Art + Kids = Life for Jackie Sabourin

Artist at the core, teacher at heart.

Story by Freddy Sanchez
Photos courtesy of North Country Potters Guild

In a crowed class of about 25 elementary school children, Jackie Sabourin makes her rounds admiring and applauding the ceramic babies and tiles students created.

"Make the head, then about half way down you pinch on both sides to make the arms…Beautiful," Sabourin says hovering over one child as she demonstrates how to make baby arms out of clay.

A former art teacher of 16 years, Sabourin has a nurturing disposition; common in most kindergarten teachers. Her excitement for art radiates in her response to the student’s creations. "You did such a beautiful job.", she says cheerfully. "I told him he’s like an artist, in the way he made his face" she says referring to the subtle details on one student’s ceramic creation.

Sabourin is an Art facilitator for the 21st Century Learning Program at Arthur Momont Elementary school. Her enthusiasm for art and children makes it obvious that the class room is one of her comfort zones. "Teaching is an energizing field it keeps you young,", Sabourin says.

"Jackie’s a doll"

"After teaching for 16 years, I had to stop because I couldn’t hear anymore. I wasn’t ready to retire, my goal was to educate in art," she says.

This September marks 20 years since Sabourin was diagnosed with the first of several brain tumors that impaired her hearing.  "I flipped out when I found out. I had children." she remembers.

At the time of her diagnosis, Sabourin was an Art student at Plattsburgh State University; her initial reaction was to work through it. "I went to the university and said 'I’m going through something. I have to play with clay.'"

When facing this rough time in her life,  Sabourin considered herself lucky to be an artist; ceramics and art were her outlet to vent and escape. "I found a studio in Boston, where I went for my radiation treatment. I tried to get to the studio everyday.", Sabourin says.

 Even those closest to Sabourin understand what art means to her. "Through out health issues, art and kids have been a sustaining part of her life. She is art.", says Jackie’s husband, Dick Sabourin.

Since Sabourin grew up around art, it’s no surprise why creativity run through her veins and art seeps out her pores. "My mother painted and my father did a lot of wood work. There was always paper and crayons at home. Sabourin says. "My mother exposed me to a lot of things visually, it gave me an opportunity to see things and appreciate it to where I can express it through my medium.", she says

"After teaching for 16 years, I had to stop because I couldn’t hear anymore"

In her fourth year with the 21st century Learning program Sabourin shows no signs of ceasing self expression through her medium, ceremics. Through this program she is able to do the what she loves and what come natural, art and teach, in no particular order.

Christsinthy Drellos, PSUC student and volunteer at the 21st century Learning program, works alongside Sabourin. "Jackie’s a doll. She’s my mentor and a great friend," says Drellos. "Art and teaching kids are her life."

Have you ever seen Jackie’s Art?