There's an art to helping kids

"I like art so much!" the 11-year-old declared. "Yesterday, I made a pillow out of fabric. I put cotton balls and feathers inside to make it fluffy."

The pillow is just one of a dozen or so projects Felicia has completed since New Day opened this summer. It is the brainchild of Tracie Killar, a former Catholic Charities employee who grew up in Albany's South End neighborhood.

"I spent my childhood living here," Mrs. Killar said, her gesture taking in the entire neighborhood outside New Day's tiny rooms on South Pearl Street. "I feel my roots are here. I feel comfortable here."

Coming home

"I was strongly influenced by my work at Community Maternity Services [a Catholic Charities' agency], how they serve people -- and I always prayed for God to lead me in the right direction," Mrs. Killar remembered.

That direction turned out to be the internet. A year and a half ago, she started researching what art programs around the country did for children. "I wanted to serve people and do so through art expression," she said.

Coming together

To fund it, Mrs. Killar started a campaign called "2000 Women Strong," asking people (particularly women) to donate $50 apiece as startup money. Those funds kept the project moving until she received a $3,000 grant from the Albany County Youth Bureau -- enough to open the program for the summer. Thirteen children signed up immediately.

Three small rooms and a bathroom in a South Pearl Street office building are currently the entire New Day Art Institute. But the kids who pay a small fee to go there don't seem to mind: On a recent afternoon, eight-year-old Angel Suarez built towering piles of Lego blocks in one room while describing a recently completed project.

"Stools!" he shouted, referring to wooden stools the children decorated themselves. Angel said he put the face of The Rock, his favorite wrestler, on his stool. He also made clay out of coffee grounds in a workshop that helped the children make coffee, bead or soap clay. Workshops this summer include sculpting, painting, poetry and drama.

Coming to life

"treasure chest" of art supplies sat waiting invitingly for kids to dive in. Another wall held a magnetic board and supplies for children to make their own magnets.

"Artists like to be in a quiet room to concentrate," said Felicia, back in the main room.

While she told The Evangelist that the South End is a safer place to grow up than many people believe, she added that until New Day came along, she spent her evenings at home.

"I'd go to my after-school program, then go home -- then it's almost time to come in the house," she said. "I'd say, `I won't even go outside, 'cause it's getting dark.' So I just draw."

Felicia has already learned some valuable lessons at New Day. She admitted that initially, kids criticized each other's creations; but now, she knows that "if I don't like somebody's artwork, I keep it to myself. If you tell somebody, `That's good,' they'll want to keep trying."

Coming needs

"I would like this to be a place where kids feel good about themselves and their work," she stated. "We can all influence kids in a positive way."

The children themselves have put their mark on the program, as well. While New Day isn't affiliated with any religion, Mrs. Killar noted, Felicia asked to say grace before dinner one night, and now all the children like to take turns at it.

Seeing young boys spending hours bicycling around the neighborhood has also spurred Mrs. Killar to plan a drawing class just for boys in the fall. She hopes to attract some children who feel "too cool" to try artwork in a larger, co-ed group.

Coming attractions

They'll also put on a play, make projects tied to cultural heritage and have gallery openings for their artwork.

"Right now, I literally have $900 in our account, and that's it," noted Mrs. Killar, laughing. "Our next campaign will be called `Sponsor a Child' -- $25 covers the cost of one child taking a workshop. I'm not discouraged by how little we have; I'm encouraged by the kids and how the program has been received in the community."

The director does hope people will come to an orientation session for volunteers on August 26, donate art supplies or make "a pan of ziti or chicken" for the kids' dinner.

Coming again

"I read that if one adult can believe in a child, that child can carry that for the rest of their life," Mrs. Killar said, watching the kids at work. "Someday, Felicia can go to college and be a really great artist, because that's what she wants to be."

(Orientation for volunteers at New Day will be held August 26, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Volunteers do not have to be artists. For information, call 462-7914.)

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