In late December of 2016, Sharon Sevenzo, an artist and founder of Artsreach, a creative youth program in Harare, Zimbabwe had a few firsts here in Cleveland. It was the first time she placed her feet on US soil and the first time she saw snow.  Sharon works with youth communities in the criminal justice system, orphans, autistic children, and kids that are developmentally disabled. She uses a zero-budget material approach because there are no resources to use. She reaches youth who have no access to the arts.

Sharon is here through Teach Arts Ohio, a program created by the Ohio Arts Council that supports artists in schools for sustained, long-term creative arts engagement. Zygote’s interest in global exchang merges with Teach Arts Ohio by integrating an International artist with a local artist.  The Cleveland Foundation, and their focus on bringing in International artists through programs like Creative Fusion, support this International aspect of the Teach Arts exchange.

Sharon will be working with artist Claudio Orso in a 5-month immersive creative youth education program that supplements arts for students at Thomas Jefferson International Newcomers Academy in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. Many students don’t have any art in their schedule. Thomas Jefferson extends a welcoming and guiding hand to immigrant students from around the globe who settle in Cleveland. Students with little or no grasp of English benefit from an interactive setting, through a total English immersion program.

Sharon and Claudio will be working with Jamie Lindahl, the only art teacher in a school of over 800 students. They will integrate art experiences into other subjects of study and work in collaboration with other teachers at the school. Between the two artists, Sharon and Claudio speak 5 languages, and this will be helpful where Pre K- 12^th grade student’s speak more then 26 languages at the school.  Zygote is proud to be a partner and we look forward to working with all of the students, staff and families of Thomas Jefferson.

 

Zygote Press

1410 East 30th Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

zygotepress.com

216.621.2900

 

4U: Works from faculty and students of four university print shops: Kent State University, University of Akron, Oberlin College and Cleveland Institute of Art. Open Portfolio, demonstrations and exchange 1-4pm March 11

 

Prints Paired:   William Busta  pairs 1930s Print Collection with Zygote’s Archive. Opening Reception 6-8 pm Mar. 17. On view March 17-April 15

 

Free Style: NEO Abstraction: curated by Liz Maugans, featuring artists Scott Pickering, Kelsey Moulton, Mark Lombardy, Grace Summanen, Justin Brennan, Patricia Zinmeister Parker, Jamey Hart and Dave Cintron. Opening 6-8pm May 12. On view May 12-June 17

 

Platform Beer is a proud sponsor of all our receptions and events.