Crossing Stages Teaches the Boys and Girls Club More Than Theater
Crossing Stages is the combined effort of women and men with a common goal- to help children learn to express themselves creatively, and to make the world a more beautiful place.
Years ago, friends Kimberly Linow of Black Creek Arts Center and Dyana Flax had a dream: bring theater and arts to a population of children that may not have the opportunity to express themselves. Armed with funding from Black Creek Arts Council via the South Carolina Arts Commission, they started an innovative program at the Sonovista Alternative School. There, they discovered that instructor John Raiford had amazing skills as a wood craftsman...the idea to combine wood working to make sets was a natural progression. The students showed a desire and aptitude for making other things, such as stools, bird houses, shelves, and tool boxes. Mr. Buster Love was hired to assist the project, and the program was highly successful. Not only did the students learn to perform and write theater, they learned the satisfaction of creating items by hand.
The program has now moved to the Boys and Girls Club site at the Butler Heritage Center off of 5th Street in Hartsville.
Through this purple door, lies a room of enchantment.
Students learn a variety of theater, create art, and are starting a new project this spring... to create a beautiful garden for the birds and butterflies to enjoy at this location.
On Wednesdays, Mr. John Raiford, an instructor with the Darlington County School District, does woodworking with the students who attend the Boys and Girls Club. He has handcrafted gorgeous furniture on his own which rivals that of high priced showrooms.
Mr. Buster Love, who is an amazing craftsman, works with the children on Wednesdays, three to four at a time, while Dyana Flax works with the other children on expression and theater techniques.
Mr. Buster Love displays the planter he designed with one of the members of the Boys and Girls Club of Hartsville.
This planter, and others like it, will soon be painted and filled with beautiful flowers for the garden the children will create at the Butler Heritage Center.
Dyana Flax had to be out of town last week, and asked if I would like to help the children paint some of the birdhouses, bird feeders and planters the children have constructed. Kids + paint? Of course! So last Thursday, my trusty helper and photography genius daughter, Jade, and I set off for the most enjoyable afternoon.
(all photographs were taken by Jade Longfellow)
The 9-12 year old group busy painting.
A few friends decide to work a stool together after careful choosing of paint colors.
The children donned some "art shirts" supplied by Dyana Flax from past shows performed by her "In the Wings" theater group.
Buster works on some new projects while the other children paint.
"The Place" at Crossing stages, formerly a storage room, is brightened by theater masks on the walls and bright storage racks.
Boys decide there are too many kids at the table and prefer to paint on one of the portable "stages" at The Space.
The face of pride.... this beautiful young lady shows off her lovely birdhouse- just ready for a family of Carolina Wrens to nest in!
Another beautiful girl shows her skills at transforming a plain bird feeder into a work of usable art.
A handsome young man contemplates some other colors to add to his birdhouse.
Even washing the brushes out was great fun to these happy kids from the Boys and Girls Club!
The older group, ages 13- 16 years, pose for a more "serious" photo with their beloved Thursday instructor, Mr. Buster Love. (Mr. Raiford, the Wednesday instructor, is not pictured.)
"Making these things to put in our garden makes me proud."
Be looking for more details on upcoming performances from the children studying theater, and the future garden!
A special thank you to Jade Longfellow for her inspiring photos!
Mr. Love was a community conversations talking about how to help
Mr. Love was at one of the community conversations were there was a great deal of discussion about ways we might help children in the Community. It is great to see these pictures of him working with the Boys and Girls' Club. This was a great piece and from what I hear, they can always use some more people to play with, read with and work with the members of the Club.
Build your community by being involved!
CrossingStages
We, at CrossingStages, are planning to transform the garden space between the Gym and the building that houses the Boys and Girls Club and CrossingStages into a wonderful Vest Pocket Park. You are right about the help needed. We would appreciate anybody who can contribute their talents and time or anybody who can contribute garden 'stuff'.
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