Children who attended “The Amazing Arts Race”  summer arts camp at Montgomery County Community College this year had their work put on display for community members in East Norriton to see and celebrate recently.

A new mural depicting the silhouettes of each of the campers was installed in the lobby of the Minerva D. Braemer Medical Arts Building at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery in East Norriton.

The mural, one of several children’s art pieces that will be on display, is part of a collaboration between MCCC, Greater Norristown Art League, and Variety the Children’s Charity.

The gallery will remain on display through Nov. 10.

 “The mural turned out great,” said MCCC Galleries Director Patrick Rodgers, who oversees the camp. “The kids were asked to do something fairly complicated.”

During The Amazing Arts Race, campers travel the world to complete challenges in visual, performing, and media arts before moving on to the next destination.

The theme of this year’s camp is Murals ‘Round the World, which allowed students to work on projects while remaining socially distanced.

Based on the hit CBS reality game show, the camp is a cross-cultural arts-based curriculum that explores various global cultures to experience visual arts, dance, theater, and other traditions, while building teamwork with group challenges and physical activities.

The two-week summer camp ran from July 12-23 for children ages 7-10 and was co-organized with Girls First afterschool program of Norristown.

Campers worked individually and collaboratively on short- and long-term art projects and a dance performance, which culminated in an exhibit and presentation on the last day of camp.

The mural on display in the hospital is the largest completed contiguous painting the camp has ever completed.

“It’s amazing,” said Ria, GNAL President. “GNAL’s children’s murals used lots of color, whereas this mural was mostly black silhouettes with bits of color. I liked that some kids chose to be painted upside down. It added an abstract feeling. At first, you don’t realize what it is. It encourages you to look at it a little longer than you would otherwise.”

Further, Ria said medical staff at the hospital told her the artwork on display helped them leave their workday feeling refreshed.

“People are working hard and seeing all kinds of horrible sickness and injury, and it’s just a breath of fresh air that helps them reset as they leave all that and reenter their lives outside the hospital,” she said. “I really believe the process of observing art and creating art is mentally very healthy. It’s a brain healer.”

Find more information here about Montgomery County Community College.