Children celebrate Chinese New Year at local art studio
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 9 months AGO
<p>From left, Tessa Ernsberger, Ava Peterson, Lily Bridwell, Stephanie Kinniburgh, Annette Van Allen and Samantha Kinniburgh prepare for the final Dragon Dance Celebration Saturday afternoon at StillRiver Art Studio in Kalispell. The event was part of a two-day workshop hosted by artists Kay Lynn and Joli Hailey celebrating the Chinese New Year, and the Year of the Dragon.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Andrew Cornish, 12, of Kalispell, draws a picture of a dragon Saturday afternoon at StillRiver Art Studio in Kalipsell.</p>
<p>Artist Joli Hailey helps Samantha Kinniburgh, 7, of Kalispell, with her drawing of a white tiger Saturday afternoon at StillRiver Art Studio in Kalipsell.</p>
Students at StillRiver Art Studio got a jump on the Chinese New Year celebration by performing a traditional dragon dance Saturday at the Kalispell studio where they’ve spent time making all kinds of dragon artwork.
The Chinese New Year was celebrated Monday and marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon.
The dragon dance was a culmination of art project workshops organized by StillRiver owners Kay Lynn and Joli Hailey. Lynn and Hailey began building the dragon head two weeks ago with cardboard as the base.
“It started with a box,” Lynn said.
The dragon is a mythical and revered symbol among the animals representing the Chinese zodiac that are honored once every 12 years. Lynn said her art has always been inspired by Asian culture.
Children ages 6 to 13 made all things dragon — clay dragons, charcoal drawings of dragons and vibrant watercolor paintings of dragonflies.
The ceremonial dance got under way with one child underneath a large red dragon head with glittery eyes made from soda cans. A train of fabric was carried by the rest of the group as they walked around the studio while their parents tossed colorful confetti.
“We had the big kids carrying poles with banners, and one girl read a speech,” Hailey said.
“It was about why we celebrate the new year and what it means, how it would bring us luck and happiness,” Lynn added.
“They worked so hard today. They were exhausted today,” Hailey said.
They talked about the Chinese New Year and ate Chinese treats such as fortune cookies, candied coconut ribbons and mango pudding.
Holding her clay dragon, 8-year-old Annette Van Allen and her mother Michelle practiced saying a common Chinese New Year phrase wishing good prosperity and health similar to the American, “Happy New Year.”
“Kung Hei Fat Choi,” Michelle Van Allen said, with her daughter repeating the phrase.
Annette was adopted at 10 months from China.
“The teachers wanted to do an art project because they knew the Chinese New Year was coming up, and they thought there would be some interest in the valley because there are a lot of adopted Chinese children. We heard about it and thought this would be a great way to celebrate,” Michelle Van Allen said, adding that it is important to find ways to preserve her daughter’s heritage.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.