Welcome to My World: An Anthology of Poems & Artworks by 7th & 8th Grade Students

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i o c l Deve l Op m ub ent Artists Space Expanded Art Ide as

MS 324

PS140

An Anthology of Poems

and Artworks

by 7th & 8th Grade Students

Artists Space Expanded Art Ide as

An Anthology of Poems and Artworks by 7th & 8th Grade Students

Artists Space Expanded Art Ideas

One of the first alternative spaces in New York, Artists Space was founded in 1972 to support contemporary artists from many disciplines, working to stimulate emerging ideas. Today, the mission of Artists Space is to provide a place for discussion and examination, proposing new modes of artistic production, and shifting its focus away from the presentation of artwork alone – ultimately, a center for new ideas in a radically changing world.

Expanded Art Ideas, Artists Space's arts education program, has the mission of encouraging both mainstream and special education students in New York City's public schools to develop a personal artistic voice and to utilize their individual creative capacities by providing them with the skills to communicate, document, and publicly exhibit their innovations and talents. Expanded Art Ideas was developed as a program to expand Artists Space's commitment to contemporary artists by providing an opportunity for artists to work and collaborate with different communities in a school setting.

2014 marks the 13th year that Artists Space has been working with our partner schools MS 324 and PS 140 to bring arts and artists to middle school students. The program itself has expanded from one portfolio development residency in 2001 to a full range of projects, including Photo Club, Artists in/ed Space, Art and Literacy, Threads of History and of course the Portfolio Development which the students can participate in.

Our teaching artists' commitments to their students at PS 140 enables their creative voices to be heard through poetry and the visual arts.

Poet Sara Jane Stoner's residency with the 8th Grade classes continues to result in a wonderful compilation of poems that allows us to discover

the feelings, images, and hopes of this group of students. In Photo Club with artist Joy Episalla, the students expand their vision of their surroundings through the exploration of photography while being taught the basics of photography by using 35mm film cameras. The Portfolio Development students learn how create an art portfolio with drawings, paintings, and collages for the rigorous admission process to specialized art high schools of New York City with the expertise of teaching artists Susan Hamburger and Kate Temple.

At the end of the school year, we celebrate the artwork and poems produced by our students at PS 140 on the annual Art Day. The exhibitions of the students' work at the gallery and a photo wall in the school are on view for the community at PS 140 to appreciate. This year on Art Day we were fortunate to have a poetry slam where many of our students read their poems, touching all who heard them to rousing applause.

Artists Space's Threads of History program has been taught for the last 12 years at MS 324 in Washington Heights by teaching artist Nancy

Friedemann-Sรกnchez and with the support of Principal Janet Heller.

The classes, which are taught in English and Spanish, allow students to gain knowledge while deeply enjoying the experience of making art in ways that otherwise would not happen in an academic setting.

This year the sculptures, poetry and paintings created by the students in Ms. Thelma Dolmo's class are wondrous to behold.

Artists Space looks forward to continuing our ongoing partnership with PS 140, and MS 324. We appreciate our work with both school teams: Principal Esteban Barrientos, Assistant Principal Carmen Fulford, and Language Arts Teacher Mr. John Vircillo of PS 140 and Principal Heller and Teacher Ms. Thelma Dolmo of MS 324. These individuals' support and love of contemporary arts and artists allows our programs at the schools to flourish.

Chrysanne Stathacos Director of Education Artists Space

PS140

Nathan Straus

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At PS 140, we believe that art should be a fundamental part of the daily life of a student. Only when art education becomes an integral element of the learning process – instead of a discrete project-based exercise – will it succeed in encouraging uninhibited learning by our students. We have discovered that the arts can open new doors and learning experiences, and we look forward and have been honored to be working with Artists Space to achieve these ends for our students and school community.

