"We Artists Have To Stick Together"--A Story of One Boy's Lesson on Compassion.

FROM OUR READERS

It is comforting to know that despite significant time constraints and other stressors, some parents still make time to nurture compassion and empathy in their children.

I live with my husband, Bill, in Bowie, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. Bill, a retiree, has been an aspiring artist for the last 12 years, taking courses in drawing, painting, and sculpting at a local community college. Recently, he also has been volunteering as a teacher assistant to a professor of sculpture and drawing at Bowie State University. Bill has been very excited ever since the university named him their "artist in residence" and gave him his first-ever opportunity to have a one-man exhibit of his work.

The exhibit opened on the first of November. Sometime between November 2, after the gallery was locked up for the day, and the morning of November 3, 12 of the 55 pieces that were on display were stolen.

My husband was advised to contact the Washington Post about the theft because of the human interest nature of the incident. The Post immediately assigned a reporter to the story. An article appeared in the paper on the second Sunday following the theft and again in the local section of the weekday edition. It included a picture of my husband, as well as photographs of 2 of the 12 missing works of art. In addition, one local TV news station reported the theft in a morning news report, while another one conducted an interview with my husband, which aired that evening. The many expressions of sympathy, support, and camaraderie generated by this publicity helped support my husband through a very difficult period.

The most uplifting experience, however, was the compassion expressed by a 4-year-old named Avery Chiasson. Avery was at the breakfast table when his mother, reading the article in the newspaper, exclaimed her dismay aloud. When Avery's mother told him what had happened, he became quite sad. Avery then volunteered to make a new painting for the artist, which he hoped would make him feel better. So before he left for preschool, Avery painted a picture and dictated a note to his mother for Bill. He signed his name, both on the note and on the painting.

While Avery was at preschool that day, his mother went about the time-consuming business of trying to find out how to contact Bill. She began by calling the Washington Post reporter who had written about the theft; the reporter suggested that she contact Bowie State University. A University administrator told her she could mail something to Bill in care of the Gallery Director in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts.

Because she was so moved by her son's reaction, Mrs. Chiasson was determined to carry out Avery's wishes. She wrote a letter to the gallery director explaining the situation. Then she wrote a longer letter to Bill describing her son's reaction to the theft and wishing Bill good luck in the return of his art. Mrs. Chiasson placed Avery's artwork between two pieces of cardboard and put it and the letters in the mail.

Bill received the Chiasson's package on the day he was taking down the exhibit. He was very moved by Avery's note and painting. When Bill got home, he telephoned Mrs. Chiasson to thank her for the time and effort she had put into carrying out her son's wishes. Mrs. Chiasson told him that Avery would be thrilled to hear about Bill's call; he had been inquiring daily as to whether or not the artist had received his painting and note.

Mrs. Chiasson added that she and Avery would very much like to see the exhibit. My husband explained that he had taken down the exhibit that day, but that he definitely wanted to meet Avery and shake his hand. So he invited them to our home.

We enjoyed a delightful visit with Mrs. Chiasson and Avery. Bill took Avery on a guided tour through the house, pointing out his artwork. Avery's enthusiasm and appreciation were apparent as he asked questions and shared some of his own experiences related to art and to life in general. Avery's face lit up when he saw his own painting, which Bill had framed and hung up in his studio.

"We artists have to stick together," my husband said to Avery as they held hands and smiled at each other. Avery was thrilled to meet a "real" artist and loved Bill's gift of a small water color set and the picture that Bill painted and inscribed to him. We cannot adequately describe the impact that Avery's compassion had on us.

This story does not end with Avery's visit. A week or two afterward, we received a package from Mrs. Chiasson that contained pictures she had taken during the visit, a note of thanks to Bill (dictated to her by Avery), and another painting Avery had done to give to Bill. This young child's compassion--nurtured by an understanding mother who helped carry out his wishes--showed so much about children's empathic potential. Avery may or may not become a successful artist, but we can be assured that he will grow up to be a thoughtful adult who cares about other people.

--Jeanette M. Sorrentino, Retired Accreditation Specialist, Maryland State Department of Education