ADVOCACY
Arts in the Alley
Samantha Messer
Naomi O., grade four, poses with her work (character in purple) at the event.
Jalea E., grade three, stands below her work (top-left character) at the event.
Ms. Messer stands with Edy M.D.L., grade one, and his artwork during the event.
Ms. Messer, do I get one? Where’s mine?” On a gray Tuesday in November 2022, Mr. Smythe’s fifth-graders inquired about papers I distributed to three of their classmates. This class was one of my more energetic groups, and I wanted to pique their interest. I maintained my air of mystery by commending the three students quietly and then sweeping out of the room.
The papers served as invitations and congratulations to students whose artwork would appear at Arts in the Alley, an even where we could display student work in the community. It was part of a larger endeavor to establish a strong visual art program by generating student interest in exhibiting artwork.
Event Origins
Arts in the Alley began when, through a neighborhood Facebook group, I discovered a mural being painted near my school. A few clicks connected me with the non-profit that funded the mural, and I met with the organization’s community development manager, Jacob.
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