It has been our privilege to work with Chrysanne Stathacos, Director of Education, and the dedicated and talented teaching artists: photographer Joy Episalla, visual artists Susan Hamburger and Kate Temple, and poet Sara Jane Stoner, over the past 10 years. Our relationship with Artists Space has promoted, enhanced and encouraged the growth of the arts in our school. Our students are given tremendous opportunity under the guidance of very special teaching artists to express themselves through the visual arts (painting, drawing, and photography) and writing poetry. These artists support and encourage the students to “discover their hidden talents” and take risks. The results are amazing, incredibly beautiful and quite touching. The students take much pride in their work and are “over the top” when it is shared or displayed in our school or in art galleries as a result of winning a competition. We are very grateful for their vision and support and look forward to a long fruitful relationship that will inspire the artists and writers of the future.

Carmen Fulford Assistant Principal Esteban Barrientos Principal PS 140 Nathan Straus 123 Ridge Street New York 10001

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Photo Club

The photography class, now in its 9th year at PS 140, continues to encourage young photographers to experience the use of the 35mm film camera to explore and capture their vision and ideas. I am so pleased with the results created by this year's students. Each image is unique, evocative and beautiful, and echoes the student that took each photograph.

Joy Episalla Photographer and Teaching Artist

Aisha Rodriguez, Click, 2013

Cristal Colon, Entering the other side, 2013

Michelle Santiago, Deepest Secret, 2013

Nelissa Rodriguez, Abandonment, 2013

Sharon Halliday, Left in the Dust, 2013

Victoria Udechi, Got Jesus, 2013

Poems

The bold and magical poets I discovered in PS 140's 8th grade this year sing out with force, sensitivity, imagination, and truth in the poems collected here. Their voices are so clear! To read these words, to hear the news directly from this talented group, shows how poetry creates a necessary time and space for us to grow and reflect, mourn and meditate, laugh and celebrate as life and school bring us together to listen and learn from each another. Sara Jane Stoner Writer and Teaching Artist

Distorted Society

The broken mirror with a cracked reflection doesn't like what she sees The camera lens captures all the truth whether with sadness or to please Their minds are poisoned by society's flaws Hatred is injected Reality no longer connected A clear image A conflicting vision We crave perfection Through a simple reflection.

Aisha Rodriguez

Reading

With every cliff hanger, forward I lean.

My eyes penetrating the screen.

Searching for answers, within the line, “No, no. I'm just fine.”

Looking for the slightest hint, Hint of emotion, just a glint.

The book tells me nothing.

I look and look, Just for a simple hook.

In my trance, My mind starts to dance Dance away with me I think to myself, “Am I okay?

“Am I fine?”

Tracy Eteh-Benissan

Heaven

As I step into heaven roses bloom, trees turn green. Cherry trees become pink. Heaven is a place where no one can live.

What if this is heaven.

Can our earth be heaven that was destroyed by mankind.

Or is it just a dream that everyone likes to have.

Diego Cholula

Super Woman

You give me no voice No say No imagination No hope No future No past No present No nothing You think I care, but I don't You damage me, but I learn Learn that cuts make scars And scars stay forever You think I'm fragile, but the more scars I have the stronger I get You look at me like I'm glass, but on the inside I'm steel

No one can break me, no one Everyone underestimates me But I can inspire change With my voice I can do what I want With my voice I can be what I want With my voice I can show who I am With my voice I can help everyone With our voices we change the world I am a woman No— I am super woman Amanda Rodriguez

Eyes

I am the eyes I see everything All of the different places All of the different faces All of the colors Big and small numbers All of the letters Patterns from polka dots to stripes Sometimes I can't stay awake Sometimes I burn But it's awesome being eyes I can see all of the world Things from bad to good.

I don't like seeing the bad things But I have to because I am the eyes And I see everything Noelani Velez

The Mystery of the Voice

A microphone standing on a lonely stage waiting to be heard.

Waiting to be the center of attention.

But all of its dreams of being a superstar are washed away.

They're gone like the brightness of a sunny day when the clouds come in.

The fear of the stage overtook the beauty of the singing voice.

Anabelle Ortega

Untitled

I made a lot of mistakes in my life.

People always told me what to do.

Instead of listening to them I made my own decisions, and guess what?

I should have listened to the one girl who really cared about me.

But I didn't and I feel so stupid now that I look at it.

I should really be listening to her.

