VICKI & RION

In an old nursery rhyme little girls are made of “sugar and spice and all that’s nice.”  Today, active young girls like Vicki Icaza and Rion Rembert are made of tennis balls, volleyballs, pianos, pottery, painting and everything fun.  It is a modern, engaging combination.

Vicki Icaza and Rion Rembert have been friends ever since Vicki moved to Canton from Maryland and walked into Rion’s second grade classroom at St. Michael’s Elementary School in Plain Township.  Now fifth graders, they are both exploring new things at the CMA School of Art.  When we sat down to talk to them both it was easy to see why they are friends.  They share an inquisitive nature and sweet disposition.

Vicki Icaza

Vicki is the daughter of Mary Ellen and Javier Icaza.  Mary Ellen is the CEO and Executive Director of the Stark County Library so it is easy to understand why learning is a central part of her children’s lives.   Javier is an IT professional and loves how his daughter loves to develop her creative side.  

Vicki plays volleyball but loves art and jumped at the chance to study painting and ceramics, although she says she’s “pretty bad at making pottery.”  When it comes to painting, though, she thinks she’s “pretty good.”  That’s fortunate since she currently wants to be an illustrator and author when she grows up.  Perhaps someday she’ll have books in her mother’s library.

Rion Rembert

Rion is the daughter of the late Edward Rembert and Angela Rembert who works with teens at the Stark County Community Action Agency.  Rion is an animated young woman whose life is filled with piano lessons, tennis lessons and CMA Art School painting classes.  As a typical 10 year old, I’m sure she is occasionally  bored, but I’m not sure when she finds the time.  

Tennis is definitely at the top of her list since she has her sights set on becoming a professional tennis player, but perhaps an artistic one.  After all, even Serena Williams finds time to create her own paintings and sculptures.  When it comes to choosing between art and piano, the decision is a bit tougher.  According to Rion, “it kind of depends on what I’m doing good at!”  According to Angela, art has more frequently become what she’s good at.

Vicki and Rion

These two girls are a joy to have at our CMA Art School.  Vicki has attended Art Camp for the last two summers and is sure her second year was even better than her first since she knew her way around.   With all of Rion’s other activities, she wasn’t able to attend Art Camp, but loves her painting and drawing classes.   Both girls have made enough good art to decorate their family homes.

On those rainy days when kids look out the window at a dreary world and complain there’s nothing to do, these two live wires have plenty of creative things to occupy their minds. The daughters of accomplished mothers, both girls are taking early steps toward successful lives at the Canton Museum of Art School of Art.  And they’re looking for lots of other young kids to join them in the fun.