My little gal, Vivienne Marsh Watson was born in August 2019. As soon as she realized she had hands and was practicing figuring them out, I was pondering ways to help her with her mission.

As a painter, I was joyfully awaiting the day Viv could play with paint to make marks. Fast forward to January 2020 and I was using Viv as my favorite brush whenever she was in the zone. Viv is a natural finger painter.

*Applesauce on coffee table by 1 year old by Vivienne Marsh Watson*

Fast forward to March/April 2020 and Covid 19 hits our world hard. I began to cope through acts of service and depending on my art community and my Eskenazi Trauma Family (former employer) all while figuring out my new life as a first-time mother. While the world came to an anxious stand still and I was making more and more messes with Viv, my new coworker/baby, folks started wanting paintings made by Viv. We would exchange art for educational toys and books. Being a part of Viv’s whole art evolution made me realize “holy smokes, those kids sitting at home need something to look forward to more than any of us. We have to have an art show!” I began to get very excited to see what the children of my fellow Harrison Center artists have been exposed to their entire lives and what that must mean for their creative capacities and output.

I shared the idea and the Harrison Center and Artist Parents were all in. We would call the show “Pride & Joy.”

The children created collage work, paintings, light sculptures, photography, mixed media work, and electronic paintings (or that’s what I think the kids call them these days). Over 44 works were submitted by 12 shining artists. Many red dots were had on opening night!

I was privy to so many takeaways and moments during this process and show. I got to watch the children of my friends make and share their art in a professional format. I got to see esteemed members of the art community buy the children’s art and the kiddos “light up.” I got to be a part of building the self esteem of young artists and I got to help my artist friends bond with their children. It was perfection.

Light No. 2, by Quinn Crawley — *Light No. 2,* by Quinn Crawley

Please check out the “Pride & Joy” show and consider purchasing work from these young artists. It’s a real treat to contribute to the fire some of these children have inside of them. Also, the work is awesome.

One Stop Shop, by Andre Jefferson — *One Stop Shop*, by Andre Jefferson

And don’t stop there! I encourage you, sitting there reading this blog post all the way to the end, to come up with a creative way to build self esteem in your child(ren) or a kiddo who is special in your life. Send them art supplies in the mail, comment on their social media posts, and be that person that nudges them to make and play. I promise it will be a rewarding experience all around.

View the Show