Earlier this year, the COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone in a variety of ways. ACT's studio had to shut its doors to preserve the health and safety of students, volunteers, and staff. Of the projects locked inside were the unfinished pieces of an art residency program in collaboration with UICA and Kendall College of Art and Design.
In the 2019-20 school year, ACT's In-School Residency Program provided art instruction to special education classrooms in the Kent and Ottawa counties taught by certified teaching artists.
"This Residency was a perfect combination of all of the best ingredients. The student artists were inspired by professional art in a way that helped them learn more about who they are on the inside. These beautiful portraits tell a story about each inner artist. Having the opportunity to work within the UICA alongside a thought provoking exhibit, while learning from Kendall College art mentors was an experience to remember and it shows through the artwork created."Executive Director of Artists Creating Together Angela Steele said.
The last Residency Program before the COVID-19 shutdown was a Courage Collage, teaching young artists how their character traits and meaning behind their colors of choice can be reflected through their collages. Their creations began with mismatched patterns and colors, pasted into the outline of a self portrait. Affirmations including, "I am happy,""I am loving," "I am a hard worker" lined the edges of scraps of paper glued to each sheet. Although these projects were left without their final touches, aren't we all still looking to improve ourselves daily? It is a reminder to ourselves we are works in progress continually learning, changing, and growing.
In honor of these inspiring pieces, our annual auction theme this year is WE ARE ALL Works in Progress. The auction will take place on Thursday, October 22 from 7pm - 8pm. There will be a week-long silent auction from October 15 - 22 online.
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