Invitation

Finished Picture: love his signature on the side!
Garrett looking at his spot and maping out where he is going to go with it...

He started with just the teeth. Can you see the random black line in front of him? That is part of another tail from another dinosaur.

The long triangular lines (at the front of the dino) was his first line, then the jaws of the T-rex then the hands of the dino who is being attacked. Then he went back and filled it in...it is amazing

This is him adding the color. The whole time I have to take these pictures without him knowing. He only wants a picture of when he is finished.

Couldn't get rid of this extra picture...sorry.

Garrett was invited by Bountiful's featured artist, Lester Lee, to join him in creating a sidewalk chalk picture. We received the invitation yesterday from Jill Lee (she used to be my aide at Spectrum Academy). Immediately I told Garrett (we happened to be at recess at the time) and he was very excited! As soon as school was over, I picked up the girls, called Scott, drove to the Bountiful post office to meet Lester (that is where the featured artist has his sidewalk plots to create something). As soon as we got there Garrett raced up to him and held his hand. This took Lester by surprise but he was happy to hold his hand. We all (all 7 of us) walked a few blocks to where they had his bag of goodies.

Garrett got to meet Jan Joy (Joy foundation--who sponsors and runs this project). Jan was nice and handed Garrett his bag of goodies: chalks, a t-shirt, a new hat, candy, and some gum. THRILLED!! We walked back to the place and Lester helped him to select a section of sidewalk for himself. Lester had to leave to teach an art class, but he said that Garrett could start.

Garrett pulled on the t-shirt, the new hat, and tore into the chalk. Suddenly there was a random tail....then on the opposite side of the plot there where arms....then at the bottom of the plot there were legs...I'm thinking, how is this all going to come together? As soon as I think this, Jan Joy from the foundation appears. She said that she was a little worried about how he was going to do with him being so close to the featured artist. (Basically, we had not paid an entrance fee, Lester had just informed her of what we were doing, and now there were random marks on the sidewalk....a worry!)

A few minutes later (more of the connecting pieces had been drawn) and Jan returned. She made the comment that he was creating something...(she was still a little bewildered) and she promised to return again. A few more random lines...shapes...and suddenly there were 3 major dinosaurs with three minor ones all placed out. (This took about 20 minutes--because of all the jumping and clicking noises that Garrett was making.)

Jan returns again and said, "he is a little artist". Now the colors start to emerge...flashes of green, blood red (sorry Iguanadon), yellow, purple, orange, and tan...all the dinos have color. Two sisters pop over **side note (Scott took the boys to Scouts, and I have the girls with me--we've been here for 1 hour and they need something from the car so I leave and I'm watching Garrett now talk to two girls). The two sisters are just gushing over the picture. They thought that I drew it and let him fill in the color...hum...that would be a no. Shock and disbelief start to go over their faces. Jan returns...

She now stops and with here breath taken away, she explains to me that there is a place in the Gateway called Art Access. They give children like Garrett scholarships, art lessons, grants...you can see where this is going. Amazing...and all from a simple invitation.

Artist form three different squares now come over to see what the fuss is all about...they have all been there for over 4 hours. Garrett is done with his, and its been about 1 hour and 22 min. They can't believe it. Ok, my heart is bursting with pride! I'm totally excited for Garrett to have this opportunity. The judging happen on Sat...we will see what happens, and so, Please enjoy! (sorry I posted an extra picture...don't know how to remove it yet...still novice with blogging).