By Terri Walker
"Creative
art is for all time and is therefore independent of time. It is of all ages, of
every land, and if by this we mean the creative spirit in man which produces a
picture or a statue is common to the whole civilized world, independent of age,
race, and nationality..."
-Alma Thomas, 1970
-Alma Thomas, 1970
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| Alma Thomas 1891-1978 BS Fine Arts 1924 Howard University Masters Art Education 1934 Columbia University |
Alma Thomas was
an African American artist who showed artistic skills and interest as a child,
making sculptures and puppets at an early age. Today, her artwork is exhibited in
the Obama’s private residence of the White House and she has been featured in
Abrakadoodle’s creative art program for children. That’s why we’re excited to host
a free demo art class by Abrakadoodle on Saturday, July 13th, from
3-4pm at the Bentonville Arts and Recreation Activity Center. This will be a fun opportunity for children and their
parents to experience first-hand the award-winning art education program that
is now available in our community. For detailed information on the event, visit
our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ebonykids.
Abrakadoodle is
a mobile art education program for children ages 20 months to 12 years
old. The art classes, camps, and parties
are offered at schools and community locations convenient to children and
families. It has been in existence in the US since 2003. In the art classes,
children learn to paint, sculpt, draw, design, sketch, and imagine- all in a
fun atmosphere.
Earlier this
year, Abrakadoodle opened its first franchise unit in Arkansas under the ownership
of mother/daughter duo Cora and Joy Davis of Fayetteville. They will be
providing a wide range of art programs including visual art classes, camps, workshops,
in-school field trips, special events, and art parties at schools, community centers,
faith-based locations, and other sites that serve children throughout NWA.
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| Joy Davis (left) and Cora Davis |
Cora Davis,
Director of Abrakadoodle NWA, is married to Paul Davis; she is a mother of three
and grandmother of two young children.
She has 15 years of experience teaching kindergarten, and is currently
working on her PhD in Public Policy and Education at the University of
Arkansas-Fayetteville.
Joy Davis, who
has a BS in Biology and a Masters in Operations Management, discovered Abrakadoodle
while reading a feature article about it in a business magazine, and she
recognized a fit with their creative concept. She approached her mother, Cora,
with the idea of operating the franchise and, fortunately, she enthusiastically
agreed. They began the business in March of 2013.
 |
| Abrakadoodle-NWA Student |
For more
information about Abrakadoodle-NWA art programs, visit www.abrakadoodle.com/AR01 or
contact Joy Davis at jdavis@abrakadoodle.com
or via phone at 479-856-6651.
*It deserves
mentioning that Abrakadoodle is a member of MinorityFran, which is an
organization that was created to increase the awareness (and numbers) of
franchising within minority communities.