She's the only one who cares about me and I love her for it.

Dayshawn Plaza

My Mentor

My mentor is my brother.

My brother is my mentor because he inspires me.

He always tells me to do well in school.

He tells me I have to have an 80 or higher in every class for every marking period.

I can always talk to him.

I can always tell him anything no matter what it is.

He always tells me to go for my dream.

I recently told him my dream to be a pilot. He told me that's a great job but I have to go to college.

I want to go to college so that I can have a good chance of getting to be a pilot. But I have to start off slowly by getting good grades now.

Luis Ortiz

A Feeling

I got this feeling when I see him my heart starts to beat rapidly I get a ticklish feeling in my belly my cheeks turn crimson red I wonder what this feeling is is it a crush? or just my insides going crazy?

Arecely Santana

Stand or Face the Hand

So many products in me Just telling me to stand They talk a lot, so annoying Am I in a boy band If I don't stand up and I fall It's because of the gel that listens to the bell Sometimes I talk back but I dread I am on a talking head or am the walking dead How could it be that you put a hoodie on me Maniel Torres

Basketball

Basketball is a dream Basketball is a dedication Basketball is hard work Don't sleep on it.

Dribble up and down the court Jump up and down, side to side Sweat like a river Because hard work pays off.

Justin Diaz

Eyes, Tears, Vision

I've seen my Mom

get abused and cry at night. I'd wonder when there was going to be no more fights.

I cry beside her in fright, then I hold her through the night, telling her it's going to be alright.

Jeremy Rosado

Ars Poetica

A poem should be moving through the arms of trees

swiftly as a the wind, as a cool soft breeze Walking through the grounds of fire

only to make it towards the water A poem should be a tornado

tossing out a lot of freedom A dimly lit candle

on the verge of burning out A poem should be a room with lights

searching through the dark A poem is the man who is quiet

but shouts Samantha Feliciano

My Love (Heart)

As you sleep at night I am working keeping you alive until the time is right to stop.

I'm in you making sure all your blood is pumping good.

The love I have for you is so deep you don't even need to think about me.

Sometimes I skip a beat with the emotions you feel.

Like when you get hurt, but I know you will heal.

Just always know I am here for you no matter what you're going through.

The love I have for you is deep I am the heart for you to keep.

Angela Ruiz

Hard Truth

Isolated like an island, shattered like a mirror, quiet like the wind.

She says, “I'm fine� but he knows it's a lie.

He wants her to know that he would never leave for he is her other half born together, they stay forever cousins for life, friends for life.

(Don't cry when I'm gone.

I'll always be here.

Even the stars won't cry.)

Years passed by, no worries on my mind I heard a knock at the door I knew his time had come tears fell to the floor my heart shattered.

He was my hero and also my cousin, taught me to be strong, brave, and humble.

I knew he would always come home.

News struck and my world crumbled. “It can't be true,� I always say.

It couldn't have ended this way.

Francely Mejia

Closed

closed, that's what I'll be I go home just to close the door I wanna be open but always end up being closed I wanna be like the world open cameras, stores, hospital but everywhere is gonna close at some point 24/7 stores—are they really open 24/7 or do they close when the streets are too dark to look at my dad tells me—never be like the world but the world is open the city is open anyone can come

when I die the casket would be closed I would be too deep in the ground but my spirit would be free then I'll be open Victoria Udechi

13 Year Old Dad

Only 13 years old but I'm helping my mom she's my gold my Dad's not here I'm helping raise 4 kids all the way to the end I'm 13 years old only in 8th Grade I feel like a dad DevontĂŠ Hernandez

Far and Alone

we fight

we argue

we get so distant

I thought we were so close but I guess it was just an instant

you talk to me when you need me

I'm there

but why is it that when I need you you don't bother to care Maria Sanchez

Welcome to My World

Yo they swear they think they know me Telling fake chicks from a phony To the people tryna own me Oh no, that will just not do

All the people that just whisper To fire children over dinner Oh you think you are a winner Oh yes that is very cute

For the words that I be spittin And the good grades I be gettin To all the teachers I be beggin And I tell them just be you

Take your science and your math

And be owners of your class

And don't entertain the trash

And the friends that I will lose You want it I take it You sell it I make it My papers I break it My juices I shake it

Evie Murray

Now welcome to my world Yes to this little girl When you think it's really easy Then you don't know me still

Present/Future

They all said goodbye she said there's a world waiting for me I just didn't care about the world waiting for me, I didn't want to leave They all said goodbye but I left not wanting to say goodbye The memories we made the good moments we had The laughter, the tears, the screaming drama it was all part of the good years Now I'm older, my dreams came true.

