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HIGHTSTOWN: Artist teaches perseverance

By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
   HIGHTSTOWN — Children attending the Grace Norton Rogers Elementary School learned first hand the value of perseverance in the face of adversity.
   Haitian painter Herold Alvares, who was born without arms, shared his story and answered questions from students at the school auditorium on Feb. 14.
   Mr. Alvares uses his mouth or his toes to hold a brush when he paints. The students said he painted for them the school mascot, a bulldog.
   Approximately 220 students in third, fourth and fifth grades witnessed Mr. Alvares’ presentation.
   It was Mr. Alvares’ first demonstration in a school environment.
   Music teacher Jacques Chancy, who entered into the profession in 2002, seven years after driving a school bus for East Windsor Regional School District, organized Mr. Alvares’ visit to Grace Rogers. Mr. Chancy said he learned about Mr. Alvares’ work and “incredible story” after attending his exhibition at the Harlem Art Festival by the Haitian Congress to fortify Haiti.
   ”Anyone who has the chance to see Mr. Alvares demonstrating his talents would learn a life changing lesson for not making excuses for not being successful,” Mr. Chancy said.
   Fourth and fifth grade students of Mr. Chancy shared with the Herald on Tuesday their experiences and reactions to the artwork and life of Mr. Alvares.
   ”It was very surprising,” said fifth-grader Joseph Karlisi, 11, of East Windsor. “I couldn’t believe that he could paint.”
   ”I was really amazed,” said Becky Harris, 11, of Hightstown. “He just used his mouth and feet to paint.”
   ”It was actually pretty inspirational,” said Jordan Havens, 11, of Hightstown.
   Harrison Fiore, 10, of East Windsor, said, “It was pretty amazing,” in reference to Mr. Alvares’ ability to paint professionally using his feet or mouth.
   Fifth-grader Sarah Kyereme, 11, of East Windsor, said, “I was sort of scared to see someone like this.” Then, she shared words such as “amazing” and “flabagasting” to describe her next reactions when she saw Mr. Alvares paint with his feet and without arms.
   The students collectively conveyed that Mr. Alvares’ artwork and his ability to overcome great odds were, simply put, “inspirational.”
   ”I think it was really cool to paint with no arms,” said Hunter Richardson, 10, a fifth grade student, from East Windsor.
   Carli Peters, 10, of East Windsor and also a fifth grader, is herself an artist. “For me, when I paint, it feels really great because I can let out my emotions.” She said he proved to her one’s ability to never give up against all odds.
   Fifth grade student Fenway Lubiak, 10, of East Windsor, concurred.
   ”He proved to me that anything is possible,” Fenway said. “And, you can always take chances.”
   Fenway noted she was “honored” to see paint. “It was very inspirational.” She later added, “He made it look easy.”
   ”He taught me that just because you’re different doesn’t mean you can’t follow your dreams,” said 10-year-old Araceli Panama of Hightstown.
   The students brought up the fact that Mr. Alvares said he was bullied — yet, he did not give up.
   ”At first I was really surprised,” said John O’Brien, 11, of East Windsor. “He didn’t let his disability and other people stop him.” John, a fifth-grader at Grace Rogers, emphasized, “He didn’t give up.”
   ”Music and art in general are the only disciplines that give freedom of expression with not limitations to anyone,” Mr. Chancy said. “In sport, when rules are violated, there are consequences; contrary to music and art, when rules are violated, it is called innovation.”
   The students did indeed connect with the vivid artwork of Mr. Alvares.
   Fenway said, “Everybody in that painting was working hard and it made me feel inspired to do my best.”
   Pondered Michael Belloars, 10, of East Windsor and in fifth grade, “There was this one painting . . . It was so vivid and it had so many details . . . It was really cool how he could do something like that with no arms.”
   The students described Mr. Alvares’ artwork with words such as: farming, bright, cheerful and colorful.
   For Sarah Cano, a nine- year-old fourth-grader, she reflected on some of the sorrows Mr. Alvares had experienced in his life from bullies and discrimination.
   ”I think his life was really sad,” Sarah said, of East Windsor. “He was really inspiring because he never gave up what he believed.”
   Fourth-grader Delaney Slattery, 10, of East Windsor, said, “He said that just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you can’t do what you want to (do).”
   East Windsor fifth-grader Liam Monahan, 11, said, “Don’t stop believing in yourself and reach your goals.”
   Samara Lorber, 11, of East Windsor, stated that Mr. Alvares inspired her to hold onto a dream of her own. “I wanted to become a brain surgeon . . . I was thinking it was too hard (with the additional educational requirements) — until I saw him. I want to keep going and fight for it.”
   Jacob Patt, 11 and in fifth grade, offered a lesson of perseverance.
   The Hightstonian said, “It made me think, that when you have it tough — you don’t. They’re missing limbs.”
   Mr. Chancy, who is from Haiti, said of his music students, “I always tell my students that success is all about choice and perseverance. Anyone can accomplish anything if they are ready to face the challenges. But this cannot happen without a good education that is to the mind what light is to the eyes.”
   For more information, visit www.heroldalvares.com.