Art project helps kids affected by HIV, AIDS

The AIDS Coalition of Coastal Texas serves about 70 children who have or have been orphaned by HIV and AIDS.

Marcia Wilson Rappaport of St. Vincent’s House said she was shocked to learn the number was so high.

“I was expecting maybe a dozen children,” she said.

That’s why she decided that this year’s art project by preschool students at St. Vincent’s should benefit the AIDS coalition.

St. Vincent’s recently received its fourth annual grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts — money it uses for arts activities for underserved children attending its preschool.
A part of the funding goes to an annual art project.

This year, Rappaport decided to have the students color stenciled designs on T-shirts. The shirts are placed on teddy bears to be given to children served by the coalition.

Artist Abron Pouncy provided a design for the shirts.

“For this project, I wanted to create something that would be cheerful and give the children some type of hope,” Pouncy said.

Pouncy said he has lived in Galveston for 37 years. He creates mostly realistic portraits in pastels, which were once displayed at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston for Black History Month.

He said he thought about what his favorite songs were from church when he was a child and designed two pieces of artwork inspired by the gospel songs “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” and “This Little Light of Mine.”

Then, he reproduced the designs on stencils and helped the students at St. Vincent’s color them in with fabric markers.

Pouncy said he wanted the technique to be simple and remind the 3- to 5-year-old children of coloring books.

“Some kids stayed in the lines, and others were in a hurry,” Pouncy said with laughter in his voice.

“They wanted to get done so they could go play.”

The bears will be on display during Art Walk on Saturday in the Top Gallant Room at 23rd Street and The Strand.

A silent auction will take place for a piece of jewelry from John Ford Jewelers. Proceeds will go to St. Vincent’s House.