king school museum of contemporary art
At Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary school there is something great happening. An art museum that is run and curated by the students. Started in 2014 by Lisa Jarrett and Harrell Fletcher, King School Museum of Contemporary Art, or KSMoCA collaborates with renowned artists to bring a one of a kind experience to the students and community of the NE Portland school.
Through many of the programs that are part of KSMoCa, many students are introduced from a young age to the world of the arts. Rather than just having an art class, students learn about that entire process of creation to exhibition. They learn how to curate, become gallerists and much more. Even collaborating with artists to create pieces for shows and exhibits.
Participating with KSMoCA for my Senior Capstone project, it is my intention to teach students some of the art lessons and tools that I have learned in my time of education. An elementary school that has the artistic resources such as this has the ability to instill a true passion and knowledge of art into its students. I feel that sharing these tools with a younger student population can give them more experience and understanding of methods and skills that can develop artistically. This will help in the further development of their personal art skills but also their understanding of art in general.
One aspect in which this organization is in need is in the aspect of volunteers. They are always willing to have volunteers help out with their mentor/mentee program. That is what I have done. I have been working weekly with a student, and what we do is we create. At first I wanted to find out where their creative interests lye. We both share a desire for drawing. Though this student is very talented and creative on their own, I have still been able to share some tools with them in order to further develop their skill. Simple shading tools and lessons, the meaning of certain terms as well as warm up exercises are only few of the things we have discussed in our times together. All while spending time creating.
If I were to choose a path to be continually involved with KSMoCA it would be to maintain my mentor relationship but also help more with the museum aspect of it. I think that the staff are very busy and need assistance with the curation of exhibits as well as the setup and teardown of galleries. I would like to also assist in an aspect of community outreach. I know that I have lived in the area and have only recently heard of the museum, so I wonder how many more like me are out there. With a wider community reach, the greater the potential for growth. Growth in patronage, growth in collaboration and growth in resources.
I am a university student focused on becoming an art educator. Throughout my life I have taken more art classes than I can remember. In all of those classes, I have yet to find educator that connects with me or has taken an interest in educating me farther than the base curriculum or influence me in a constructive or productive way. It is because of this that I have chosen this career path. I want to make an impact in the artistic minds of youth. I want no student to feel discouraged by or unworthy of artistic instruction.
Through many of the programs that are part of KSMoCa, many students are introduced from a young age to the world of the arts. Rather than just having an art class, students learn about that entire process of creation to exhibition. They learn how to curate, become gallerists and much more. Even collaborating with artists to create pieces for shows and exhibits.
Participating with KSMoCA for my Senior Capstone project, it is my intention to teach students some of the art lessons and tools that I have learned in my time of education. An elementary school that has the artistic resources such as this has the ability to instill a true passion and knowledge of art into its students. I feel that sharing these tools with a younger student population can give them more experience and understanding of methods and skills that can develop artistically. This will help in the further development of their personal art skills but also their understanding of art in general.
One aspect in which this organization is in need is in the aspect of volunteers. They are always willing to have volunteers help out with their mentor/mentee program. That is what I have done. I have been working weekly with a student, and what we do is we create. At first I wanted to find out where their creative interests lye. We both share a desire for drawing. Though this student is very talented and creative on their own, I have still been able to share some tools with them in order to further develop their skill. Simple shading tools and lessons, the meaning of certain terms as well as warm up exercises are only few of the things we have discussed in our times together. All while spending time creating.
If I were to choose a path to be continually involved with KSMoCA it would be to maintain my mentor relationship but also help more with the museum aspect of it. I think that the staff are very busy and need assistance with the curation of exhibits as well as the setup and teardown of galleries. I would like to also assist in an aspect of community outreach. I know that I have lived in the area and have only recently heard of the museum, so I wonder how many more like me are out there. With a wider community reach, the greater the potential for growth. Growth in patronage, growth in collaboration and growth in resources.
I am a university student focused on becoming an art educator. Throughout my life I have taken more art classes than I can remember. In all of those classes, I have yet to find educator that connects with me or has taken an interest in educating me farther than the base curriculum or influence me in a constructive or productive way. It is because of this that I have chosen this career path. I want to make an impact in the artistic minds of youth. I want no student to feel discouraged by or unworthy of artistic instruction.