School's back in session!

School’s back and so are our fall programs! Check back for more info about what we’re up to this semester!

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We’ll have representatives at the Libbie Place store from 5:30pm, showcasing our young people’s art and talent along with live performances from their program leaders. Don’t miss the new release puppetry movie, “The Boy Who Cried Dinosaur,” and check out the paintings that our young people have produced—entertainment begins at 5:30pm and continues until around 8pm.
Don’t forget to let the cashier (at Starbucks and at B&N) know you’re out to support ART 180.

If you shop online or at a different area store, mention our book fair ID# 101 827 80 and we can still get a portion of the proceeds. See you there!

ART 180’s The Big Show is May 26! This year’s celebration spotlighting the spectacular young talent of Richmond will feature art works ranging from music to poetry to puppets created at 13 program sites throughout the City.  We’ll be counting down to this inspiring event on our blog by featuring one program a day for the next two weeks.

The “Dreamers” from the I Have A Dream Foundation program at Broad Rock Elementary School have spent the spring semester building a model community out of clay sculpture.  Miguel’s hotel is one of many colorful pieces that show what our City might look like in the hands of these imaginative young people. We hope you will join us at The Big Show to see their community in its entirety!

Miguel, age 10

St. Andrew’s film-making teaser…

“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.

“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!