Feeling Artsy - Reflecting on Spring Break 2024
We are excited to share some highlights from our recent Feeling Artsy Junior Academy - spring break camp 2024, our team prepared to host over 400 students from the Chula Vista Elementary School District over the course of 8 days of art-making at the ARTS Center.
Reflecting on the experience, our Program Coordinator, Katie Carrion, shared her thoughts: "Co-creating this experience with the ARTS team was a lot of work but a lot of fun! To have the opportunity to welcome the Chula Vista Elementary School District community into the ARTS Center and share so many different and unique art mediums with them was genuinely rewarding.”
“Seeing our students light up when they entered the space was a highlight,” for many, this was their first exposure to such a wide array of art forms, and seeing their enthusiasm was truly heartwarming.
Over the course of the camp, students not only created six take-home art projects but also contributed to two legacy projects that will serve as lasting installations in the district office. These projects allowed students to express themselves creatively and also provided them with a sense of pride in leaving a lasting mark on their community.
“They LOVED creating slime, sewing plushies, making instruments, and painting their own canvases."
This immersive experience was made possible through the dedication of our team, comprised of 9 teaching artists, 8 program assistants, and 2 interns all lead by our ARTS on Campus Program Coordinator with the help of the Chula Vista Elementary School District Expanded Learning Opportunities Program. Together, we crafted a unique curriculum centered around exploring the five senses through various artistic mediums.
ARTS on Campus Program Coordinator:
Katie Carrion
Teaching Artists:
Lerida Armendariz, Leah Eria, Courtney Heald, Zadé Helena, Iris Rainbow, Adriana Quezada, Abraham Romero, Lian Verdeflor, Ell Treese
Program Assistants:
Amalia Luque, Daniela Sebastian, Jess Garcia, Barbara Salazar, Sora Gallaghar, Jerry Scott Lopez, Ever Herder, Aurora Cruz
Interns:
Isabella Cervantes and Aileen Puga
As we reflect on the success of our spring break camp, we are already looking ahead to our upcoming Summer 2024 session with excitement and determination to make it even better.
To achieve this, we have set some goals for our ARTS on Campus program:
Early curriculum planning: Teaching Artists will start planning earlier to deepen each art project.
Smaller groups: We'll keep rotations in groups of 15 or fewer for more focused attention, especially in activities like sewing.
Support for diverse needs: We'll explore support options for students with Individualized Education Plans and provide workbooks in both English and Spanish.
With these adjustments, we're excited to offer an even more enriching and inclusive experience for all our participants.
