Teaching art has been Phyllis Frick’s passion her entire life. She began as a camp counselor and instructor at YMCA camps and after school programs as far back as high school. She then became a girl scout leader in college and a cub scout den mother when her two boys became old enough. She went to school to become a pharmacist because that was the preferred way to have a career back in the 70’s when women could have a profession. But her heart wasn’t in it. She always wanted to be more creative. After twenty years of counting pills, she decided to switch directions and get a master of arts in teaching. She taught middle school science for fifteen years in OakPark and was always sneaking art into her classes to make it more hands on and interesting for her students. When she and her husband, along with their two young boys bought their home in Oak Park, the first thing she did was gather her boys and the neighbor children together and give them paint and brushes and let them go to town on the playroom walls. A wonderful mural resulted that stayed there until the boys left for college. Now her lifelong dream of having her own childrens art center has come to fruition. Frick Kids Art will focus on fine arts for kids and teach them the love of learning through art and play.
