(Editor's note: the following is a news release from The University of Akron.)
Aimee Sauls, who earned a degree in art education in 2004 from The University of Akron's Myers School of Art and is now pursuing a master's degree in elementary education at UA, recently helped women and children express their hopes and dreams through art.
On Oct. 7 at the Haven of Rest in Akron, Sauls exhibited nearly 50 collages created by women and children from the Haven of Rests Harvest Home and children from the Canton Baptist Temples CBT Kids.
To create the exhibition, Sauls worked closely with Harvest Home staff Yvette McMillan and Becky Pinkerton to better understand the issues of poverty and homelessness. She encouraged the Harvest Home residents to to share their immediate hopes and dreams through visual representation, and to think about their future choices.She did the same with the Canton Baptist Temple childrenas part of a fall art enrichment session that the church offers on Sunday evenings.
Compelling themes emerged from the artwork, including hopes for a pet, family time, future occupations, happiness, wealth and material possessions and a new life.
Using a reverse glass technique, Sauls adhered the collages to Plexiglass donated by Stark Glass of Massillon. The two bodies of work were displayed together, presented in discarded frames of all sizes and colors.
The discarded frames are a reminder that, even though we may feel discarded at times, our life still has purpose and can be used for good, observed Sauls.
The diverse works were exhibited anonymously, giving viewers the opportunity to create their own interpretations.
Sauls is a resident of Beach City. The exhibition was part of the requirements for her graduate degree.
For more information about the Haven of Rest and Harvest Home, visit www.havenofrest.org.For more information about the childrens programs offered by Canton Baptist Temple, visit www.cbtkids.org. For more information about the Myers School of Art at The University of Akron, visit www.uakron.edu/art.
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