02/14/2000

Artists in the Schools

Many artists donate their time in the schools to share their talents with youngsters and encourage them to develop their own. Writers frequently offer mini-courses in the schools or offer their skills as judges in district-wide writing contests. The following article about Connecticut artist David Bell was written by a colleague of mine, a poet and published author who teaches writing to children and also offers courses in senior centers.

An Artist Shares Himself and His Art

By Jean Sands

David Eugene Bell is a multi-talented man who believes in sharing his art and his talent with others, especially children.

"I think it's very important to give something of yourself back," Mr. Bell said. "My philosophy is -- to keep it, you have to give it away. That's why I'm a hospice volunteer and have worked with children at the John Pettibone Elementary School in New Milford through their enrichment program."

His students are children with low self-esteem. Mr. Bell encourages his students to be themselves, and he helps them improve their self-image through the use of abstract art.

"When the children make things, I say, 'Just think, nobody else in the world can do that!' And I tell them to work with what the great spirit gave them. 'Everybody has things they excel in, so use your imagination!'"

Mr. Bell follows his own advice. He has succeeded in three separate careers, and the evidence is artfully arranged inside the antique church he calls home in Washington, Conn.

There are framed theater posters from his Broadway days. The antiques and accent pieces are keepsakes from the years he headed Bloomingdale's interior design department. And then there are the needlepoint abstracts - framed pictures, shadowboxes, benches, church windows -- products of his third and current career.

"I used to do incredible roses ..." he interrupts himself to point to the mantle where a huge pink rose occupies a vase. "From my garden--isn't that lovely? Do you know that story of Whistler? Well, he had a painting of a rose in his studio and everybody wanted to buy it. He said, 'I'll never sell it because I can look at it and say, I did that.' You know the Amish Window that's on my poster? Well it's not for sale because ... I like to have it."

The window may not be for sale but the poster is, and the proceeds go to New Milford Hospice for children with AIDS. The window's four panes are replaced by a geometric multi-colored needlepoint that creates an optical illusion.

Mr. Bell has not only been a hospice volunteer, he also created an art event to help support the organization and benefit its children. "Artists for Hospice" is held in June at Skitch and Ruth Henderson's Silo Gallery in New Milford, where Mr. Bell held his first one-man show in 1994. He is also one of dozens of artists, including school students, who donate a percentage of their sales to hospice.

"It's amazing. The kids' art is the first to sell every time," Mr. Bell said.

When asked to comment further on his three careers the artist chuckled. "Did you see that piece called The Curtain is Always Going Up? Well that's the story of my life." The piece features a tiny conductor raising his baton on an open curtain.

The curtain actually does rise for Mr. Bell on a one-man show he performs around the country. "One Man's Creative Journey" traces his life, from his debut on Broadway in "Father Knows Best" to the time he auditioned for Ethel Barrymore to his work with needlepoint and children's art. As he recreates his life's story the audience meets a cast of personalities - comedian, designer, actor, trendsetter, entrepreneur, visual artist, show-biz star, and as named by Time magazine, creative genius.

Perhaps it is because his own creative journey began in childhood -- when he created stage sets and performed on them in his parents Pennsylvania attic -- that Mr. Bell has a deep appreciation for the creativity and talent of children.

"You never know how your help might influence a child. I might never have used my creativity if I wasn't encouraged as a child. I guess you could say that I understand the value of passing it on."

Mr. Bell's needlepoint abstracts have been exhibited in fine arts galleries including The Silo Gallery, Randy Tuttle Fine Arts in Woodbury, and The Washington Art Association. Collectors across America own his work.

To schedule an appointment for an art workshop in your school, or to have Mr. Bell present "One Man's Creative Journey" for your organization, call him at 860-868-7495.

NOTE: Jean Sands is a poet and feature writer. Her articles and essays have appeared in a variety of journals, magazines, e-zines and newspapers, and her poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. As the founder of northwestern Connecticut's "Writers' Work" workshops, Jean has taught creative writing to adults and children and in the Poets in the Schools program. She recently completed a poetry manuscript and is at work on a book about teaching writing to senior citizens. She lives in Harwinton, Connecticut with her husband, writer Jack Sheedy.

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.