Ten students gathered around a table, looking at an apparent fabric explosion.
With watchful eyes, their class instructor Anne Grammer, explained the afternoon activity. The students — aged 5 to 11 — would be rag weaving recycled strips of fabric.
Grammer made them recite the weaving process back to her: “over and under” and “over and under.”
Some students began their projects right away. For a few others, boredom crept in and they started a game of car racing under the table or used the fabric to dress the class skeleton.
This is a peek into a free six-week art class designed specifically for children from immigrant families in the Indianapolis area.
“These children are surrounded by a lot of fear and anxiety. (The class) is a way to express who they are and not hide,” said Priya Gangwani, co-founder of the Indianapolis branch of Grassroot Projects.
Gangwani, who moved to Indianapolis from India and works as a physical therapist, used to volunteer at the Immigrant Welcome Center. She said she saw a need to support children from underserved immigrant families in the city.
Grassroot Projects works with families from over 30 countries, including Eritrea, Myanmar, Haiti, Congo, Nigeria, Syria and Pakistan. They deliver care packages and sports equipment and provide free art classes.
Over the last two years, Grassroot Projects has offered families fall and spring art classes for kids ages 5-15 through the Indy Art Center’s ArtReach program.
The nonprofit pays Indy Art Center to host the classes. However, the classes are free for families, and made possible through a United Way of Central Indiana grant and Indy Art Center donors.
Gangwani said the arts are a way for them to de-stress and enjoy being a child.
From tears to completed projects
Last semester’s art class featured 10 students from Afghanistan.
Gangwani said her three-person team has had trouble recruiting Hispanic families for their programming due to fear of the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts across the country.
But she is determined to try.
This class session is mostly made up of students who are from Burma, also known as Myanmar.
However, there is one exception: sibling duo Selma, 9, and Rayan, 5, who are Algerian.
Selma told Mirror Indy, she chose fabric with her favorite colors: blue, pink, purple, yellow and light green.
Grammer has tried to teach the children a different medium each week. They learned how to make mosaics and paint in previous classes.
The students’ completed projects will be on display at the Indy Art Center’s winter exhibition. This year’s theme is “spectrum.”
Sue Michael, a volunteer with Grassroot Projects, has been to every class to help students.
She said a younger student, 5-year-old Octavia, cried during the entire first class. Now, she has gradually gotten more comfortable and her mom no longer has to stay with her.
“It is nice to watch their development,” Michael said. “They loved the bean pictures, something about those little fingers and the Elmer’s glue.”
By the end of the class, students have finished meticulously weaving colorful fabric strips together and removing a small textile from the cardboard loom.
Selma and Rayan proudly showed off their finished textiles to their mother.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.
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