• CALENDAR
  • SIGN UP FOR EMAILS
  • DONATE
  • MEMBERSHIP
  • MY ACCOUNT

Academy Center of the Arts

Lynchburg's Local Arts Center

  • TICKETS
    • BOX OFFICE
      • Discounts
      • Ticketing Policies
    • Black History Month Celebration
    • Broadway at the Academy
    • Gift Certificates
    • Group Sales
    • RESIDENT COMPANIES
      • The Charlottesville Ballet 22/23 Season
      • Endstation Theatre Company 22/23 Season
      • Jefferson Choral Society 22/23 Season
      • Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra 22/23 Season
      • Opera on the James 22/23 Season
      • Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest 21/22 Season
    • SEATING CHARTS
  • COMMUNITY ACCESS
    • Academy in Motion
    • Education Access Program
    • Facilities Access Program
    • Ticket Access Program
    • Artist in Residency Program
  • EDUCATION
    • ALL CLASSES
    • ADULT CLASSES
    • YOUTH CLASSES
    • POTTERY CLASSES
    • SUMMER CAMPS
    • YOUTH THEATRE
    • Field Trips At the Academy
    • Education Access Program
    • Instructor Interest Form
  • GALLERIES
    • The Academy Artist Expansion Initiative
    • 2023 National Juried Art Exhibition
  • RENTALS
    • PRIVATE EVENTS
      • Birthday Parties
      • Corporate Rentals
      • Professional Workshops
      • Social and Private Rentals
      • Weddings
    • Ticketed RENTALS
    • Performance Partner Program
    • Facilities Access Program
  • SUPPORT
    • Fall Campaign 2022
    • Volunteer
    • BECOME A MEMBER
    • Make a Donation
    • OUR DONORS
      • CORPORATE SPONSORS
    • LEGACY GIVING
      • Endowment
      • Legacy Giving
  • ABOUT
    • Annual Report
    • CONTACT US
      • CONTACT US
      • Board of Trustees
      • Staff Directory
    • Employment
    • GET INVOLVED
      • Internships
    • GETTING HERE
      • DINE
      • STAY
      • Parking and Directions
    • HISTORY
    • VENUES
      • Accessibility
      • PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
      • Tours
  • TICKETS
    • BOX OFFICE
      • Discounts
      • Ticketing Policies
    • Black History Month Celebration
    • Broadway at the Academy
    • Gift Certificates
    • Group Sales
    • RESIDENT COMPANIES
      • The Charlottesville Ballet 22/23 Season
      • Endstation Theatre Company 22/23 Season
      • Jefferson Choral Society 22/23 Season
      • Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra 22/23 Season
      • Opera on the James 22/23 Season
      • Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest 21/22 Season
    • SEATING CHARTS
  • COMMUNITY ACCESS
    • Academy in Motion
    • Education Access Program
    • Facilities Access Program
    • Ticket Access Program
    • Artist in Residency Program
  • EDUCATION
    • ALL CLASSES
    • ADULT CLASSES
    • YOUTH CLASSES
    • POTTERY CLASSES
    • SUMMER CAMPS
    • YOUTH THEATRE
    • Field Trips At the Academy
    • Education Access Program
    • Instructor Interest Form
  • GALLERIES
    • The Academy Artist Expansion Initiative
    • 2023 National Juried Art Exhibition
  • RENTALS
    • PRIVATE EVENTS
      • Birthday Parties
      • Corporate Rentals
      • Professional Workshops
      • Social and Private Rentals
      • Weddings
    • Ticketed RENTALS
    • Performance Partner Program
    • Facilities Access Program
  • SUPPORT
    • Fall Campaign 2022
    • Volunteer
    • BECOME A MEMBER
    • Make a Donation
    • OUR DONORS
      • CORPORATE SPONSORS
    • LEGACY GIVING
      • Endowment
      • Legacy Giving
  • ABOUT
    • Annual Report
    • CONTACT US
      • CONTACT US
      • Board of Trustees
      • Staff Directory
    • Employment
    • GET INVOLVED
      • Internships
    • GETTING HERE
      • DINE
      • STAY
      • Parking and Directions
    • HISTORY
    • VENUES
      • Accessibility
      • PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
      • Tours

‘Plates & Paints’ Prioritizes the Best Things in Life

October 27, 2020

Written by: Izzi Diaz

What happens when you mix a love for the arts and an empty stomach?

