was developed this winter specifically designed for its youngest members – a children’s art school.
After a successful initial class in November, coordinators launched two six-week sessions on Saturday mornings throughout January and February—one for children ages five through seven and the other for older children ages eight to 14. For longtime area art teacher Adrienne Keogler, this was an opportunity to immerse her young students in sacred art and to teach them different creative techniques, all the while sharing in the beauty of their Catholic faith.
“They’re excited to create beautiful pieces of art,” she said. “And all creation speaks of the Creator. They are seeing God in the artwork.”
With a goal of “blending art and teaching faith,” each week Keogler introduced the children to a different theme, such as the ancient catacombs or the Renaissance, and then instructed them through guided drawing on how to create images associated with the art history.
Following a short lesson, students referred to printed pictures as models for their own artwork which was all hand-drawn and painted using various mediums, depending on the age group. When focusing on the Presentation, specifically the turtle doves, Keogler introduced the younger group to liquid watercolors while the older ones used chalk pastels.
“I really believe children are capable of so much. They are very receptive because they can make it what they want,” said Keogler, who gives them the freedom to experiment with colors and designs of their own while keeping the work rooted in the Christian themes. “We go where the Holy Spirit takes us.”
On a recent Saturday morning, the older class immersed themselves in the work of Italian artist Giotto di Bondone, specifically the mosaic of an angel. While sacred music played in the background, the children chatted with each other at tables, mixed watercolors and occasionally called to Keogler for guidance.
“Do you think the head of my angel is too big?” asked one boy, to which Keogler replied, “No, it’s perfect, actually.”
“How do I put the mouth in?” a little girl wondered. “Any way you want to,” her teacher answered.
Walking around and checking the projects, Keogler added details about the halo and mentioned that Giotto is considered the father of the Renaissance.
“I plug in the history as they’re painting, so they get a holistic type of experience and feel the joy of creating,” she said.
It’s a joy that resonated with the children, including one 11-year-old from New Fairfield.
“It’s really fun, and I like drawing with everyone,” he said. “The religious artwork is so nice.”
Pausing to look at his project, he added, “And I think our Lord appreciates it.”
These classes have also been meaningful to the parents, who see how the whole family benefits from what the children are discovering about art and Christianity.
“They come home with such wonderful pieces and I love that they are using their talents and learning about their faith,” said Lenore Yastremski of Danbury, whose sons Thomas and John attended the class. “We witness it at home too. This is reaching us all.”
The success of this program is also reaching Father Michael Clark, rector of the Guild and an artist himself, who recognizes how the arts are sometimes neglected in school and wants to change that through continued programming, especially for the children.
“Art can make the soul visible,” he said. “Art speaks in a language that doesn’t need words. That’s God’s language.”
And it is a language that these young children are quickly learning to understand through the beauty of their own creations.
By Emily Clark
