Artists find help in church

Amateur artists of all ages are creating masterpieces as part of an unique ministry at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Kingston.
The church hosts an art club for adults each Monday from 10 a.m. to noon and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Then, on Wednesday afternoons, a class for children meets from 4-6 p.m. at the church.
Both groups utilize many of the same media for their projects.
Bethel’s art director is Micki Anderson, a Knoxville native who taught art for 15 years at a private school in Cincinnati before coming back home to Tennessee with her family.
“We moved here, and I didn’t realize art wasn’t offered in the (primary) schools. So I saw that as an avenue,” Anderson said.
“I decided to start an art program for kids in second grade through high school. We’re going on our third year now.”
Anderson started out with a stained glass class for adults at Bethel.
That class had such a good response that she decided to form an art club for the adults.
Annual membership is $25, which includes most materials and tools.
The children’s class is $5 for each session and includes materials and a snack.
A dozen or so youth are involved in the Bethel Arts Ministry.
Many of them are home-schooled students.
“We don’t push religion on anyone. This is an art program similar to what you would get in a school curriculum,” Anderson said. “So, if they decide to take art in high school, then they would be ready for it.”
Both the adult and children’s groups have worked in ceramics, clay, oils. watercolors, glass fusing, copper enameling and stained glass.
Anderson plans to work in silk painting and felt before the end of the year.
“The kids have done a project with plaster sculptures,” Anderson said.
The art club for adults is mainly geared for people older than 30, however Anderson will accept teenagers who are serious about their work. For more information about the Bethel Arts Ministry, call 376-6340 or visit www.bethelpcusa.org.
 

DWANE WILDER/Roane Newspapers

A young art student works on a collage. Many of the children in the class are home-schooled students.

Buy this photo