Art is everywhere, and Sean McNeil wants children to know that. "There’s a Mondrian hanging in (the cartoon show) 'Rugrats,'" said McNeil. "The kids will be like, ‘Hey, I know which artist did that.’"
Along with Tommy Quimby, McNeil teaches art to children enrolled in Fairfax City’s Summer Recreation Program. The program is divided up by age groups at different school sites throughout the city. McNeil’s purpose is to focus children on art concepts and techniques.
"A lot of summer camps do crafts rather than the arts. We try to push arts," said McNeil. He and Quimby introduce the masters to the children, such as Van Gogh for the preschoolers, Mondrian and Seurat for older children, and modern artist Patrick Hughes for teenagers.
"They’re developing skills at an earlier age," said Quimby. "Whether the child pursues (art) or not, they’ll have a better understanding of the skill."
"Kids who do anything in the arts have that step, that advantage over kids who don’t," said Jo Ormesher, Spotlight on the Arts coordinator. "It’s a proven fact."