I understand there's a world waiting for me.

Cristal Colon

The Truth

I'm happy and I'm sad and I bleed and I feel I break I fall I'm the heart And this is who I am Brijtanie Pe単a

Baseball

Baseball is life.

There's nothing better.

You run and run, you swing the bat.

You pitch.

You hit.

You field And you might win.

Many Reyes

Ghost

The ghost inside my room stays silent.

I could feel her eyes watching my every move.

I could hear her whispers at night.

The touch of her hand makes me shake.

I can't see her but she can see me. she sees me crying through the night.

The aching pain of me knowing that she is right there and I can't see her.

I need her love, her comfort.

I need her.

But she is just a ghost in my room, who stays silent.

Sharon Halliday

The Movie

When you go inside the theater you're ready to experience 3D action—3:31 you're grabbed by an unknown force you're brought into the movie as you feel the real action in it it feels like life but it's not Tomas Fernandez

The Heart's Message

When I see you I beat faster sometimes I even skip a beat.

The blood that passes through me gives me life and helps me remember you.

I get tired of beating so much but I can't rest. If I stopped I would be cold because I'd be dead.

I get tired but it's okay. You keep me beating

every day.

Emely Salce

A Room In Space Leading To Menacing Life

I'm in a small room no feelings at all except the feeling of all lost hope.

I know once I open the silver door there's no going back. I still don't know how I'm alive in this room.

I'm floating mentally but not physically I have nothing else to lose, I'm already dead.

I open the door to find out I'm sweating in my bed.

Angel Viera

Monsters

Monsters live under your bed that is better than on your head they may be ugly, they may be bad but they always seem to be glad.

They like eating homework & dirty socks they even once ate one of my Reeboks.

And I was mad at first but, then laughed with a burst because, monsters are just monsters and it could be worse.

Christian Hernandez

My Supportive Family

My family, They—the ones that supported me They—the ones that love me My family, They—the ones that made me who I am today They—the ones that make mistakes but I still learn from them Destiny Adames

The NBA Draft

It's time I need to hear my name It's time To show everyone my game It's time I won't bring no shame It's time.

Thomas Washington

2014

2014 is the year of glory Taking the next step No need to worry Our futures are bright In my life you were my light Goodbyes are hard You were my star I'll always remember My middle school days Baseball, trips, friends My memories won't fade Franddy Duran

Hidden

She fears most things, they look her in the eyes & see the fear that's hidden behind the shields of her lids.

They ask if she's fine of course she lies.

How are you?— broken, sad, lonely, hurt, upset, alone, depressed, suicidal, angry, hateful, breaking down, screaming, dead, empty, nothing, crying shouting, giving up, hiding, wearing a mask, cutting, horrible, down, hollow, worthless, misunderstood, incapable, lost, pathetic, distrustful, tearful, crushed, offended, aching, wronged, shaky, timid, wary, victimized, tortured, pained, lifeless, cold, dull, nervous, scared, numb, bruised— I'm Just Fine.

Michele Santiago

Friend

I'm thinking about you And really care, so on this Wall this post I share.

If you ever need and felt All alone, I will come to You and never moan.

I'm here for you until The end, I'm not your Family, I'm your very best Friend.

Martin Ramos

A Poem

A poem should be boring like school A poem should be short like a nail A poem should be hard to understand like math A poem should be exotic like summer Sammy Claudio

9-Year Old Commanding Officer

The General tells me I'm “gifted” and that I am doing good things.

But, I don't know Who I'm up against.

