Art Attack Program Lets Kids Get Creative

They mixed in earnest.

They colored. Colored some more and sitting in a circle at a table, they admired each others' handiwork.

Welcome to Art Attack, a weekly group that meets for an hour on Mondays at 11 a.m. at Hodgepodge Coffeehouse in East Atlanta.

The project the brainchild of East Atlanta artist and jewelry maker Susie Boggs Antell, focuses on kids and allows them to develop and channel their creative energies through art.

For the moms and dads who also come along and participate, it's a chance for them to bond with their kids, says Angie Hornsby, who daughter, Emily, is one of the Art Attack kids.

It also gives the parents a break and a chance to bond with one another.

"While she's doing her art project, we get a little break," Elise vanderMeer, whose daughter, Lena, is a participant.

"They can get their hands messy and be creative all at once and when they come home they're so excited about their project."

Please click on the video to hear excerpts from our interview with Antell.

If you go: Art Attack Kids is for children ages 3 to 6 and meets on Mondays from 11 a.m. to noon at Hodgepodge Coffehouse and Gallery, 720 Moreland Ave. SE. (Mondays are Mommy Mondays at Hodgepodge so moms get 10% off food and beverages.) Art Attack classes are $10.