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Bosley Park Instructors Seek Local Kids for Art Classes

By Casey Cora | January 15, 2015 5:34am
 Briana Gaitan and Kevin Boyd help lead programs at Bridgeport's Bosley Park.
Briana Gaitan and Kevin Boyd help lead programs at Bridgeport's Bosley Park.
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DNAinfo/Casey Cora

BRIDGEPORT — Fresh from a promotion that sent her to Bridgeport's Bosley Park, Chicago Park District playground instructor Briana Gaitan has put together a series of art programs for local kids. 

But no one has signed up yet.

Gaitan, 32, thinks that's because residents don't realize the small field house at 3044 S. Bonfield Ave. is open for business.

But she insists "we're ready to go." 

Gaitan is an experienced graphic artist who sells her wares at Pilsen Outpost and Bridgeport's Hardscrabble Gifts.

She's created five different art-focused programs for kids 18 months to 12 years old, including weekly "trash to treasure" classes, storytime art sessions, mixed media classes and more. 

"These are not your typical arts-and-crafts and cutting-paper types of classes. We do beads with the older kids. We work with clay and plaster. Acrylic paint. Watercolors. It's not just cutting and pasting and cotton ball type of thing," she said. 

The programs, which started on Jan. 5 and run through mid-March cost anywhere from $10 to $40, which includes instruction and materials. 

Gaitan said part of her job is assessing the needs of the surrounding Bridgeport community, so if the kids programming proves unpopular, she may change it up sometime in the future. 

But for now, she's pushing local families to take a look at what the park can offer. 

She said the art classes are just part of the activities at the park, which was created in 1901 and today includes basketball courts, horseshoe courts, a spray pool and grassy field. 

This summer, she plans to bring an outdoor art show and "Movies in the Park" screening.

Registration for the kids programs is available by visiting this link at the park's website or simply showing up at the field houses, where Gaitan tries to keep candy, cookies or donuts on-hand for visitors.

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