On Wednesday, March 25 at 8:00 a.m, a new "Art in the Park" initiative will be unveiled at Texarkana's Spring Lake Park.  "Trashcans in the Style of…" gives a new meaning for "trash to treasure" and the public is invited to see why!
 
"This is an exciting collaboration between the City of Texarkana, Texas Parks and Recreation Department, Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council (TRAHC) and Texarkana public schools," said Charlotte Smelser, TRAHC's Director of ArtsSmart.
 
Through TRAHC's ArtsSmart Institute for Learning, youth from all four school districts are transforming trash cans in city parks in and around the City of Texarkana TX by painting them with imagery "in the style of" a specific artist.  Paint and trashcans are being provided by the Texarkana TX Parks and Recreation Dept; and area high school art students are the first participants.  Plans are to eventually include a variety of grades at area schools.
 
"The initial cans were painted by TRAHC's ArtsSmart Visual Artist consultant Kay Thomas as a prototype for the Art in the Park project," said Smelser. "These were placed in prominent locations in public buildings around the city and have already received rave reviews."
 
The idea grew from a 2008 JUMP! JIVE! & JAMFest committee meeting.  TRAHC imagined the project as a festival activity when Parks and Recreation Manager Robby Robertson mentioned the city was considering something similar.  This was the catalyst for a partnership between the city, TRAHC and the four area school districts.
 
"Area students are providing service to their community through their artistic talents," said Smelser.  "Focusing attention on Texarkana city parks, students are creating objects of beauty that enhance the overall aesthetic quality of the park.  Plus, connecting with their school curriculum was an integral part of the project.  This is not an 'add-on' but an outgrowth of their learning experience. Since Texarkana is a border city, this student action supports unity, service, and environmental health for all of Texarkana."
 
TRAHC Executive Director, Brian Goesl is especially pleased with the outcome.  "These students represent our ArtsSmart campuses and underscore the importance of the ArtsSmart Program as well as improving our quality of life," he commented.  "The project brings together the entire Texarkana community as students have the opportunity to 'give back' through these unusual objects of beauty."  And, he noted that future "Trashcans In the Style Of…" will be placed in additional parks in the area as well as ArtsSmart, TRAHC, TASD (Texarkana AR School District), TISD (Texarkana TX Independent School District), LEISD (Liberty Eylau Independent School District), PGISD, (Pleasant Grove Independent School District), and the Cities of Texarkana AR and Texarkana TX.