Recently,
sixth grade students and teachers from Haggerty, Graham & Parks,
and Tobin schools met in groups of about 30 kids, mixed from each
school, at the Cambridge Creativity Commons (CCC) for an art-making
workshop. The workshop centered around building the sense of community
amongst these students who will join together in September at the Vassal
Lane Upper School as seventh graders. Vassal Lane Upper School Art
Teacher, Amy Grady, along with CCC Coordinator Kyle Browne, led the
groups through meet and greet, ice breakers, and community building and
art making activities.
Cambridge Creativity Commons is a working artist’s studio, belonging
to a Cambridge artist, Dorothy Arnold, who has been working in our city
for about 40 years. Mrs. Arnold decided to give back to her community by
opening her studio to local student groups. Part of the space has
become the Cambridge Creativity Commons, while much of it remains a
working artist’s studio and gallery.
During their visit, each sixth grader had the opportunity to view the
work of Mrs. Arnold, ask questions, and learn about her art-making
process with their new classmates. Much of her artwork consists of mixed
media paintings. Students grouped together with their new friends and
had a lot of time to create their own mixed media painting on a canvas
panel using a variety of “found” materials as well as acrylic paints.
During the art-making time, students were encouraged to continue getting
to know each other and meeting new friends.
The finished work will be displayed at a gallery opening at the
Cambridge Creativity Commons at the end of August, where the student
artists, their families and future teachers will be invited to attend to
continue building the sense of community within our new triad
community. The paintings will then be installed at the Vassal Lane Upper
School for all to admire!
Special
thanks goes to Haggerty parent, Diane Norris, for her tireless efforts
in making this project come to fruition! Another large thank you to
Nancy Campbell, Haggerty Principal, for making it possible for the art
teacher, Amy Grady, to attend each of these sessions and have the
opportunity to meet & work with her new students before the triad
joins together in September! Also, many, many thanks to the
administrators and teachers for their help and support to make this
project a great success!
The Cambridge Community Commons is located at the corner of Fifth and Bent Streets in Cambridge.