Local Teen Taking Her Passion For Art To Windsor's Youth

The Windsor Art Center will be playing host to a kids-only art camp during August. 

Covering topics like collage, found materials and cartoon characters, this art immersion program will not be your mother's hippie-era, paint sunbeams and smiley faces (unless they want to of course). It has been designed, and will be run by, a local 18-year-old teenager and budding modern artist, Catalina McKay.

"I've always had an interest in art," said McKay. "As long as I can remember.  My mom’s an artist; my sister’s an artist. I was raised by artists and I am always around artists."

Raised in Windsor, Catalina has had a passion for art for as long as she can remember. With this camp, she has decided to combine her passion with her love for kids.

She calls it "WOW Art Camp."

Each of the five days, kids will be encouraged to try a new medium, all of which McKay herself has tried. 

She feels strongly that kids need art in their lives and likes to refer to it as "meditation for kids."

"When I was in middle school," she said, "I was never encouraged to doodle while I was in class. I think it’s very hard for a child to sit still for hours and hours at a time without recess.”

"When I went to High School, my teacher, Miss Jackson encouraged me to doodle…and I loved it! I am a proponent of doodling while listening to someone," she said.

So, while other 18-year-olds will be clocking in their time at the local burger joint, or retail store, McKay would like to be teaching your children about what she loves the most.

"Helping children to get on their creative side is really important," said McKay and lamented aloud cuts to local art budgets and programs.

Recently, she displayed her own work at the Rough Around the Edges Art Show held in July. This is her third year showing at this event. 

McKay has obtained her Associates Degree from Bard College at Simon’s Rock and has worked with children in Berkshire, MA.

Also teaching at WOW Art Camp will be graphic artist, Terese Newman, who also happens to be Catalina's mom.

If you would like to see your child develop his right-brain, you can register your children (ages 10 and up) at the WOW Art Camp blogspot. All classes will be held at the Windsor Art Center, 40 Mechanic St., Windsor, CT.