YOU ARE ART: Help Fund Impactful Project for Kids

My work is full of laughter, rainbows, heavy feelings, and joy. My K-4 scholars in Camden, NJ are superstars and this year we have been studying a lot about artists of color and the simple fact that art is everywhere.

We’ve studied how trash can be turned into art, architecture is all around us, advertisement is so creative, clothing is just wearable sculptures, and so much more. For our last lesson before my scholars leave for the summer after this very challenging year back, I want to help them see that they themselves are ART.

I was inspired by Lorraine O'grady’s performance and photos titled “Art is…” during the Harlem’s African-American Day Parade. In this performance, Lorraine and performers held up golden frames to parade goers and parts of the city to show that WE ARE ART, ART IS US, and BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL.

I was so moved from this work of art and I know my students would love to study this artist. MY DREAM is to have students decorate their own frame and then have a day where we go outside and look at our friends through the frames, look at the sky, look at the city, and look at ourselves as art.

I want to take a photo of each scholar in their frame and create a mural in the school.

Buying frames for every scholar to decorate is a huge ask this time in the school year when most of the budget has been spent. I’m looking to raise $1,500 so all scholars can participate in this impactful, joyful project.

I think, I KNOW, this would be so special for the students, for their families, and for my school in the community of Camden.

A reminder that YOU ARE ART! Help me show my kids they deserve and they ARE the world!

For more information on the artist we are studying, check out: https://lorraineogrady.com/art/art-is/

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me via email.

Help me make this special project a reality!

Thank you for reading!