GVSU Education Programs News
Lakers work with special education students to create playful art pieces
April 20, 2026
BY Thomas
Chavez
Image credit - Cory Morse
Grand Valley art education students celebrated the conclusion of the two-semester Art Buddies program with a showcase in early April. Art Buddies is a hands-on program in which GVSU students work with special education students to create art.
Katalin Zaszlavik, the associate professor leading the program, said Art Buddies is built into the curriculum of her Introduction to Art Education and Curriculum Development and Practice courses.
The theme for this year’s Art Buddies group was play. During the program, Lakers worked to create a curriculum and plan projects for their students. They then worked alongside the students to help them create their art pieces. The projects included a memory card game, a playground scene, a puzzle and puppets for a puppet show.
Image caption: Art Education majors Nevaeh Scrivnor, center, and Esther Carpenter, left, look at artwork with Kent ISD special education student Renee Potter as part of a Stuart B. and Barbara H. Padnos Student Art Gallery exhibition reception with artwork from Katalin Zaszlavik's ART 333 class on March 24. The artwork is part of "Art Buddies" art education project.