Making a Difference 

Birmingham's Space One Eleven art camps inspire childhood creativity

Birmingham News 

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Melissa Turnage

She and her two siblings, Rachel, 13, and Ryan, 11, have spent the past five summers at Space One Eleven arts camps. Each has developed their own artistic talents, reports their mother, Angela Stoves, a Roebuck area resident. Stoves said she thanks the teachers and staff at Space One Eleven for exposing her children to the arts in a safe and creative environment.

Ashley's younger sister Rachel, who attends Huffman Middle School, has won numerous art contests. One of her award-winning pictures was on display several years ago in the Courthouse in Montgomery.

Younger brother Ryan, who just finished the fourth grade at W.J. Christian Elementary School, won first place in a citywide art contest. He also has won first place in science and social studies fairs at his school. His mother attributes his design and drawing abilities to his classes at Space One Eleven.

Stoves believes that being exposed to the arts has helped her children achieve academically as well as giving them a larger view of the world.

"The arts help children develop literacy skills and encourage divergent thinking and problem solving skills," says Melissa Jones, arts education director at Space One Eleven.

Space One Eleven is a nonprofit visual art foundation committed to provide professional opportunities for artists, create a forum for public understanding of contemporary art and to offer arts education to the area's youth.

In his testimony to Congress, Bill Ivey, former chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts, used Space One Eleven as an example of excellence in their tuition-assisted after-school classes and summer arts camp.

This flagship art education program is unique to the Birmingham community. It unites students from different cultural and economic backgrounds in an arts environment encourages creativity, respectful collaboration, and a commitment to community.

Many former students make up the professional roster of teachers and assistants, furthering Space One Eleven's "commitment to support visual arts and artists in Birmingham and producing long-term engagement and commitment by Birmingham citizens to its cultural fabric," says director Ann Arrasmith.

This year's summer camp theme is "Growgreen." At "Art Eco," the students will be introduced to a variety of art techniques, along with discussions about the theory of color and a general overview of art history.

"The students will also explore basic environmental issues through artistic outlets, as well as see how other eco-friendly cultures and contemporary artists demonstrate how they are helping the environment," Jones said. For more information about Space One Eleven, go to www.SpaceOneEleven.org.

*** "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." - Pablo Picasso -- To help tell about the good things going on in the Birmingham-Hoover metro area, please become a member of the Making a Difference team by sending tips to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it