What if I choose the Wrong path or Make the wrong Choice…

I think it's better If I can just find a way Off the grid…

Elijah Martinez

Music is My Life

Music tells my story, head in the clouds got no weight on my shoulders.

Music speaks my mind, I should be wiser and realize that I've got one less problem without you.

Music makes people disappear.

Music is my life, the lyrics are my story.

Destiny Perez

Memories of the Monster

A small boy cries tonight, A young girl tries to fight, But if you ask what's going on They will say nothing's wrong.

As they grow up, they will corrupt.

A murder where nobody dies.

The memory's fresh in their head.

The ripping of her dress, & his hands that were tied & as love and hate become one & the same a child is lost.

The monster will win, because no one would believe them in the end.

Natalia Pรกez

A Poem

The motionless wind through rattling trees The torch of a hotter kind to light the darkest freeze The calm of water beautiful to the blind The air riddled with the sound of bees That is a poem Michael Santiago

Summertime

It's summertime.

A happy time to sing and dance to rhyme.

The time to play to admire the day.

It's summertime.

Rafael Arias

Colors

Roses are red Violets are blue These two colors Make purple too Austin Espinal

We

We talk loud. We feel proud. We laugh together. We chill forever. We dine out. We walk about. We talk loud. And we say it proud.

Thalia Collado

Overdose

People will only support you When it's beneficial I'll forgive, I'll forget but Imma dead the issue.

My love for you is off the Richter scale My judgment is impaired with you this just isn't fair with you I hope you realize I am overdosing not on you but on the image you painted for me of you.

Nicole Torres

What Should I Do?

What should I do if I look right through him hoping, praying he can feel my fear, My pain from inside of me.

Home, I say to myself.

I have no home.

Hikma Bermejo

Flying Man

I am a flying man Everyone knows who I am I fly up high in the sky And people say Hi. Gregorio Duran

Behind Thick Walls

I smell the alcohol aroma on you

Every time you're down you speak the truth The liquor controlled

In deep Blue You just threaten

And let People win the bet

Yeah I was there And I couldn't bear it You always looked at that little girl

And said I love you That's something new You wake up the next day

Like you didn't destroy the bay You once made

Your words are sour Like lemonade Then I realized

I realized I don't need it

I went away with my emotion And sealed it

If Jesus doesn't need

Water or bread I could go without you, like I said

Yeah now I take meds You scream, you're ungrateful

Come on, call the feds I needed to go all the way

To the mountains above When I went searching

I put on my gloves I got lost, I got defeated

When you snooze you lose and I have just realized

The winner was not me this time.

Nelissa Rodriguez

To Belong

Friends are there when you need them they will always help you out They care about you They'll be there and there's no doubt They talk to you Friends are family too You have friends because of who you are Your friends are like no other They know what to say and do You treat them like a sister or brother Melanie Cardona

Bloom Blood

Bloom Blood and try not to cry let your pain out or forever hide Bloom blood show your pain and let the tears pour down like rain Bloom blood just understand when your flower blooms it will fade away Bloom blood and you will know and you will demand not to let the darkness bother you again Mikaylah Rogers

Pain

pain is everywhere you can't hide from it I can't hide from it losing is all over the inside and out my sadness is crying that equals pain pain leaves and comes pain is like an ocean neverending but it's like a moon shining through clouds in the sky Karina Montanez

Things Change But Keep the Faith

The law changed from time to time, helping people fighting crimes.

Every case is different no, nothing is the same.

The Judge makes her own choices for those who can't be tamed.

Never lose faith in your rights, if you know you're right.

Until you hear the Judge say this case is dismissed, please hang tight.

Jaden Vega

Live

The moon shines under the light when the sun light hits directly at it at night the stars shine all day they hide and throughout the whole day the world is alive Ariel Torres

Camouflage

Camo pants, camo pants Why are you so hard to find?

Come out, come out I feel like I'm blind!

Are you in the grass or on a tree?

Wherever you are I can't see!

Rayvon Johnson

No Rules

A poem should be any feeling you have it should be how you feel whether dark and mysterious or full of light and happiness.

