b'6 year-old grace is having a bit about the art. This then becomes a few hours ofoftroublewithhermask.Shepushesanother intensemask-makingwithafantasticartcarthandful of leaves into the glue to see if that gives filled with art supplies and natural materials rang-her the effect she hopes for. I want it to be beau- ing from prickly chestnut hulls to tiny red apples,tiful, but I want it to be kind of scary too.all ready for small hands. The children are encour-Grace, and 17 other children are spending a aged to get creativeand yes, messyas they buildsunnySaturdayinsidetheButlerGallerylocated their own masks.inside Kilkenny Castle. Against a backdrop of an Childrenaredefinitelynotintimidatedbyexhibitofself-portraitsbyIrishartistTonyart, says Bairbre-Ann Harkin, Education CuratorOMalley, the children are being guided through at the Butler Gallery. When children are exposedan art activity by two adult artists who first discuss to art at a young age and allowed the freedom totheimportanceandinterestingaspectsofthe explore, there is a noticeable benefit in their selfmany faces presented by OMalley on the walls.confidence.TheymaynotbecomeartistsorartButitsanythingbutaboringlecture.The professionals,butthatconfidenceextendsintochildrenaskquestionsandmakeobservations other areas of their life. connect2014 | 46'