BJM Elementary "Look Club" at State of the Art Gallery

The State of the Art Gallery (SOAG) is a long time recipient of GAP! Operated by over 25 artist members who staff and run the gallery, they host monthly exhibits, workshops, and events to bring people to the gallery to enjoy and talk about art.

One of the Gallery's outreach projects this year focuses on the students at Beverly J. Martin elementary school. Katrina Morse, gallery member, has worked with the BJM art teacher, Kate Praisner, to design a program for all the students at the school.

Katrina facilitates a "Look Club" for the classes, using whatever art is in the gallery at the classes' visits. There is so much the students learn on a visit, with primary goals being to encourage opinions about art and create a welcoming environment in the gallery so the students come back with their adults!

Additionally, the 5th grader will have an art show of their portraits for parents and gallery members. Along with displaying their work, the students will be reading "I am" poems and there will be a student group playing music. This is very impactful for the children, first visiting the gallery and then having their work there! They are so proud!

Adults can also take part in a Look Club! Gallery Members Patty Brown and Carol Spence join Katrina Morse at the gallery every second Sunday, 2–3 to look at the artwork on display. The next meeting will be on January 11. Learn about different types of artwork and how to talk about art. What do you see? How does it resonate with you?

CAP is thrilled to support amazing arts activities like these in our communities.