The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 73

The Des Moines Register Page 4 LA Wednesday, August 2, 2000 SUMMERS FUN Things To Do Teens honor black leaders through portraits, research with Frank Strong; 10:45 a.m., Bosnian Children's Dance Troupe; 1:30 p.m., Strumming Under the Trees. Ashfield Park, East 18th and Lyon streets, 10 am, Thursday Carol Taylor puppets; 1:30 p.m., Singing in the Sun; 2:15 p.m., Gene Hamilton. ARTS AND CRAFTS Des Moines' Showmotion 2000 Art in the Park program concludes this week with the following events: Windsor Elementary School, 5912 University 10 a.m. today, railroad songs ILLIE GLANTON Summer Reading -aaT" u. it i We asked area children's librarians for their summer reading recommendations for kids of different ages and reading abilities.

Kathy Leonard, librarian, Des Moines Central Public Library The collection, titled 'Songs of will be displayed at Willkie House. By DANA BOONE REGISTER STAFF WRITER Two months ago, 14 Des Moines teen-agers didn't know much about some of the city's African-American leaders, although some of those leaders' names grace the pages of history books. After participating in an art project at Willkie House, the youths learned the stories of Willie Glanton, Edna Griffin and Alexander Clark, as well as nationally known leaders George Washington Carver, Maya Angelou, Frederic Douglass, Mumia Abu-Jamal and Rosa Parks. The teens, working with the Des Moines Art Center's visiting artist, For children 4 to 8 years old "Bad Habits" by Babette Cole (PenguinPutnam, 1998): "It's just about a little girl who does lots of 3 sty pi i a about a boy who has a teacher whom he likes but doesn't agree with all the time. She tells her kids about how powerful words are, so he decides to make one up For young teen-agers "What's in a Name" by Ellen Wittlinger (Simon and Schuster, 2000): "This is a collection of short stories that are all related to a decision regarding whether or not a town should change its name." aim icons I -2 things her parents wish she would stop and the different things her parents do to stop her from doing them." For children 8 to 11 years old "Frindle" by Andrew Clements (Simon and Schuster, 1996): "It's Haleh Niazmand, researched the leaders' lives and work.

Their efforts culminated in a collection of portraits titled "Songs of Freedom." Shawneesha Dimery, 14, said the art project also (4913- JlA'-'i 1913- Dimery Foreigners enjoy summer in Iowa a a haadiaj PR coHi-ms mo served as a history lesson. "Most of us weren't sure who most of these people were," she said. "We've heard about them, but we really didn't know what they were famous for." The collaborative project, organized by the art center and Willkie House, immersed the students in art, history and culture. Students did research at the Forest Avenue Library, and Niazmand taught students how to prepare a 4-foot by 3-foot plywood portrait surface. She showed them how to paint with stencils and how to use a translucent layering technique to emphasize stenciled words, which are visible in the portraits' back hid crop mxFm jf 1 V) ,,.,1, i i grounds.

The project received a $1,000 grant from the Junior League of Des Moines. Susan Lubowsky Talbott, Des Moines Art Center director, said the project is Dameron indicative of the types of outreach programs and BOB NANDELLREQISTER PHOTOS Tributes: Willie Glanton, Edna Griffin, Rosa Parks and George Washington Carver are among the portraits students made at Willkie House. The stenciled words capture each leader's philosophy. "They all had big impacts on us, and toSKewho at- they changed a lot of things so it would JJJJ tetter for tended the portrait un- be better fOT US." Dimery said she veiling celebration on hopes Willkie House July 21, carefuUy read Ga Dameron, helped with Willkie House portraits VQTS wno see the each word stenciled on portraits will appreciate her portrait: "Be determined with- "You always hope that some lit- their historical significance and the out arrogance to accomplish your tie thing that you do in the com- efforts of the teen-agers who spent goals. Consistency, honesty and munity will have a positive im- most of the summer working on integrity are the keys." The words pact on the lives of our youth," she the project, are part of the philosophy Glanton said.

"We young teens have better said she used to surmount racial Dameron said working on the things to do than be on the streets barriers in the field of law and the portraits taught him why it's im- and hang out with our friends," she political arena. portant to honor leaders such as said. "We can do positive things." Glanton said she was humbled by Glanton. Reporter Dana Boon can be reached at the portraits and awe of the They all had big impacts on us, (515) 284-8537 or student's hard work and creativity, and they changed a lot of things so boonednews.dmrej.com partnerships the center hopes to increase. She said it's part of the center's mission to expose a more diverse audience of children to the arts and center offerings.

