Mycelia

OBCES third and fourth grade students,CollectiveIdentity #2.

To quote a dear friend: “Cleveland is exploding with art this summer.”

The FRONT International, CAN Triennial, and many festivals are exciting, concrete examples of the explosion. Like the action of mycelia, much more art-making continues to take place on subtler levels in schools, in neighborhood organizations, and community gardens. Artists impact children and youth through a rich range of in-depth arts experiences. During our Urban Bright Exhibition, I had the opportunity to contemplate many of this year’s results.

Inspired by TheHouseonMangoStreet, Cynthia Penter introduced design concepts and expressive possibilities with a comprehensive photography curriculum in the New Tech West ninth-grade class. While learning techniques, developing ideas, and working together, the students successfully created compelling portraits.

Old Brooklyn Community Elementary School third- and fourth-graders Told Their Stories in an Urban Bright program led by Guy Vincent. The students collaborated to create map collages of locations with which they identified. Each class developed a color code to identify success, courage, growth, etc. The abstract qualities pull the viewer in to discover the relationships between color, shape, and place.

This is how the next generation of participants, rising art stars, and donors get started. Goals and ideas need to percolate over time. Just wait.

Darcella and Melody, N. William

FAMILY OPEN STUDIO | 1-3PM EVERY THIRD SATURDAY

FAMILY CLAY DAY | 10-12PM SATURDAYS, SEPTEMBER 17 & NOVEMBER 26

ARTIST INVENTORY CHALLENGE | 7-10PM SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

COMMUNITY CULTURE NIGHT | TBD

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