For sisters Mia Johnson and Wendi Reed, creativity is part of everyday life. At Unity Point School in Carbondale, both girls enjoy exploring their artistic interests in the classroom. But on Saturdays, their creativity expands even further as they participate in a special art club at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Mia, a third grader in Mr. Renier’s class, and Wendi, a first grader in Ms. Wagley’s class, spend part of their weekends learning new artistic techniques and experimenting with creative projects. Although they attend the program together, the sisters participate in different groups because the classes are organized by age.

Their connection to the program begins at home. Their mother is a professor at SIU who creates sculptures using metal and welding techniques. Mia says watching her mom create artwork has always been inspiring. “She makes lots of cool stuff out of metal,” she explains proudly.

The art club itself is taught by SIU art students who are learning how to teach while sharing the skills they have developed through their own studies. “My mom’s students take turns teaching,” she says. “They teach us what they learned.”

One of Mia’s favorite projects this year involves working with clay to create decorative plates. She describes the process step by step. “First, you make the plate with clay,” she says. “Then they bake it, and then you get to paint it.”

Wendi’s class is also working with clay, but her projects focus on sculpting small figures. She enjoys shaping the clay into different designs and then painting them once they have been fired.

Students usually begin by sketching their ideas before shaping the clay into their final forms. After the pieces are fired in a kiln, they return to paint and decorate them. The process teaches patience as well as creativity.

Over the past two years, the sisters have participated in several different art club themes. Mia remembers making personalized stamps during one session. Students painted their names onto stamps and then used them to decorate paper with colorful designs.

Another memorable project involved designing costumes based on imaginative themes. Each student created their own costume, transforming simple materials into something completely new.

For Mia and Wendi, the program offers more than just the chance to create art. It also gives them the opportunity to meet other students who share their interests.

Mia says one of her classmates in art club is a friend named Greta who is also in third grade. Wendi says she knows another student from Unity Point who participates in her group. Those familiar connections make the experience even more enjoyable.

Although the sisters attend the program at the same time each Saturday, they enjoy comparing what they have created once they return home.

The girls say art club is something they always look forward to. At school, art class typically takes place once a week, but the Saturday program gives them extra time to explore their creativity.

When asked what she enjoys most about art club, Mia gives a simple answer. “We get to do art,” she says.

Both sisters already have big dreams for the future. Mia hopes to become a veterinarian someday, while Wendi imagines a future that includes creativity and performance. “I want to be a hairstylist, a singer, and an artist,” she says.

Even though they are in different classrooms during the school day, Wendi says one of her favorite things about school is knowing that her sister is nearby. “My favorite thing about school is getting to see my sister,” she says.

Through their experiences at Unity Point School and at Southern Illinois University, Mia and Wendi are discovering how creativity can bring people together. Whether they are shaping clay, painting designs, or sharing ideas with classmates, the sisters are learning that art is not only about making something new—it is also about expressing who you are.