Rush Teaching Artists are working with classroom teachers to conceive of dynamic curriculum based exhibitions for the Rush Gallery at the Lyons Community School.

Through this partnership, students are creating art in all mediums. By running its own Gallery, the school community is also learning about museum practices - from installation to press and public programs. Through Rush Gallery at Lyons students have the opportunity to learn about contemporary art, interact with working artists, and create work in a variety of media. Teachers and staff are also learning about contemporary art practices and are actively engaged in the program both as collaborators and through professional development as well as planning committees.

Students also make regular visits to Rush’s art galleries in Chelsea and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, as well as to other cultural resources in the city. Students with special talent in the visual arts are invited to join our year-long out-of-school time program, Rush Kids/Rush Teens, where they can participate in intensive after school and weekend art workshops. School administrators and teachers are actively engaged throughout the school year as collaborators in the residency.  Teachers participate in Rush-provided professional development activities, and teachers and Rush teaching artists are members of the school’s Arts Steering Committee.

Finally, in support of our mission to provide disadvantaged urban youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, as well as to provide exhibition opportunities to underrepresented artists and artists of color; emphasis is placed on hiring professional Teaching Artists of color.

Achievements:

We are thrilled to have Green Washed  (White Wash) is a site-specific installation created by students from Lyons and 371k participating in Rush Teens.  The exhibition is inspired by the artwork of Navin Norling, whose installation White Washed is currently on view in the main gallery and the work of Rush Teaching Artist Ernest Conception.  The piece reflects the Rush Education theme for the year -- Bright Green: Ecological Concerns.

White Wash is a term that means: to cover up a political, racial or cultural issue up, and make it more acceptable to everyone. An example of a racial white wash was how music labels would change the album covers of black R&B singers to something more white listener acceptable, mainly so the records would sell.

Green Washed is used to describe: an environmental issue, which is being compared through its positive and negative aspects

The Rush Teens discussed these ideas and how artists have the opportunity to address personal issues and political concerns.  We hope the viewer will not only think about these environmental concerns, but will be able to see our vision for a cleaner, brighter and healthier future.

The Teen artists viewed images the work of Navin Norling and Ernest Conception and also met with Navin Norling while he installed his exhibition.  As a group they discussed how they should use similar materials, methods and the idea of going Green in their own work.  The Teens planned the layout of their piece, using the measurements of the gallery, made floor plans, diagrams and photographic references in advance.  They collected images on line and in books to use as reference material to help illustrate their ideas.  Then created a layered symbolic narrative using watercolor on paper, sharpie on acetate, and acrylic paint directly on reclaimed doors, windows and frames.

 The exhibition is open to the public through January 9, 2010