Iris Siegler is passionate about providing children positive art experiences. See Iris in the Children's Art Garden at Art on the Green, starting today on the North Idaho College Campus.

Career and community involvement: I have been a preschool teacher for more than 43 years. I own and operate an in-home preschool in Coeur d'Alene. I'm an author and workshop presenter with my partner in crime, Kim Torgerson, and a past artist-in-residence in the public schools. I spent 17 years on the art commission for the city of Coeur d'Alene. I currently chair of the child-care commission for the city of Coeur d'Alene, and I run the Children's Art Garden for the Citizens' Council for the Arts, along with Thomas Orjala (the Gourd Guy). I have been involved with the children's Art on the Green for 40 years.

Parental status: I have three grown sons. Two are here in Coeur d'Alene, one in Seattle. I have three grandchildren. I have been married to my husband, Norbert, for 46 years. He puts up with my creative whims and spontaneity.

1. When and why did you become involved with the Art on the Green children's art program?

I became involved with Art on the Green in 1979 when we first moved here. I applied for a teacher aide position at the Montessori School that used to be at 16th and Hastings. The owner asked all staff to get involved with something in our community. It was suggested I check out Art on the Green. I called and became a volunteer. The children's Art Area was then a paint easel in a doorway, next to the tennis courts. I came back the following year and have been volunteering ever since. We have come a long way since one paint easel.

2. What are three things you love about your work with the festival?

The three things I love about working at the festival are the volunteers — they are awesome. We gather once a year to provide a magical environment of entertainment, art and food. I love seeing families that once volunteered as children in the Children's Art Area and are now grown up, married and are bringing their children to paint, do a gourd or play with clay. I also love the energy as you walk through the festival. It is a happy vibe of friends and families.

3. What joy do you get from sharing art with kids? I believe in saturating children with opportunities to experience art in many forms. It is pure joy watching them explore, investigate and create. A quote from Florence Cane says, "Since every child is born with the power to create, that power should be released early and developed wisely. It may become the key to joy and wisdom, and possibly self-realization. Whether or not the child becomes an artist is immaterial."

4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

No matter where I go, I am always thinking about art with the children. I haul back rocks, branches, weird gadgets that make unusual paint prints, seashells, leaves, seed pods and hardware that I just know I can do some sort of art with! Creativity is a 24-hour job.

5. Why is art an important part of the human experience?

It evokes emotions. It allows us to individually be creative. It gives us an outlet to escape. It allows us to dream. Art provides a nonverbal outlet of expression. It gives us pure joy and an opportunity to view the world with its colors and shapes, the light/darkness and textures. Through the eyes of children it is uninhibited and pure fun.