The Potential of Museum Partnerships, Part II

March 20th, 2009 at 03:50pm acb

I just had one of those first-class experiences that reiterated my passion for arts education.  This happens often in my career managing the school, youth and family programs here at MAD, but yesterday was a favorite.  Second Livesartist Paul Villinski graciously accepted my invitation to visit with 200 students in grades 1 through 5 at PS 96 in the Bronx to talk about his life and work. I knew when I first contacted Paul that he would be an ideal special guest at the school, but the experience was beyond expectation. 

Of my many years in museum education, the level of organization and dedication of the teachers at PS 96 and Lincoln Center Institute teaching artist Barbara Ellmann is unparalleled.  It is blatantly obvious how the teachers’ commitment to this partnership has helped create a much richer arts education and overall experience for all involved–most importantly for the students.  It is a pleasure to be able to introduce one of the Museum’s exhibiting and collected artists to this school community that has so immersed itself in weeks-long exploration inspired by our exhibition.  

Since the beginning of our partnership, the students have watched the video of Paul in his Long Island City studio talking about his creation of My Back Pages for which he metamorphosed his vast record collection into a swarm of polychrome butterflies, and they have visited the Museum to see his work and the rest of the exhibition in person.  For his visit to the school, each class prepared by looking at Paul’s website and had questions ready to ask about his work, his life as an artist (and pilot) and his inspirations.  The students asked very thoughtful questions, impressively referenced titles of his artworks, linked his flying machines to the efforts of Leonardo da Vinci and seemed consistently captivated by Paul’s presence in their school (not to mention by his whale joke). 

Since Paul is a guy who loves to fly and whose majority of works have something to do with flight, I can tell you this: the students and teachers and I are all soaring after spending the day with him.  Paul took the time to see the students’ own artworks-in-process, encouraging them to talk about their use of materials, processes and ideas and was supportive of their efforts as budding

The students seemed thrilled to be able to share their work with Paul.  These Second Lives-inspired artworks, made from repurposed materials and designed and constructed collaboratively in groups under the guidance of Barbara Ellmann, will be exhibited at the Museum on April 3^rd.  So far the works are striking in concept and execution.

Working with kids in our galleries and classrooms, I’m constantly delighted by the kinds of observations children make about contemporary works of art that we as adults overlook.  I always feel nourished by their unique, uninhibited and thoughtful insights.  I think Paul had a taste of that experience yesterday as students made some very keen interpretations regarding his work.  

Even though visiting with large groups of kids was a new experience for Paul, he interacted with each class of new young faces with a seeming ease.  Paul gave humble and enriching answers to students’ questions.  He shared with us that his reason for wanting to become an artist was that it was the thing that challenged him the most; he told us that his grandmother–who was a nurse but also an artist–inspired him to pursue art; he explained that though he grew up surrounded by family members who were artists, he is the first in his family who has been able to make a living as an artist.  Paul shared his interest in and concern for the environment and how this shows up in each his works of art. 

When asked when he became a famous artist, Paul humbly denied the status. Barbara then pulled out the latest issue of Art in America to show a full-page photo of Paul’s work. 

Thank you, Paul Villinski, for such a meaningful day. 

Thank you, Susan Horn and all the teachers at PS 96 and Barbara Ellmann at LCI, for recognizing the potential of this partnership.

And to the students at PS 96:  We cannot wait to see your final works of art when they arrive at the Museum in just a few weeks.  Keep up the wonderful work! 

Entry Filed under: teachers' lounge