On Friday, May 16, more than 50 students from Cohoes, Green Island, Lansingburgh and Rensselaer school districts participated in “Art is All Around Us,” a full-day art program at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy. Here students had the opportunity to create art and learn ways in which art appears in our daily lives.
Coordinated by Questar III BOCES, this program was the first activity of the Riverfront Art in Education Collaborative Project, developed to enhance and expand local arts and cultural education opportunities for students in these districts as well as Troy CSD and Watervliet CSD.
Students worked with teachers from the Arts Center on digital photography, ceramics, paper sculpture and even street art to uncover new approaches to art and creativity that extended and enhanced their abilities.
According to Joseph Mastrianni, Assistant Education Director at the Arts Center, the students were able to work together and see new techniques not typically taught in schools.
“The students worked with digital technology and LED lights, really going beyond pencil and pens,” said Mastrianni. “By collaborating and functioning as one, they can bring these contemporary ideas back to their school and community to be utilized in everyday life.”
“I liked that it wasn’t restricting and we could all express different ideas,” said Lansingburgh CSD student Jaday Jones who helped create a mural. “I feel I can use everything I learned when I’m in art class.”
Many students, like James Sehner from Cohoes, said they enjoyed working with students from the other schools.
“My favorite experience was talking and collaborating with kids that have similar interests.”
The students’ art will be on display on Friday, May 30, 5 – 9 p.m., at The Arts Center of the Capital Region as part of “Troy Night Out.”
