Long ago I didn’t understand abstract art. Then an artist friend said, “What is there to understand? You look, you experience. Don’t think, it’s not about thinking.” Bingo, epiphany and horizons were expanded. After that, when I’d take friends who were similarly uncomfortable with art that dodged realism to more avant-garde exhibits I’d tell them pretty much the same thing, “Just look. If you like it, look some more. If you don’t like it, look some more. If you really don’t like it, then walk away, and if it follows you go back and look some more.”
Art created by the young taps into the extraordinary, especially if they still believe in fairy tales and magic. On June 11, Amant (306 Maujer) hosted the North Brooklyn Talent Show at their Géza space. The walls were filled with fresh imagination.
The Emotion Monster stuffed animals created by kindergarten–first grade students of P.S. 17 were joyful and thoughtful. The students painted their emotion monster and made a felt stuffy of it. In addition, they named the stuffy and mentioned the emotion it represented. Happiness was represented by: Cookie Star Candy, who looked like a pink cuttlefish with polka dots and googly eyes, and Poppy, a bright pink rectangular star with sparkly eyes, a smile, and a heart on its chest.
P.S. 18 and P.S. 256 created lovely sparkling dream rooms/safe spaces using fake fur, feathers, and fairy lights. The young artists took inspiration from veteran artists Faith Ringgold and James Turrell.
All of the art was entrancing, engaging, original, inspiring, and followed you home.
There was also a drumline, music, and dance performances plus culinary arts students offered their talents by preparing and serving handmade snacks and treats in Amant’s garden space.
Corinne Santiago, who leads St. Nicks Alliance arts education, partnered with Patricia Hernandez, associate curator at Amant, and expanded upon their collaboration efforts from last year to highlight the work of all 36 teaching artists and their students this year.
“The event stood as a testament to the transformative power of arts education and the importance of providing young people with platforms to express their voices. Having our students present their hard work in a professional setting was an invaluable experience. It not only validates their creativity, but it also empowers them to envision a future shaped by their own imagination and passion,” said Santiago.
The Greenline 