A Greenwood artist is collaborating with families to spread a positive message during the uncertain times surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yolande van Heerden, an instructor at ArtPlace Mississippi, has been designing banners with sketches and the message “Greenwood Strong” with India ink on thin white paper.
She then distributes the banners, along with a paint kit, to families with young children so they can splash the banners with some color. The completed artwork is being displayed in window fronts at various businesses across town.
“It’s fun, it’s encouraging and it spreads joy all over the community,” van Heerden said.
Originally from South Africa, van Heerden shared a Zulu proverb that serves as a reminder that good times are ahead. It’s “Noma bungaba bude kangakanani ubusuku kodwa ukusa kona kuyafika,” which translates to, “No matter how long the night, the day is sure to come.”
Van Heerden first got her idea when she delivered a box of masks, which she’s been making since the start of the pandemic, to Wade Inc. Van Heerden noticed the farm equipment dealer’s massive windows and thought adding colorful banners painted by kids would fill up the space well.
Van Heerden designed a banner for Wade and had the children of the company’s general manager, Wade Litton, paint it.
After that banner went up last week, van Heerden said, she knew a banner campaign would be a hit.
Van Heerden said she’s designed about 30 banners since the first one went up. Some are already on display at Lusco’s, the Planters Bank location on Medallion Drive, the Bank of Commerce location on Howard Street and Conerly’s Shoes and Clothing, to name a few. A banner also adorns the front lobby of Greenwood Leflore Hospital.
Aside from spreading joy, the other aim of the banner campaign is to raise money for ArtPlace, a nonprofit that provides art classes for all of Leflore County.
Like other businesses and nonprofits, ArtPlace has been hampered by the pandemic. It has had to postpone its classes while social-distancing guidelines are enforced.
Painting the banners has been fun for families, some of whom have children who took classes taught by van Heerden at ArtPlace.
“The kids were really excited to do something, number one, for Yolande,” Caroline Stuckey said of her two sons, 13-year-old Sullivan and 9-year-old Jack.
“They were super excited about painting. They really enjoyed the fact that it was for the town,” Stuckey said.
She and her husband, Dr. Ward Stuckey, also participated in painting as a family activity.
Because the pandemic has caused many to retreat inside, including her sons, the opportunity to do something outside by painting, rather than playing video games, “was just great,” Caroline Stuckey said.
The banner painted by the Stuckeys is displayed inside the hospital.
Sisters Maggie Miller, left, and Ellen Miller stand by the banner they painted, which is on display at the Medallion Drive location of Planters Bank.
Holly Miller said her two daughters, Maggie, 13, and Ellen, 9, enjoyed painting a sign that is now displayed at the Medallion Drive location of Planters Bank, where their father, Eric, is the president.
“I thought it was a great idea. A good idea to offer some hope,” she said.
The Powers children paint a banner that is now displayed at Bank of Commerce on Howard Street. They are, clockwise from bottom left, Charlie, 11, James, 10, Libby, 8, and Chip, 5.
Lindsay Powers, the president of ArtPlace’s board, had her four children — sons Charlie, 11, James, 10, and Chip, 5, and 8-year-old daughter Libby — paint a banner for Bank of Commerce’s Howard Street location.
“The kids thought it was a great experience. It was a nice break from distance learning,” Powers said.
“I think it’s a great project that Yolande put together for the needs of ArtPlace as so many businesses and nonprofits are struggling during this pandemic,” she said “It’s nice to remind everyone to support their nonprofits.”
To make a donation to ArtPlace, visit its website at artplacems.com or mail a check to ArtPlace Mississippi, P.O. Box 303, Greenwood, MS 38935. Donations go toward the nonprofit’s administrative costs as well as its programming.
For those interested in receiving a banner, van Heerden said she can be contacted on Facebook messenger.
•Contact Gerard Edic at 581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.
