Art In The Park

On Sunday June 6th at 11:15, a group of young volunteers gathered at Stephens Lake Park. We made our way from the entrance benches to the big, blue volunteer tent where we were handed name tags and official white t-shirts with “Columbia Art League,” the organization that puts on the event, across the front. This was my first time at Art In The Park, the oldest and largest fine arts festival in mid-Missouri according to the Art In The Park’s website (http://artinthepark.missouri.org/info.html). I never imagined that the festival would be this detailed and busy. By 10:30 human traffic jams appeared: people rubbing-necking in awe of jewelry that used to be silverware and the mugs that looked like shrunken heads. Around every corner was a different species of animal topiary: the moose at the beginning to the startling bear and my personal favorite the dinosaurs.

For one day, we Youth In Action volunteers were granted the gift of magic. As they say, “with great power comes great responsibility,” we used our gift for good and taught others how to wield magic in a wand. The Boone Electric Kid’s Art Spot was full of kids wanting to make wands; with just a wooden rod, tissue paper, tape, feathers, pipe cleaner and ribbon, the kids were able to be their own wizard. They were allowed to leave with their wand as long as they promised not to turn their parents into frogs.

It was great to be part of the community; we helped kids and parents realize the creativity that can be found in house-hold items. We were part of a festival that reminds Columbia of the value of Art; that art fosters imagination and breeds creativity.

YIA makes an impact!

Event hours: 9 Total Hours: 9



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