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The young artists at St. Andrew’s School in Oregon Hill are exploring different techniques in film-making through ART 180. So far, they’ve experimented with genres that include documentary, horror, animation, action/adventure, music video, and more. Here’s a quick behind-the-scenes preview.  You can check out these 4th and 5th grade filmmakers’ finished work at The Big Show on May 26th!

St. Andrew’s film-making teaser…

Tommy Van Auken and Rei Alvarez work with boys at Henderson Middle School each week, encouraging self-expression through visual art forms. Here’s what Tommy had to say about the program:

“Drawing and painting are one of the most direct and immediate ways that an artist can make the things that they see and imagine materialize. In our program at Henderson Middle School, the participants draw and paint from direct observation of the world around them, and use the same skills to create imaginary worlds and things. Our final project will be an art show of finished paintings of things they see and worlds they imagine.”

Photos by Zachary Jones.

Our Program at the Southside Boys & Girls Club lets young artists create and play musical instruments made out of unlikely materials such as cigar boxes, pool noodles, bottle caps, gourds, etc. Audrey Givens, a member of ART 180’s Board of Directors, got a chance to visit this week. Here’s what she had to say:

“I walked in and saw approximately 10 artistically engaged students. I was warmly greeted and recognized by the program leaders – Mya and Vreni. I was also introduced to the group. I pronounced them “positive people participating” as they worked on their individual projects.

“I sat with a couple of students and asked their names, ages and grades. I was pleased at the range in age from elementary school to middle school. One student proudly proclaimed she would be going to the IB program next year. I also asked what they liked about ART 180. Answers I recall were “I LOVE IT !” and “It’s a place I can come and enjoy art.”

One student said “some days I don’t think I want to come, and then when I get here I’m glad I did.”

I also heard encouragement from the leaders for the students to “respect one another” in the way they conversed and interacted.

I was very excited to be there to see the birth of the “stick clappers”… wonderful individually created sticks of music the young people created.

The “jam session” at the Musical Planet at the end of the program was the best! Lots of participation, excitement and harmonious noise (smile).

Keep up the good work ART 180 !!”

Kyunga Connery, a VCU art education student, visited this program another day and shared these observations:

“So I went to the Boys & Girls club a couple of weeks ago to do my first day of volunteer work. It was a very interesting experience. I was just there to take pictures, and I didn’t know how much I’d actually be interacting with the students since I’d be on the sidelines. They were very eager to talk with me and be in my pictures, though. The classroom environment was also surprising to me, though I didn’t really know what to expect. For the most part, the kids were engaged and seemed to have a great rapport with each other and with the instructors. They get to experience a lot of unusual lessons in this type of environment, which I think is great. This time, they were making small musical instruments from gourds. It was so cool! And I was a little bummed that I didn’t get up the nerve to ask if I could make on as well … when I wasn’t taking pictures. The whole time I was there, I couldn’t stop smiling. This was such an exciting environment for teachers and students alike!”

Be sure to check out these young artists performing the instruments they created at the Big Show May 26!