Summer art series reaches out to Bangladesh

Five years ago, Shema Jamaluddin quit her day job to coordinate fundraisers that support the local community as well as schools and orphanages in Bangladesh.

Starting Friday, a result of her efforts will begin as a five-week art class. The course will teach children and adults about art history and drawing techniques.

The proceeds from course costs will benefit For Kids’ Sake, a fundraising organization in partnership with Dayemi Tariqat, a group that provides financial assistance to Bangalesh orphanages and students.

Jamaluddin first got involved with fundraising efforts in 2004 when she organized the annual Kids for Kid’s Sake art show at Longbranch Coffeehouse. After the first year, she said she “fell in love with the program.”

“I felt so inspired by the art show,” Jamaluddin said.

For Kids’ Sake has provided financial assistance to Bengali orphans and students for more than two decades. According to the organization’s Web site, Bangladesh harbors a literacy rate of 32 percent for women and 54 percent for men. Since 2000, For Kids' Sake events and programs have raised more than

$335,000.

Joshua Shearer, an art teacher from Century School in Ullin, will provide instruction on a variety of drawing techniques such as shading, use of depth and multiple perspectives.

“This is an opportunity for (students) to practice skills under guidance … It should be a riot,” Shearer said.

Claudia Teller, a graphic designer from New York, said she is taking the course to brush up on her illustrating skills and hopes the class will expand her horizons.

She said she was also attracted to the quality of teaching Shearer would provide.

“(Shearer) is an incredible artist,” she said. “I am thinking I can learn something from him.”

Classes begin Friday and run through July 17 at the Dayemi Homeschool Collective on 218 N. Illinois St. The children’s class is scheduled from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. and the adult class is from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The cost is $10 a class or $50 for the series and a material fee of $15.

Private donations are also accepted and can be made by visiting the For Kid’s Sake Web site at http://dayemi.org/forkidssake/index.php.

Christina Spakousky can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 259.