Gary Dameron, 14, said the project was messy, fun and turned out better than he hoped. "I just think it was a good experience for us to learn some new things about people that we might not have known that much about," he said. "It taught us how to do a lot of things that we didn't know how Three British interns find plenty to do in the Des Moines area, despite contrary warnings. By MELISSA MYERS REGISTER STAFF WRITER Altoona, la. Imagine being a new resident eager to learn about your surroundings, yet not knowing what there is to do in the community.

Now imagine you are also in a country you've never seen, where people drive on the opposite side of the street and everything from the weather to the fast-food restaurants is different. What would you do for fun? The answer for three Swansea, South Wales, college students, who came to Altoona for a four-month internship, is: Make yourself at home. The trio Chris Jackson, 21, Adam Rees, 19, and Andy Cor-less, 19 are studying leisure management at the Swansea Institute and came to Iowa to work at Adventureland Park. But in their off hours, they have found plenty of things to do, despite locals telling them they've come to a pretty boring area. Nice surprises "The first thing, we bought a car so we would have a way to get around," said Corless, surprised that the state didn't require a driver's test for someone who has only driven on the left side of the road and is unfamiliar with local driving laws.

"We've gone out a lot, to your malls and restaurants. Clothes are a lot cheaper here. I have so many things already, I'll have to buy another suitcase." The men also stocked up on other necessities, including a television and a videocassette recorder. "We rent a lot of shows and watch them, and we watch television," said Jackson, who lives in Cambridge, England. Before coming to the United States, their impressions were formed mainly from the movies they had seen, which typically portray the eccentricities of people living in Los Angeles, New York or Chicago.

Iowa is usually farmland in the movies, Jackson noted, so they knew little else. 'We tried to look up Iowa on the Internet," he said. "There wasn't much there." Pleasant climate, people Although the territory was foreign, they all jumped at the chance to come here. For Rees, the trip is about taking in the landscape and the climate as much as the entertainment and activities. "I am looking forward to the man-made lake, Saylorville," he said.

"Mostly I am happy sunbathing. I am trying to get a tan. I can't do that at home, mostly as it is damp and cold." He also has discovered humidity, which he calls a bonus that comes with the pleasant temperatures. He said he will also tell people "that people are very friendly in Iowa. I like the feeling you can go to Burger King and they say 'Have a nice day' or 'Enjoy your You don't get that back home." "It's hard to explain the difference in the culture and all the things here," said Corless, a native of Reading, England, who points out the noticeable difference in gasoline prices.

When the group arrived, Iowans were paying about $1.80 a gallon and grumbling. Regular gas prices in Britain are more than twice that. Keeping busy Jackson, ready to get back to the nightclub scene that he enjoys at home, said Iowa lacks nightlife for young people but that there are good recreational opportunities. The trio joined the Greater Altoona Community Service Campus and routinely participates in sports there, and they joined a soccer club. Although Jackson broke his leg in a game early in the season, he said his full leg cast has slowed him down only slightly.

"I go out a lot," he said. "I'm getting a good experience in the American way of life. Maybe if I had to stay six months here I would tear my hair out, (but) for summer it's a good cultural exchange." "I trusted my instinct to come here," said Corless, also a first-time visitor. "It's a sleepy place, Iowa. And I'm loving it." What Do You Think Participants in the Urbandale Youth in Parks program talk about what they want to do before summer ends.

W4 5 Jasmine Riley Urbandale I want to Rollerblade, swim and do some crafts." Diamond Weatherall 13 Des Moines "I want to rap and kind of work on my break dancing and eat food." Sean Caligiuri Urbandale "Maybe go to a skate park. I want to try to learn a heel flip on my skateboard." Sean Elliott 15 Urbandale "I still want to build some dirt ramps (for biking). I also want to go flathead fishing and finish my model airplane." Tyler Anderson 12 Urbandale "I want to goto Colorado and off-road in the mountains in a Land Rover. I want to play hockey and soccer a lot." DOME'S, CONSIGNMENTS Womjn' duality Appirul Since FREE IMMUNIZATIONS BE SMART and get a HEAD START on your child's school vaccinations! School starts SOON! Dance Supplies 20 Off sS3 Child or Adult CALL your 'If PUT AMFAONOUmi. VACCINATE NOW! oraer in.

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