Students of Garland and Hot Spring counties have been participating in heart-healthy educational activities and discussions through the Have a HeART for Art program, now in its ninth year.
This year, 17 schools participated in creating an art piece utilizing a heart motif for the competition, scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 3 at Emergent Arts, 341 Whittington Ave.
Have a HeART for Art was created by Nancy and David Bartlett in memory of their daughter, Michelle Bartlett, who died in 2003 from an undetected heart condition at the age of 23. The purpose of the program is to educate students about heart disease and its prevention through educational art curriculum and creative art activities.
A 1998 honors graduate of Lakeside High School, Michelle Bartlett was a second-year law student at the University of Arkansas when she died. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs, and because of her love for children and art, one of her last projects was the Children's Chapel at FUMC.
The inaugural Have a HeART for Art was held in 2009 at the historic Malco Theater with 11 participating schools.
Nancy Bartlett's grandsons and daughter, Melissa Marshall, are co-chairing the event this year, while Bartlett will install the displays and serve as hostess.
"While I believe (the) heart health educational component of the competition is so vital to physical health, I believe that the social, emotional side of the competition is equally as important," said Marshall. "So many of the children picked have never been chosen or singled out as special before. They just glow with pride when they show their family and friends their artwork on display in a real gallery. It's incredible."
Two submissions per grade, per school are selected by faculty and submitted for the competition and exhibition at the event. Each teacher was allowed to determine the format, which could be 2-D, 3-D or multimedia. More than $1,000 in total prizes will be awarded in the following divisions: Overall Grand Prize, Overall Second Place, K-3rd Grade First Place, K-3rd Grade Second Place, 4th-6th Grade Second Place, 10-12th Grade First Place, 10-12th Grade Second Place, Chel Award, Special Middle Award, Peoples' Choice Award and Teacher's Category.
The contest is open to public, private and home-school students.
The art pieces will be judged by friends and family artists from the Hot Springs community who have various levels of art knowledge and backgrounds. Many of them knew Michelle Bartlett while she was growing up.
Marshall said it's important for children to begin learning about heart health at a young age "because we set our habits early in life, oftentimes watching the example of those around us."
She added, "That doesn't always mean it's right. If just one child can go home and start a conversation about heart health, it might change the pattern. Healthy food choices and exercising regularly are so vital, not only (for) your body but keeping a clear, focused mind for learning. We often say at our house, 'garbage in, garbage out.' It's so true. Also, children often can see things their parents can't, so if the kiddo knows the signs of a heart attack, they might be able to push their parents to go see a doctor."
The prize money is donated by sponsors of the event, including National Park Medical Center and Simmons Bank, which have been sponsors since the program began. The Bartletts' friends and family members also donate to create new awards, such as the Chel Award and The Middle Award, which, Marshall said, "thanks to them, more children are able to feel like bigger winners than they already feel for just being chosen to be in the event at all."
Marshall said attendees can purchase a ticket on the night of the event to vote for the Peoples' Choice Award.
"This year, due to the efforts of our oldest son, Bart, updating the event's Facebook page, we were able to reach a new school in a new county: Bismarck High School. It was an exciting wrinkle to the event this year," she added.
"I really would like to thank the teachers in the schools for their continued support through the years. They continue to take it on, enthusiastically, year after year. I know it must be a lot of extra work on them and we truly appreciate their dedication and hard work," she said.
Local on 02/20/2017