Park Hill Elementaries Host Artists in Residence
La Napoule Art Foundation Brings Artists to Park Hill Elementary Schools
La Napoule Art Foundation is launching a pilot program with two Denver elementary schools to connect children with working artists in their communities. This outreach program, part of the ongoing show Do You See What I See? A Fine Art Experience for Children and Everyone Else, will partner Ashley Elementary & Park Hill School with exhibition artists Emanuel Martinez and Michael Gadlin. These artists will create work in the schools, demonstrating their own artistic process and encouraging students to explore art in new ways.
Gadlin and Martinez have worked with the schools to develop student projects that reflect their own creative interests. Gadlin is co-owner of ArtHaus, a gallery located in Denver’s RiNo district. He will return to Park Hill, which he attended as a child, to give demonstrations of his work with figurative collage. Students will create their own collage projects to tell their story.
Martinez, an artist known for his murals, has developed a piece that centers on caring – a major theme explored at Ashley this year. Students who have exhibited exceptional caring behavior will help Emanuel with this mural to be hung in the hallways of the school.
This program draws on the increased evidence of the importance of meaningful arts education in children’s lives. Reports from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities highlight benefits ranging from improved reading and writing scores to engaging students who otherwise struggle with school.
Moreover, by bringing artists and artwork into local schools, LNAF is hoping to highlight the role of the school as a cultural gateway in the community. This project is a natural extension of Do You See What I See?, an exhibition which seeks to make art accessible to children and the general public – to let people enjoy art who might not otherwise come to an art show.
Parents and families will have the opportunity to see student work featured alongside that of the show’s professional artists at Family Day on October 14. Special activities have been planned, including artists working onsite and art-making projects. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to celebrate the importance of artwork in the Denver community.
Martinez and Gadlin are both participants in La Napoule Art Foundation’s artist residency which seeks to give artists the time and space to create removed from the distractions of daily life. The Foundation is pleased to expand the impact of this program by sponsoring alumni to participate in outreach programs within their community.
Do You See What I See? A Fine Art Experience for Children and Everyone Else is showing now through October 14 (Wednesday – Friday 12 pm – 8 pm; Weekends 10 am – 8 pm). Family Day will be held Sunday, October 14 (11 am – 6 pm). Daily entry & Family Day are both free to the public. For more information, call 303-952-0445 or visit www.LNAF.org/programs-events/doyousee.