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Community Corner

Plans to Send Good Karma to Japan

A new series of art workshops for kids allows them to create art and help in the earthquake and tsunami relief.

To do their part in the relief effort, Karma Kids is offering a new series where children can make Japanese art forms and send relief to the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan.

“We all feel so helpless about Japan,” says Samantha Christie, who runs the Sag Harbor-based not-for-profit organization. “Many parents are not allowing their children to watch the news, but kids know about the quake and the tsunami.” 

As the news continues to unfold in Japan, Karma Kids board of directors was remaking the organization by adding an art director, finding a new dedicated art studio space, and restructuring their free art class offerings into four sessions.  

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With the addition of Creative Director Deborah Lukasik, also at L’Atelier 5, Karma Kids classes will be “kicking it up a notch,” said Christie. Indeed, Lukasik has an impressive artistic resume including large scale public art installations and private collectors for her sculpture works.  In addition, Lukasik holds a master’s in teaching art specializing in people with disabilities. She formerly taught blind students. “Deborah is an amazing person and we’re lucky to have her,” boasts Christie.

These Japanese art classes will be conducted at the art room in the Middle School.  “We needed an art space,” said Christie, whose own background includes working in contemporary art.  By moving into an art studio, the kids can vary art mediums.

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In a dedicated art studio, Christie aspires to give cameras to the East End children and to the children in another part of the world.  “Then, we could hold a gallery show half from Haitian children and half from our Karma Kids,” she predicts. Use of the Ross Middle School art room will make enable such future projects. “We’re incredibly grateful to Liz Joyce at Goat on a Boat, but the art studio will open up a new set of possibilities,” Christie said.

To make art, of the cultural tradition in the area they are helping, Karma Kids will include Japanese plate sets, silk scarves and calligraphy note cards which are traditional art forms.

“Japanese erasers will be really fun for the kids to make. But, they’re going to look kid-like,” Christie said. The ones sold in stores have a more professional look.  Karma Kids’ art has this endearing kid-quality as well as raising money to help needy children.

For Haiti, the making note cards and stationery.  They hope to do more for Japan Emergency Relief Funds, Save the Children and CARE. 

“The kids really get into the whole selling part. They like making money to help other people.  Nobody ever says that they want to keep their artwork for themselves. They don’t question that they are making art to give it away," Christie said.

To register for all four classes that will continue on March 29, April 5 and April 12, visit Karma Kids website. 

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