A poem should be anything and everything you want.

It should teach you how to play by the rules, or not.

A poem has no certain direction or instruction.

It can be whatever you want, any shape you want.

Anything you feel inside, write it down and hope to fly.

Evana Cruz

The Crew

we play ball we play tug raise a flag we eat fast like chloroplast we gather together and live forever Angel Garcia

You Can't Fly

I'm in the air happy because the wind is blowing through my hair.

I see people below me and they can't touch me I'm feeling happy and nobody can touch me I start from the bottom and race up to the sky Ralphy Rosado

The Mouth

Day and night I am the mouth that speaks while you listen.

I am the mouth who defends and protects.

I know what I'm saying.

I think twice before I speak.

I give the truth.

The mouth speaks up for what's right whether it's wrong to others.

The mouth speaks from its heart with true feelings.

I might speak in a certain tone that others don't like but who cares I'm the mouth that speaks and controls itself.

Zeniya Hayes

Life is a Game

Life is a game you're player 1 instead of five lives you've only got one like game difficulty, life can be easy, normal, or hard depending on how you play your life.

Too many mistakes will result in a game over, and like a broken game controller, you won't have any control over the horrible disaster that has just evolved, to erase that glimmer of hope that you had, to restart a new game from your game over.

London Wright

She

Always together but it doesn't last forever.

Seeing you makes me feel grief.

Walking away, incomplete.

She makes me laugh and is me.

Zariah Hayes

Fighting Grounds

On the fighting grounds leaking blood like a fountain rumors would start war fists up in the air like guns hands are your weapons the fight is over you have won you're the cool kid now Omar Hernandez

It'll Get Better

Things change for the better.

Poor people get richer meaner they are, nicer they become.

Street people become smart people, bad boys and bad girls, change and now they are in college succeeding.

Neli Bermerjo

The Poem

The poem brings happiness only to express your sadness The poem is an ocean so it's a struggle to write The poem is space filled with undiscovered ideas I wonder about the poem all the time so I yearn for its secret The poem leads me to amazement only to come out to embrace me The poem makes you climb a mountain never knowing where the climb will end Kevin Chen

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Portfolio Development

Before leaving at the beginning of the fall session in 2013, I had been teaching the Portfolio Development class for Artists Space for nearly six years. I have had the pleasure to work with many of the students since they were in sixth grade, and it was truly inspiring to see their growth and maturity revealed in their artworks. These students are a very special group with an incredible breadth and depth of talent, reflected in their individual choices and abilities; strong-willed, enthusiastic, courageous and always with very definite points of view.

These students have learned how to draw: themselves, objects in space, people, the city we live in. They invent colors and compositions, and give voice to their emotions, memories, and ideas through materials. They have been willing to take risks, to stretch beyond the limits of what they know or think they can do.

Kate Temple Teaching Artist

Following Kate's departure in September 2013, I had the privilege of working with with a very well-prepared and welcoming group of students, ushering them through the final phase of the program to complete their portfolios, go to their auditions, and attend the Scholastic Art Awards, where many of them received honors. Several of them dropped by in the spring term to visit the new group of seventh grade students, offering to share their experiences or to demonstrate techniques. This speaks to their spirit of generosity, sense of community, and leadership initiative – qualities that will serve them well as they head off to high school and beyond, whether they continue studies in the arts or choose to pursue other paths.

