Former Arts and Crafts Teacher at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Mrs. Louise Brooks, now owner of Alak Art Gallery, is still teaching art but to a group of private students who want to emulate her.
Mrs Brooks, who caters her craftwork to tourists visiting her galleries on the Shoal Bay Road, and mainly at South Hill, has just ended a two-day exhibition of work done by some twenty-five students she has been teaching for some time without cost.
“In January 2012, I decided to offer classes in art from 3.30 to 5.30 and today I have about twenty-five students and a waiting list,” Mrs. Brooks said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition on Thursday, December 13.“At first I decided that each child will have to pay, but I said that if I had done something in life to help one child, even to learn a skill, I am pleased with that. I gave up a good paying job teaching art but this is different in that the children are eager to learn.”
Mrs. Janine Edwards, a parent of one of the art students, described Mrs. Brooks as an artist extraordinaire. “She gives of her time and talent with such generosity,” Mrs. Edwards said. “We see the faces of our children as we drop them to the art classes. They are under pressure to reach on time and when we go to collect them, nobody wants to leave.We really want to honour you, Mrs Brooks, today.You do most of this out of your pocket with a labour of love in your mind, in heart and your hands; and we, as parents, appreciate it. We see the joy you bring to our children’s life; we see their expressions on the palette. Thank you for taking your precious time to nurture Anguilla’s youth and I know that you will see the fruits of your labour.”
The exhibition comprised various water colour paintings of objects, landscapes, sunsets and other images familiar to children. It attracted a number of spectators who expressed appreciation for the children’s work and for the efforts of their tutor.
