Mavs star shares art

Yesterday, rather than lacing up for a game in front of a sellout crowd at American Airlines Arena, Maverick Tariq Abdul-Wahad boned up on his knowledge of Spanish art in the Meadows Museum.

Abdul-Wahad led 14 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas on a tour of the museum’s exhibits.

As part of his foundation, the Tariq Abdul-Wahad Youth Foundation, Abdul-Wahad takes at-risk youths on tours of art museums throughout the country in cities such as Dallas, New York, Indianapolis, Denver and Sacramento.

Currently completing his B.A. in art history at San Jose State University in California, Abdul-Wahad takes time out to share art with kids.

“Hopefully the kids will understand the importance of seeing new cultures through art,” Abdul-Wahad said.

With the help of Joan Ream, Meadows docent, Abdul-Wahad led the kids through the Meadows Museum explaining to them the different styles of art and the societal impacts of the works.

“Abdul-Wahad is a great bridge for the kids to make the connection between a book and the actual art and it makes me teary-eyed,” Ream said. “Today they are in a museum, tomorrow who knows?”

The students had differing opinions on the art they saw.

“Picasso is my favorite because he was motivated by others and was a motivation to others at the same time like Tariq is to me,” student R.L. Thornton and tour member Calvin Nelson said.

After conducting the tour Abdul-Wahad presented each of the children with an autographed copy of the book Eyewitness: Impressionism.

“If I can get the kids away from the TV for two hours and educate them,” Abdul-Wahad said, “I’ve done a good job.”