ISCO puts on ArtSPARK

The International Arts Center (IAC) held ArtSPARK from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. last Saturday. This free event was an invitation for community members to come together and enjoy art. 

Each month, ArtSPARK invites the Troy community to come together for an art project, scavenger hunt and story time to give local children the opportunity to learn about the arts. Snacks were also provided. 

“I enjoy the exposure to the art that it brings to the children,” said Amie Psarudakis, a returning visitor and Troy University faculty member. “My son really enjoys doing art and this kind of gets him involved in artistic endeavors and exposes him to artists.” 

Many local families look forward to the monthly event. 

“My kids look forward to doing this whenever it comes around because they get to see their friends and they get to do an art project,” said Andrea Back, the executive director of the Johnson Center for the Arts. “They like the scavenger hunts, love the turtles and they just love being here at the campus to do something. 

“The kids love it and it's great because you can meet other adults and hangout and get to know other families. It's really structured for families so come with your kid. The kids can have fun, and you can have fun.” 

The project for this event was planned by Rebekah Alexander, a teaching artist. This month’s activity was inspired by Gustav Klimt’s Tree of Life. Children and their guardians were encouraged to take gold paint pens and draw their own tree of life on black paper, creating unique spiral patterns similar to Klimt's work. Various glitters and gems were also provided to decorate the trees. 

A scavenger hunt also took place. Children were excitedly looking at the artwork to see if they could complete the challenge. Troy students were also known for stopping by for the scavenger hunts. 

“I think art is medicine and the act of doing it is very important and vital for survival,” Alexander said. “Facilitating a space and time that’s open to the community, families and children, giving them time to create together in a safe environment.” 

Abi Irwin, a Troy graduate and graphic designer based in Montgomery, Alabama, redesigned the Sparky mascot cutout for the event. 

This event was funded in part through generous grant funding by Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. 

More information about ArtSPARK and other events in the IAC can be found on their Instagram page @iac_troyuniversity. Another resource to visit is their website at www.troy.edu/student-life-resources/arts-culture/international-arts-center.