On October 19, Brooklyn’s P.S. 105 hosted its first-ever Balloon Emotion Art Festival in collaboration with the United Asian American Alliance (UA3) and Sharing Hearts. The event aimed to convey a message of community well-being through vibrant artistic expressions.
What can you tell us about the festival’s activities?
The festival showcased a wide array of balloon art created by parents, along with engaging games, a fashion show featuring children adorned in balloon art, and a popcorn stand. Over a hundred attendees enjoyed a joyful and therapeutic atmosphere throughout the day.
Can you describe some of the balloon art displayed at the festival?
Many of the balloon installations were themed around popular culture, including artworks inspired by the beloved cartoon character, SpongeBob SquarePants. The goal was to resonate with the children attending the event.
Zhao Yi He, the event organizer, shared insights into the therapeutic potential of balloon art. “Many art therapy programs are now incorporating balloons as a medium,” she noted. “As parents and volunteers twist and shape these balloons into various forms and colors, they not only exercise their creativity but also express emotions and experience a sense of accomplishment through collaboration and communication.”
What were some specific themes of the artwork?
Zhao introduced attendees to the underlying concepts of the displayed artworks. For instance, there was a rainbow symbolizing hope after storms, trees representing diverse cultures, marine scenes that encapsulated environmental consciousness, and books reflecting emotional learning. SpongeBob also made an appearance, appealing to the children’s interests while promoting the event’s core message of community togetherness through joyful art.
Can you tell us about the effort that went into organizing this festival?
Ms. Ou, a volunteer from Sharing Hearts, highlighted the extensive preparation that went into the festival, which took several months. “Many parents have full-time jobs, making it challenging to coordinate everything,” she revealed. The collaboration extended to parents from surrounding schools as well. The materials for balloon crafting were imported from overseas, making the process time-consuming and labor-intensive. Remarkably, the participating parents had no previous experience with balloon artistry and learned the craft from YouTube tutorials.
What were the challenges faced in the production of the balloon art?
Ms. Ou expressed her gratitude for the team’s hard work, acknowledging the time-sensitive nature of balloon art. “If we started too early, the balloons would lose air, so the volunteers only began creating two days prior,” she explained. They were still setting up the school until 10 PM the night before the event and resumed early the next morning.
What message do you hope to convey through events like this?
Principal Chen Xue Li expressed her appreciation for the parents’ dedication to organizing the festival, which had received positive feedback following a balloon celebration during Mother’s Day last May. She hopes to continue hosting community-friendly events that bring families together. The festival also saw attendance from various elected officials and community representatives, including State Senator John Liu and City Council Member Julie Won, demonstrating strong local support for the initiative.
Lastly, what else happened at the festival?
Attendees were treated to Halloween candy and masks handed out by UA3, contributing to the festive spirit of the day. Overall, the Balloon Emotion Art Festival proved to be a delightful celebration of creativity and community spirit on Brooklyn’s 8th Avenue.
