Union College News

Irishman Brings Passion for Art to Knox County

Stephen O’Donoghue and an art program student work together to make slime.

Though normally a stomping ground for adults, the Union College campus in Barbourville is occasionally transformed into a deep wood filled with lions, tigers and cheetahs.

These “animals” with the painted faces are area children, and the artist behind many of their masks is Stephen O’Donoghue. He works with children three times a week at Union’s Children’s Art Program, where face-painting is a popular activity.

The canvas is not limited to faces, and the medium is not always paint. Stephen, an international student and artist from Whitehead, Northern Ireland, makes sure children experience art in many forms. They work with paint and clay, explore origami, and experiment with other crafts. He wants to “encourage their creativity, teamwork and self-expression.” It is important, he believes, because “art is the key to learning about new ideas, lateral thinking and experimentation. It’s important for their development.”

Though the Children’s Art Program has been in existence since 2004, Stephen and his passion for art bring new enthusiasm and energy. Magdalyn Mayes, the program’s student coordinator, has noticed a change. “This year we have doubled and tripled our numbers of children.”

One of Stephen’s face-painting masterpieces stalks the Union campus.

Three evenings a week, Stephen can be found leading sessions, including a recent “Van Gogh Night.” It is often hectic and challenging work. But Stephen, who is as high-energy as the children, seems to thrive on the liveliness that results when twelve imaginations take flight. “It’s so joyous and fulfilling that everything else just fades into the background.”

Stephen considers the work its own reward, but isn’t beyond beaming with pride when the children acknowledge his efforts. One evening, when he took participants outside to draw with sidewalk chalk, he found the words “We love art, We like Steve” carefully written on the walkway outside of the building. “Words fail. It’s a wonderful feeling,” Stephen says.

Local children can join Stephen and the Children’s Art program on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. The program is free of charge and accepts children in kindergarten through sixth grade. For more information, call Magdalyn Mayes at 606-546-1361.

The program is coordinated through Union’s Common Partners Office, which houses all Union College community service initiatives. Visit www.unionky.edu/Acad/CPO/ to learn more about service at Union.

October 10, 2007

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