 

The Academy Center of the Arts has partnered with the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Family Nutrition Program to offer Plates and Paints to families in our community. This program pairs color theory and the Eat Smart Be Active curriculum to help families connect nutrition and art while cooking up new recipes on a budget and learning about wellness.

 

“Just as color theory has guidelines that help create successful paintings and color harmonies, the food on our plates should also be colorful and full of variety to help nourish our bodies,” says Adara Wright, Coordinator of Curriculum Development. “The program is a 4-week class that highlights some of life’s most important concepts; art, food, color, health and communication. Within the class, participants will be educated on the basics of cooking and painting to live a healthier and more colorful lifestyle!”

 

 

Wright originally came up with the program idea in response to her interview after applying to work in the Education Department at the Academy.

 

“I was challenged to design an art program that addresses the need for nutrition awareness in our society. My answer was to bring painting and food together through something they both have in common: color. By allowing a nutrition educator and an artist to work alongside each other, I wanted the program to be enjoyable, approachable, and engaging in such a way to bring families joy and excitement about eating colorful foods while learning the basics of color theory. “

 

The program uses the color wheel and MyPlate.gov as foundational visuals during each lesson. Guiding those in the program through simple, yet helpful lessons connected back to concepts they already know or have heard of, like color theory, allow them to better retain the concepts. Participants are allowed the opportunity to artistically express themselves in new and different ways through studying the color wheel, color vocabulary (hue, value, & intensity), color harmonies and schemes, color mixing tips and tricks, and how to paint your own still life at home.

 

Adara partnered with Jeanell Smith, Senior Family Nutrition Program Assistant, Adult SNAP-Ed, in their endeavor, creating a place for families to come together over food and art to learn more about life and each other.

 

The Eat Smart Be Active curriculum utilizes information from MyPlate. Lesson topics include the five food groups, menu planning, shopping strategies, food safety, portion control, mindful eating, and physical activity,” said Jeanell.

 

The ACOA provides a basic cooking kit and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank provides weekly recipe kits, as well as, supplemental food for the participants. The weekly sessions include nutrition education, a cooking lesson and an art class all via Zoom.

 

“My favorite parts of my job are connecting with people and the sharing of knowledge. Although I am the instructor, I learn so much from the participants,” states Jeanell.  “Zoom classes are not as ideal as in person, however, we are still able to see each other and connect.”

 

“I believe it is so important to involve the whole family. This way, each family member can support each other and be together involved in the process,” continues Wright. “The family unit and creative outlets are both incredibly important, especially in the midst of a global pandemic where we all may be facing stress and uncertainty.“

 

 

During hard times such as these, art proves to be a hand that can pull us out of the darkness. It can unite families, friends, and most of all, remind us of the importance of fellowship. Both art and unity are crucial right now, as they represent the hug that we are all longing for, even if we don’t know that we need it. 

 

Tune in to the Academy Center of the Arts’ Facebook page every Tuesday at 12 PM EST for a live digital Plates & Paints segment, airing for the next six weeks, and stay tuned on how you can sign your family up for Plates and Paints in future months.

Filed Under: Art, Community Outreach

Categories

  • Art
  • Community Outreach
  • Donors
  • Events
  • Film
  • Gallery
  • Holidays
  • iPad
  • Local Art
  • Music
  • Press Release
  • Theatre
  • Uncategorized
  • Youth

Archives

  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • May 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015

Recent Posts

  • Spotlight on Academy in Motion
  • Celebrate Juneteenth at the Academy
  • Beyond the Bell Tower with Academy Youth Theatre Professionals
  • Recognizing All of Our Academy Volunteers
  • Behind the Scenes of Academy Youth Theatre’s Production of My Son Pinocchio, JR.

CONTACT US:

(434) 846-8499
600 Main Street
Lynchburg, VA 24504
  • Tickets
  • EDUCATION
  • Galleries
  • RENTALS
  • Support
  • About
  • Blog
  • Board of Trustees
  • Employment
  • Internships
  • Press & Media
  • Contact Us
SUPPORT THE ACADEMY DONATE
STAY UP TO DATE EMAIL UPDATES

Academy Center of The Arts Copyright © 2023