Opening up the World of Art to Children

Clad in his freshly made super hero costume, Ethan Jenkins, also known as Thunder Boy, uses tornadoes to conquer his foes.

Little Ethan brings his imagination to life at the Monroe County Art Alliance…and the driving force behind the program is 78-year-old Gloria Joy.

“If we cut out all of the art out of our lives it just cuts out all of the beauty and the creative thinking.”

After raising her four children, by selling her artwork, Joy moved to Forsyth when her daughter married and had a child. For a while she tried to sell her paintings here in the southeast, but found the artistic taste of southerners is quite different than the west coast. Then Joy got an opportunity to take over the struggling Monroe County Art Alliance..instead of focusing on exhibits she shifted to an interactive approach.

“I loved the idea of starting classes and getting it moving again because in this economy there aren’t a lot of sales, art sales for paintings. That’s just not a top priority.”

With many schools cutting art programs all together, Joy places an emphasis on helping children tap into their creative minds.

“She has just put her heart and soul into this and with her experience in the past has brought a new creativity to this area.”

Joy brings artist from around the state and southeast in to put on different classes. Adults are welcome as well, Joy schedules evening classes for time to time for the working adult.

“You know I think it’s fantastic that she has all these opportunities for those of us that can’t always come in the day time, I really appreciate that because I want to stay part of the arts.”

From young to old, Gloria Joy, inspires Middle Georgians to look beyond the norm.