Art in the Park
Each year, the City of Sidney offers summer clinics for children in the parks. The Gateway Arts Council takes place by sponsoring an arts-related clinic.

This year, we worked with wool to create felt geodes. Kids wrapped layers of wool into spherical forms and dunked them into warm, soapy water, gently rubbing and squeezing the fibers to create felt balls. Once the felt balls were dry, they were given the option of cutting them open to reveal the layers inside! Additionally, each kid created a weaving of paper, string, ribbon, yarn and other goodies, as well as a beautiful abstract watercolor painting with the help of plastic wrap. Art in the Park is always hands-on. Kids get to be agents in their own learning. The recommended ages for Art in the Park are 7-12, though older and younger are welcome as well. We advise the kids to dress in layers as the weather can be quite unpredictable at the beginning of June! The clinic is free to those interested, but registration is required. Registration for 2011 will begin in May of 2011!

The 2009 Art in the Park project was two-fold. The children created beads and pendants out of Sculpey polymer clay, which they then painted and strung. They also created a collaborative set of relief prints which featured their self portraits and drawings of transportation. The prints will be presented to the Shelby County Transit in the near future. The children's work will adorn the walls of the SCT new facility. (More information to follow.)

The 2008 Art in the Park project was to create a mural depicting Sidney and Shelby County through the eyes of our children. We encouraged them to explore service in the community. The project took place three mornings in late May at Custenborder Park. On the first morning, the children were given a blank sheet of paper and began conceptualizing their ideas. Once ideas were formed, Zach Medler, Visual Arts Faculty Chair of Arts Place in Indiana, directed the children through the composition of the piece. On the second day, the children outlined all the pencil images with black paint on the mural. Day three introduced color. The entire project took six hours from conception to completion. The finished mural represents Sidney and Shelby County through the eyes of its children.

The mural, titled “The Big Picture” will be given as a gift from the Gateway Arts Council and the children who painted the mural to the City of Sidney and Shelby Countyduring intermission of the FREE Jazz Ambassador concert which will be held June 25, 2008 at 6:30 PM at the Court House Square in Sidney. It expresses how we at the Arts Council feel about our service organizations. We are ever mindful that without the military, without national, state and local governments, without our first responders, the arts would not be possible, and for that reason our 20th anniversary celebration is a tribute to those institutions and to the individuals who make them great, as is the mural.

Kids Around the Square, Applefest, Air Fair and Other Community Events
The Gateway Arts Council will continue to have a presence at "Kids Around the Square". This one-day, free festival is annually coordinated by the Sidney Chamber of Commerce and the United Way. The Arts Council participates by inviting the children to make arts and crafts projects they may take with them. There is no charge for the children to participate. Each year the Arts Council has more than 350 children participate in their activity.

Gateway Arts Council will be present at Applefest 2009 on Saturday, September 11 from 11:00am - 7:00pm. We will be working with the children to create prints of apples. There is no charge for the children to participate. In the past, Gateway Arts Council has seen 600+ children at their booth.

Gateway Arts Council will be providing arts activities at the Sidney Air Fair September 18th at the Sidney Municipal airport. Join us as we make all things that fly...Up Up & Away!