CARE (Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort) on May 7 held an art show in the Charleston Elementary Multipurpose Building to showcase the talents of students who attended their on-site art program in the school.
Twenty students in the first-grade class of Garren Barnes have been participating in the monthly program since November 2025.
Student exhibits illustrated the progress they had made since the start of the program. The art show was open to the public and, like the art program itself, was funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi.
The following article by CARE Executive Director Dana Clolinger was first printed in the April 30 Sun-Sentinel.
Many hands make light work. All of us or none of us. And everyone’s favorite … "Bless it." We all know that in the South we love our “Southern sayings” and now more than ever, we are in the time of “It takes a village.” Nothing illustrates this more than when CARE aspired to take art back into the classrooms of Charleston Elementary School.
This vision took on a life of its own last July when I met with CES Principal Walter Shegog to discuss if this was even an option for his students. He immediately wanted to partner to provide this new experience to his students.
Next up for approval were Superintendent Raymond Russell and the ETSD School Board, both of whom agreed to allow CARE to enter one classroom for the school year as a pilot project. Now, the vision has become a reality.
It is no secret that I am not an artist, but I have some very dear friends who are art powerhouses and, more importantly, who are invested in seeing children grow in their love of art. Teresa Adams, Patsy Roberts, Maribeth Weeks, Carol Roark and team leader Lyn Hardy accepted this challenge and entered the first-grade class of Garren Barnes in Charleston Elementary each month with excitement and smiles.
Each art lesson began with reading a book, and then having the students paint images from the story. It was very clear that with each visit as their art knowledge grew, so did their excitement for art.
As our pilot project progressed, I continued to communicate with Principal Shegog, Superintendent Russell and the ETSD School Board. They viewed our story selections and completed artwork during each meeting with pride and smiles. And just like that, we were nearing the end of the school year and our pilot project. The challenge was now to showcase our creations to parents and the community to praise this group of young artists for all their hard work.
I am very excited to announce that the students of Mr. Barnes’ first-grade class of Charleston Elementary will have their very own art exhibit and reception on Thursday, May 7, in the Multipurpose Building at the Elementary School. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and our recognition program will begin at 6. Art viewing and refreshments will follow the short program.
In an effort to come full circle and end with one of our favorite Southern sayings, “Y’all come!”
Please mark your calendar for Thursday, May 7, at 6 p.m., to join us for this community celebration and to praise these young artists.
