Young Authors Get Creative

About 15 children participated in a creative writing workshop at the Cook Arts Center on Thursday, January 28. Ideas and creative juices were flowing as several instructors, including Cook Arts Center contract artist Lori Knorr, led the students in the writing exercise. One instructor recorded the story as the children "wrote" it through collaboratively expressing ideas and building off each other's sentences and plot sequences. As the story progressed it was projected on one of the art studio's walls so that the children could follow along. Another instructor began creating illustrations, which will accompany the final story, based on the children's descriptions of the characters. Check out these photos that were taken during the creative work session. We'll post the final story once it is completed!

Tolly Time at the Cook Library Center

Every third Thursday of the month students at the Cook Library Center gather after school for their favorite story telling
time.   This month's event featured long-time arts educator and advocate Cat Timmermanis  as she read the book called
"Too Many Toys".   In the story, the young boy, Spencer, finally agrees that he has too many toys and needs to give some of  them
away, however, there is one toy, a box, that Spencer absolutely cannot part with.  After Cat read the story to the  children she led them in an art activity in which they created a picture of a toy that they would give away.  Each child
attending the Tolly Time storytime this month received a free book!

Musicians, Dancers and Actors Wanted!

Auditions will be held at the Cook Arts Center for new members of the fusion performance art group, Diagonal Alley. RSVP to Erick Pichardo at pichardo.art@hotmail.com or Amy Brower at abrower@gaah.org for your chance to audition on Monday, February 1 or Friday, February 5. Open to all ability levels and performance styles. This is your chance to shine!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Art Activities!

The Cook Arts Center offered drop-in art activities
today, January 18th, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Many of the children participating in the drop-in art classes had been studying Martin Luther King Jr. in school and so they created some drawings inspired by the work and messages of Dr. King. In addition, the children also had the chance to create some fun jewelry using beads in different sizes and colors.

Winter Classes at the Cook Arts Center Begins!

Winter classes at the Cook Arts Center started off with a bang this week. Classes in art, dance, theatre, music, clay and fabric arts are available for children as young as 2 years old through adults. Just a sample of the classes available include Drumming, Watercolors for Kids, Children's Potter's Wheel, Tots in Motion, Handmade Books and Hip Hop Aerobics. The Winter Class Session runs from January 11 to April 1. Classes are free for children or adults who reside or attend school in the Grandville Avenue neighborhood.

Radio 810 am (Interferencia) Visits the Cook Library Center

Library patrons had a special visit this week from Radio 810 am, Interferencia.  On Wednesday, radio announcers Manuel,
Pollo, and La Negra stopped by the Cook Library Center to spread a little holiday joy.  In addition, the Roosevelt Park
Neighborhood Association staff were there to help facilitate the efforts.  Smiles filled the library as fun toys and games
were given away to the children.