By Anna-Claire Terry
Staff Reporter
Photos by
Anna-Claire Terry
Christopher Floyd, a 9-year-old artist from Opelika, had his first exhibit Saturday on the campus of Auburn University. The procceds from Floyd’s exhibit will benefit the Lee County Area Agency on Aging.
Christopher Floyd II, a fourth grade student at Northside Intermediate, used his love of art to benefit the elderly of Lee County at an art show held at Auburn University on Saturday. The proceeds of Floyd’s art will be donated to the Lee County Area Agency on Aging.
The nine-year-old took two summers to build his art skills and collect enough to art to have the show. Floyd said his great-grandmother who is 101 years old was his motivation to extend a helping hand to the elderly.
“I wanted to help the people who can’t help themselves,” Floyd said.
According to Area Agency on Aging director Jackie Pinkard of Lee-Russell Council of Governments, Floyd and his mother planned the entire event, and all Area Agency on Aging had to do was show up.
Floyd’s goal was supported by teachers and family members, particularly his parents Christopher Floyd and Dr. Camille Floyd.
According to Dr. Floyd, her son comes form a long line of artists and alumni from the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Christopher said he plans on attending school there as well.
“He attended a performance there once and said ‘Mom, I am going to go to this school’ He was mesmerized,” she said. “I didn’t know how interested he was in art. He attended a few camps, and once I saw the products he was creating, I knew he was serious about it.”
Dr. Floyd said Christopher maintained his goal of having an art show from the very beginning of his interest in art.
“For him to keep telling me he wanted to have a show over and over again, and then for him to say he wanted to donate to charity, I couldn’t let it go,” she said. “As a mother, I am very touched and proud of him. I’m moved by his love for the arts.”
Christopher’s extracurricular activities are not limited to art. He also participates in several sports, and he is interested in music. Since the art show, Christopher has added even more to his plate by agreeing to recreate some of his works from the show for more sales. Several attendees of the show talked about the inspiration Christopher had given them to donate to charity or continue their own goals of having an art show.
Christopher sold out of every piece of art he presented at his show, and he is scheduled to present the Lee-Russell Area Agency on Aging with a check in the near future.
