ATHENS — Through crayon, color pencil and paint, children created images of themselves in capes, flying to defeat cancer creatures and even blocking a cancer monster from the hospital.
“We can make a defrents,” one Cowart Elementary student wrote, meaning make a difference.
In honor of September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Athens Arts League is exhibiting children’s artwork for the “Hero Up!” Childhood Cancer Awareness Art Exhibit.
“The purpose of the art competition and exhibit is to show children how they become superheroes when they help to fight cancer by bringing awareness to the disease through their art and by using their creativity to express ways they can help,” said Athens Arts League board member Diane Lehr, who oversees art education and programs. “They may want to grow up to be doctors and nurses, or they may be kind to a sibling or fellow student going through cancer, or they may be fighting the disease themselves.”
The exhibit opens this week at High Cotton Arts at 103 W. Washington Street. Athens Arts League will announce the winners of the contest Friday, during its Art After Hours outdoor concert. Winners in first- through third-place in their age categories will receive gift cards, and Athens Arts League will make a $25 donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in honor of each first-place winner.
This is the final Art After Hours of the season. After Bedtime, a local rhythm and blues band, will perform from 7-9 p.m. on Washington Street in front of High Cotton Arts. The band features Athens Arts League board member Jim McDole with Jay Sims, Drew Carter, Andy Clem and Brian Meeks.
The family friendly event includes superhero-themed art activities for children such as magic color scratch superheroes, superhero poster sheets and superhero coloring sheets.
Thie free event is sponsored by Athens Arts League, Morell Engineering, Alabama Tourism Department, State Sen. Tim Melson and the city of Athens.
Athens Arts League encourages attendees to dine downtown and at the event, including gourmet popcorn from Rocket City Popperz, which sells hand-popped flavors.
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