Campers, family honour memory of popular artist

A summer camp dedicated to the memory of a young Belizean artist wound up this morning at the House of Culture. And although the arts and crafts classes may be over, from the enthusiasm of the kids, their parents, and the organizers, it is very likely the Eder Alamilla Art Camp will become an annual event. News Five was there for the opening of the show and a special performance by some musical guests.

Karla Heusner, Reporting
Today?s ceremony at the House of Culture got off to a lively start with members of Carlos Perrote?s percussion class beating out a warm welcome to the children and their parents.

Art course instructor Tania Alamilla Mahler says the turnout for the two week course at the Bliss was strong and enthusiasm high.

Tania Alamilla Mahler
?One day we counted and we had two hundred and fifteen kids total for the day, which was the morning and the afternoon. Some came in from Orange Walk, the Boom area, different parts, but mostly all the kids came from Belize City.?

?Every day I would ask them if they liked this project better than the other one and they are like ?No Miss, we like this one!? So I told them they had to make up their minds, because I want to know which one is their favourite or if they are bored with one, but everyday they would say this one is better than the other one, so I don?t even know.?

Most of these children never met Eder Alamilla, but for his sister, holding this art camp helped her cope with his loss and plan for the future.

Tania Alamilla Mahler
?Well this really helped me, because I know he would like it. He would have enjoyed the work that the kids did.?

Karla Heusner
?Is this a one shot deal? Or are you going to try to do this annually??

Tania Alamilla Mahler
?I?m not gonna try; I?m going to do it annually. I have a whole year to plan my project for next year.?

Participants of the art camp willingly shared the spotlight today with members of a percussion class who had been drumming while they were cutting and pasting and painting. Their teacher, Carlos Perrote, says he is very pleased with his first summer camp for kids.

Carlos Perrote, Percussion Teacher
?I think so at this time it was a very successful class. The children completed what I expected and the performance showed their talent that the children have, so it?s very good for a start.?

?In September, we will start a big workshop. It will be a one year workshop with these children more of less, if the children want to come. We will do one big orchestra, not only with these instruments, but with more different percussion instruments.?

Both camps were held at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts with the support of the Institute of Creative Arts, ICA. Karla Heusner reporting for News Five.