By Gary T. Kubota, Star-Bulletin
Maui artist Neida Bangerter, in her Kula studio, directs a program
that brings visiting artists into Kula Elementary School. She hopes the
lessons students learn will help them to be "artful" in their lives.

---

Program brings art
to young students

Maui's Art Exploratory Program brings
visiting artists to work with kids

By Gary T. Kubota
Star-Bulletin

KULA, Maui - When Neida Bangerter began teaching as a visiting artist at Kula Elementary School seven years ago, she noticed that only a handful of classes offered art courses by artists.

"What bothered me is, some kids got it and some didn't," she recalled. "I said, 'Let's get it to all students.'"

Bangerter now directs and coordinates the Art Exploratory Program, which brings visiting artists to work with students one hour a week for eight weeks in all classes at Kula Elementary.

The program teaches painting to kindergartners, drawing to first- and second-graders, sculpture to third-

graders, painting to fourth-graders and advanced drawing to fifth-graders.

It also has attracted a pool of professional artists, some with master's degrees in fine arts.

One of the projects involved the entire third grade working with sculptor Walter Bruder on a ceramic mural, now permanently installed at the school.

"The kids respect the artists. They know the artists are the real deal," Bangerter said.

The program, which ranges in cost from $4,000 to $7,000 a year, has gained so much support from the community that the Parent Teachers Association has financially backed it.

Bangerter also has obtained money through grants from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

She helped to start a similar program at Haiku Elementary School four years ago.

"The students are really enjoying it and getting so much out of it," said Nancy Chesick, a parent who helped start the Haiku program. "Everyone feels it's very worthwhile."

Paul Brown, the Maui district education superintendent, said Bangerter's efforts to bring the arts to life have made it possible for Haiku and Kula students to show what they have learned in a new way.

"She is a valuable part of our community," Brown said.

Haiku Principal Fern Markgraf said the school wanted to encourage students to become familiar with the process of making art.

"It helps to enhance their aesthetic and visual eye," she said.

Bangerter - whose son Bryan, 11, and daughter Lauren, 10, attend Kula Elementary - said the program isn't trying to turn everyone into an artist.

But she wants students to learn to make artful choices in life because she feels art helps to develop all of their skills.

"To be artful in your life is a wonderful goal," she said.