Susan Hamburger Teaching Artist

Aisha Rodriguez, Untitled, 2013, Oil pastel on paper, 19.5 × 12.75 inches

Angel Garcia, Untitled, 2013, Acrylic on paper, 14 × 17 inches

Britjanie Peña, Perspective drawing, 2013 , Pencil on paper, 18 × 12 inches

Tracy Benissan, Untitled, 2013, Graphite and watercolor on paper, 14 × 17 inches

Cristal Colon, Cherish Atlas, 2013, Gouache on paper, 9 × 12 inches

Devonte Hernandez, Untitled, 2013, Charcoal on paper, 19 × 18 inches

Hikma Bermejo, Untitled, 2013, Charcoal on paper, 19 × 18 inches

Michael Santiago, Still life, 2013, Charcoal on paper, 18 × 19 inches

Michelle Santiago, Self portrait, 2013, Colored pencil on paper, 17 × 14 inches

Nelissa Rodriguez, Still Life, 2013, Oil pastel on paper, 19.5 × 12.75 inches

Evie Murray, Untitled, 2014, Charcoal on paper, 19 × 18 inches

MS 324 Patria Mirabal

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MS 324 Patria Mirabal

Thelma Dolmo's bilingual class has been working with Ms. Nancy Friedemann-Sรกnchez from Artists Space for the past ten years. Each year Artists Space brings an art form to the class that develops the students' artistic skills and accelerates their English language learning.

This year the students excelled as they learned new art forms, skills, techniques and made connections between the arts and the content of their core subjects.

It was exciting to watch the students achieve these results and to see their enthusiasm as they moved through the creative process.

I congratulate all of them for their achievements.

Sincerely, Ms. Heller Principal MS 324 Patria Mirabal 21 Jumel Place New York 10032

Each year I look forward to working with Ms. Nancy. I enjoy watching students get in touch with the most sensitive fibers of their being, producing art that undoubtedly reflects their evolution and growth.

This year was not an exception. Students tackled the topic of identity.

They struggled initially, but their dedication and openness helped them produce the most amazing sculptures, paintings, and poems – these works reflecting the elements of nature that best convey their personality.

I once read somewhere that the best way to immortalize oneself is through art and literature. I am thankful to Ms. Nancy FriedemannSĂĄnchez for helping each and every student make an indelible mark.

Seeing my students' art fills me with an intense sense of pride.

I am proud of you all for having the courage to show your vulnerability.

May you always have the courage to be yourself.

Thelma Dolmo Bilingual Literacy Teacher MS 324 Patria Mirabal 21 Jumel Place New York 10032

This year's work has been in the setting of Ms. Thelma Dolmo's 7th grade class at MS 324 in Washington Heights. The school is primarily Dominican and the focus is on making individual art projects that examine notions of identity and history pertinent to an immigrant community in New York City.

The key themes addressed with the students were individuality, diversity, and acceptance. Ms. Dolmo's class was reading Star Girl, Jerry Spinelli's youth novel about an individualistic and eccentric girl that arrives at a school where conformity is the most important element. The project consisted on picking a symbolic identity that would represent an aspect of each student's spirit. Some students chose their symbolic representations to be moons, lions, dolphins, hawks, mountains, clouds and even a safe security box.

The students carved their poetic identities into red self-drying clay, and wrote a poem and black and white paintings to accompany the sculptures. Creating the works involved examining numerous historical sources, including Taino, Aztec and Inca carvings. As most of the children are Latino and/or Latin American, and I am an immigrant myself, we wanted this historical study to contribute to an environment where students could feel proud of their ethnic origin, and use a wide mix of emotional and very invested creativity.

Nancy Friedemann-Sรกnchez Teaching Artist

Poster Enclosed

Welcome to My World An Anthology of Poems and Artworks by 7th & 8th Grade Students MS 324 Patria Mirabal Washington Heights, New York PS 140 Nathan Straus Lower East Side, New York Š 2014

Design Studio Manuel Reader, Berlin Manuel Reader and Santiago da Silva Printed on the occasion of Welcome to My World, an exhibition of students' work from Expanded Art Ideas December 11, 2014 – February 8, 2015 Artists Space Books & Talks 55 Walker Street New York NY 10013 With thanks to all the students at MS 324 and PS 140, whose work is included in this publication.

Expanded Art Ideas is supported by The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation; Con Edison; Dedalus Foundation, Inc.; Gesso Foundation; The Keith Haring Foundation; NYU Community Fund; Puffin Foundation Ltd.; Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn Foundation; The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; The New York City Department of Education; The New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency; and the Friends of Artists Space.

Artists Space Expanded Art Ide as

Managing Editor Nicolas Linnert

38 Greene Street 3rd Floor New York NY 10013 T 212 226 3970 www.artistsspace.org

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