Painting helps youngsters heal

Sorrow and magic overlapped at Camp Shine, as the father of a slain Marjory Stoneman Douglas student joined teens who survived the school shooting and used spray paint to fill a blank wall with messages of love, hope and peace.

"I lost my son, but I got all of you here," Manuel Oliver, the father of Joaquin "Guac" Oliver, told the 20 or so students at the summer camp, which uses art, drama and music to help students cope with grief that lingers after the shooting on Feb 14, 2018.

Oliver, an artist who turned toward activism after his son's murder, guided students during a therapeutic graffiti session at Pine Trails Park in Parkland, Florida. He encouraged them to focus on a theme, and "give ourselves that gift of being happy while we paint". Love, hope, peace and equality were the themes, they said.

"This is one chance to make your statement and be a rebel and demand the things that you want," he said. "You're going to take care of this wall."

And that they did. Students who appeared timid as they brainstormed, rushed to the wooden fence panel, grabbed spray cans and filled the blank space with color. Affirmations were made: "arms are for hugging", "spread love", "be kind" and "equality".

The mural included the sun-shaped logo of Shine MSD, the non-profit that is hosting the camp, and its halo of 17 dashes representing each of the lives lost.

Jessica Asch, a licensed creative arts therapist based in New York City, helped run the camp and used drama to reach students.

"I want them to have an opportunity to be still and just create. It expands their heart capacity, it expands the capacity for compassion," Asch said.

As the students' art was nearly complete, a therapy German shepherd that has been helping kids at the school joined in by dipping its paw in white paint and creating a print on the wall.

For Oliver, it's a way to connect with children who can now use art to find their voice.

"I'm an artist. ... I just have a new mission, an important mission," Oliver said. "I have to make sure Joaquin is still able to talk to us, and art is the perfect tool that can make that happen. Because of art, I can still be a father. Feb 14 didn't stop me from being a father. I'm not going to let that happen."

ASSOCIATED PRESS