By Betty Little, Killington Arts Guild
updated
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 09:15 AM
Sunday March 25 at 2 p.m. Killington Arts Guild will present the
SafeArt Teen Ensemble in a program of song, dance, poetry and
storytelling as part of the annual meeting. The meeting will be in
the Upstairs Gallery at Cabin Fever Gifts on Route 4 opposite the
Killington Access Road. The public is encouraged to
attend.
Laura Wilder, a member of the KAG Board of Directors, first brought
SafeArt to the Guilds attention. Ann Wallen, KAG past-president,
attended the performance last year was equally impressed with the
ten boys and girls, ages 16-18 who performed with confidence and
talent. "They shared their personal experiences by sharing their
art with us."
SafeArt was founded in 2000 by Tracy Penfield who was
asked to direct a piece on domestic violence featuring women.
SafeArt was born from that presentation. Shortly thereafter, the
teen ensemble was started, which particularly effective because
young people and adults listen attentively to teenagers and believe
what they say about their experiences.
The current teenagers in the ensemble are from Randolph and
Chelsea, Vermont. All are high school students and talented
musicians and actors. The pieces they present were created during
SafeArt residences in high schools, workshop for Women's
groups and past and current ensemble groups.
Members of the 2012 ensemble say:
"It is important to be able to relate to others, it makes being a
teen easier, to know that other teens are going through the same
things you are-we never know how many lives we have touched." ~
Serenity
"...We raise adult awareness of the struggles of being a teen, and
let teens know they are not alone." ~ Chet
The teen ensemble talks about issues during rehearsals and grows
through the experience, performance and discussions with the
audience. Topics include: bullying, sexual violence, self-harm and
body image.
Humor is used to balance serious subjects and to stress the
possibility and importance of bystanders who are proactive in
ending violence; Perpetrators and victims are not the only people
involved in any abusive situation.
SafeArt engages the transformative power of the arts to prevent and
heal abuse and other trauma. Join us and meet these extraordinary
young people.
For More on KAG: www.killingtonartsguild.org; for this column
vtkag@aol.com
Tagged:
KAG, SafeArt
