With a grant from Arts for All Kentucky, Murray Art Guild and Murray State University partnered once again to offer the Side by Side program for children with disabilities. Side by Side is designed to make creative opportunities available to students, fee-free, to reinforce inclusiveness and positive self-image, and highlight the importance of visual arts education to the development of young people.

Zoom workshop for Side by Side

Typically, Side By Side begins with four studio sessions taught by Murray State University’s Assistant Professor of Art Education, Rebecca Williams. Murray Art Guild’s Executive Director Debi Danielson, as well as Murray State art education students, assist in the studios. All four sessions are usually held in the Fine Arts Building on Murray State’s campus, where participants are paired with local artists to create a collaborative piece of art. Completed works are traditionally displayed in an exhibition with an opening reception where all participants are recognized.

Due to MSU’s campus closure because of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s program was conducted remotely. With direction from Assistant Professor Williams, art supply kits were assembled and delivered to each participant. Class discussions and demonstrations were done on Zoom, with local artists and art education students working in breakout rooms with individual families. The collaborative pieces had to be worked on separately, with the student starting the painting, and local artists putting on the finishing touches. The virtual exhibition includes photos of the students’ individual work, the collaborative pieces, and an individual work from the local artists. Local collaborators for the exhibit are Debi Henry Danielson, Amber Richardson, Ann Gosser and Lu Colby.