First MIVAL Jr. workshop brings creative young artists together

December 22, 2016 9:00 am
A young artist participates in MIVAL Jr’s first holiday workshop on Dec. 10 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill
A young artist participates in MIVAL Jr’s first holiday workshop on Dec. 10 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill

Over 20 creative young Mercer Islanders braved the rain and cold to join Mercer Island Visual Arts League’s professional artists and high school volunteers at MIVAL Jr.’s first holiday art workshop on Dec. 10 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center.

For two hours, kids from kindergarten through sixth grade created holiday cards, gifts and bags. MIVAL artists shared their skills in acrylics, ink stamps and cartooning while high school volunteers provided hands-on guidance and enthusiastic support.

“We are really pleased with the turnout and community response to our first event,” said MIVAL Jr.’s Brandon Hill. “Artists of all ages had a great time creating together.”

The workshop was the inaugural event for MIVAL Jr., a MIVAL program recently launched to initiate more art events, art creation, exhibition and networking opportunities between MIVAL artists and young art enthusiasts on Mercer Island.

“The success of this event and positive feedback from the kids and parents was really inspiring,” said Raleigh Nowers, the chairperson of MIVAL Jr. “We are excited to continue this new chapter in MIVAL and explore more ways to encourage young artists in our community.”

MIVAL Jr’.s next event will be a youth art show at the Lighthouse Gallery at Covenant Shores in the spring of 2017. For more information on MIVAL and MIVAL Jr., visit MIVAL.org.