LOOKING BACK…

This month has just flown by (as the summer always does)! It certainly has been a busy month, full of wonderful surprises and adventures. The month began with a move one street over, and ended watching history in the making as a mural is installed on the Greenway. One of the highlights of July was certainly the trip I took to New York City, sponsored by Sargent Art.

Each year in March all across the country we celebrate Youth Art Month. In Massachusetts we are lucky enough to have our Central Massachusetts Exhibition at in the Higgins Education Wing at the Worcester Art Museum. This year, Massachusetts Art Education Association decided to partner with Sargent Art to provide prizes for members and students who participate in the exhibition. We have a YAM committee who supervises and coordinates throughout the year and the actual installation is powered by a number of volunteer art educators from across the state. It truly is an amazing exhibit! When checking in artwork, any student work linked with a MAEA member received a “dot” so that when people came to view the work, they could vote on which work they liked the best. We had a number of category/age level winners who received art supply prizes from Sargent Art and one overall winner. Sargent was very generous, and gave supplies to the winning art educators also!

The overall winner this year was Rachel Mager, an 11th grade student at Marlborough High School. And I am proud to say, that I am her teacher. Rachel has thrived in Photography, and recently completed an Advanced Placement Studio Art portfolio. And, represented our school in Art All-State (another amazing program!) We are incredibly proud of all that she has accomplished! The prize was amazing-- an all-expense paid weekend in New York City for Rachel, one parent, and her art teacher (ME)!

Rachel Mager's award winning photograph titled "Snow Angel" (its a self-portrait)

Rachel at MOMA

The weekend started off with a traffic filled drive but I arrived safely in New Jersey at the lovely hotel. Dinner was served in an elegant setting while award winning artwork from across the country was displayed. This year 21 states were represented! The work ranged from flag designs to self-portraits, and was incredibly impressive. The mood was positive and friendly as Bhakti Oza greeted everyone and thanked artists, parents and art educators from the bottom of her heart. The awards ceremony was touching and well deserved as each state awarded a student with a beautifully framed certificate to take back home. The weekend followed with equally amazing experiences-- Saturday was filled with visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, Times Square, Top of the Rock, and to end the night, a Broadway show: The Lion King. It was a jam packed art experience with tour guides who were incredibly knowledgeable and inspiring. Sunday was even filled with tours of the Trinity Church, Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, Staten Island Ferry, and the 9/11 Memorial. It truly was an unforgettable weekend for all-everyone smiled so much throughout the weekend, I think all of our cheeks were sore! I can’t wait to organize a trip for our MAEA members and another for my students! The tour guides customize tours to meet your needs, and do an amazing job explaining how art fits into the culture and vibrancy of present day New York City.

To get your state association involved, contact Bhakti Oza (bhakti.oza@sargentart.com) at Sargent Art--all state organizations are encouraged to participate--and it's a great way to say THANK YOU to a deserving student and art educator. And, what a great way to celebrate Youth Art Month!

Student Photographs I submitted for our state YAM exhibition

Massachusetts YAM entry at the Worcester Art Museum

Sargent Art
Bhakti Oza, Sargent Art

E.E. Tours
Matt Koke, 668 Plato Street, Suite 1A, Franklin Square, NY 11010
matt@eetoursinc.com

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Museum of Modern Art

MAEA Youth Art Month

Art All-State - Tumblr

Worcester Art Museum (free admission through the end of August!)

-Kristi Oliver