Some 20 students from Johnston County Industries, Inc. (JCI) recently learned how to paint, draw, and make ceramics at Johnston Community College.
The opportunity was made possible thanks to a grant from the Johnston County Community Foundation.
JCI, which is located in Selma, was incorporated in 1975 as a community rehabilitation facility dedicated to empowering people with disabilities or disadvantages to succeed through training and employment. JCI provides training and employment services in Johnston, Harnett, Sampson and Wayne counties.
“This turned out to be such a good project,” said Patricia Little, Director of Vocational Programs for JCI. “The students were delighted and enjoyed the classes so much. This project introduced them to new things like visiting a college campus and taking a college class. They were also able to experience things they have never done before, like painting and ceramics and it was such a great confidence booster for them.”
Dr. Evelyn Kelly, director of humanities and fine arts programs at JCC who coordinated the classes and instructors, said the project was a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
“The partnership allowed us to work with a dedicated, diverse group of people for a great cause,” Kelly said. “The friendships and work relationships that we formed are priceless. I look forward to future projects with Patricia, her staff, and the JCI students.”
The students learned drawing, colors, molding, shapes, painting, elements of design, and art vocabulary as they created their own art projects. The students were encouraged to incorporate their own personality and character traits into their creations, which increased their enthusiasm. Anatasia Cardona and Camille Barden were the instructors for the art and ceramics classes.
An expo was held April 16th in the Frank Creech Art Gallery to showcase the students’ work and allow family and friends the opportunity to view paintings and ceramic pieces created over the 10 weeks.
