Vassal Lane Triad Community Building Art Workshops

ccc_art_content.jpgRecently, sixth grade students and teachers from Haggerty, Graham & Parks, and Tobin schools met in groups of about 30 kids, mixed from each school, at the Cambridge Creativity Commons (CCC) for an art-making workshop. The workshop centered around building the sense of community amongst these students who will join together in September at the Vassal Lane Upper School as seventh graders. Vassal Lane Upper School Art Teacher, Amy Grady, along with CCC Coordinator Kyle Browne, led the groups through meet and greet, ice breakers, and community building and art making activities.

Cambridge Creativity Commons is a working artist’s studio, belonging to a Cambridge artist, Dorothy Arnold, who has been working in our city for about 40 years. Mrs. Arnold decided to give back to her community by opening her studio to local student groups. Part of the space has become the Cambridge Creativity Commons, while much of it remains a working artist’s studio and gallery.

During their visit, each sixth grader had the opportunity to view the work of Mrs. Arnold, ask questions, and learn about her art-making process with their new classmates. Much of her artwork consists of mixed media paintings. Students grouped together with their new friends and had a lot of time to create their own mixed media painting on a canvas panel using a variety of “found” materials as well as acrylic paints. During the art-making time, students were encouraged to continue getting to know each other and meeting new friends.

The finished work will be displayed at a gallery opening at the Cambridge Creativity Commons at the end of August, where the student artists, their families and future teachers will be invited to attend to continue building the sense of community within our new triad community. The paintings will then be installed at the Vassal Lane Upper School for all to admire!

ccc_art_content2.jpgSpecial thanks goes to Haggerty parent, Diane Norris, for her tireless efforts in making this project come to fruition! Another large thank you to Nancy Campbell, Haggerty Principal, for making it possible for the art teacher, Amy Grady, to attend each of these sessions and have the opportunity to meet & work with her new students before the triad joins together in September! Also, many, many thanks to the administrators and teachers for their help and support to make this project a great success!

The Cambridge Community Commons is located at the corner of Fifth and Bent Streets in Cambridge.

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