Education

We live in a world mediated by images, goading us toward certain desires and consumer behavior. Understanding art and its construction helps us appreciate and critically evaluate not only art and the pleasures associated with it, but also the society that makes them possible. Discussions of art and exhibition themes provide opportunities to engage individuals on diverse subjects including history, science, literature, and language arts.

Many of our education programs can be held either at the Paul Robeson Galleries or offsite at your institution. Programs are offered year-round. All programs are free of charge. Learn about our offerings below, and to make a booking or for more information, please contact Mars Calderon at 973-353-0606 or dc1778@newark.rutgers.edu

Visual Vistas

Early Childhood Education, Pre K-K

Students examine the fundamental elements of composition such as color, shape and texture in relation to print, painting or sculpture as can be found in exhibitions at the Main Gallery. Using these newfound tools, they create a unique artwork through a gallery led workshop. In addition to art making and a tour of the gallery, Visual Vistas includes music, practice in syllables and rhyming words, and identification of colors. Visual Vistas is led by artists who are experienced in early childhood development and learning. Groups are limited to 15 students each, with accompanying adult supervision.

Looking Lens

Elementary Education, grades K-6

Young detectives uncover clues, searching for varying symbolic attributes that reveal the meaning behind art while viewing the Paul Robeson Galleries’ exhibitions. They will explore iconographic emblems, social and cultural histories within themes and issues of self-representation/ reflection. They will then be challenged to use a set of “art clues” to reveal the meaning behind an individually selected work in the gallery. Looking Lens participants apply what they have learned by creating artworks inspired by the exhibitions.

Art in Society

High School and Middle School Students

Art in Society (AiS) is a gallery tour and arts education program for regional high school and middle school students and teachers. AiS stresses skills in critical thinking through multidisciplinary approaches to visual literacy and the study and making of art. Based on a multilevel model of reading, AiS teaches students techniques in ‘reading’ art, which transfer directly to reading life in society—skills important for survival in today’s media-saturated world. The program introduces art making as a medium of response to questions that may arise in history, social studies, literature, or sciences classes, as well as in the fine arts.

AiS offers:

An interactive gallery tour and discussion of exhibition themes
Art-making workshops at the gallery or participating schools, developing student responses to exhibition themes (art supplies – provided)
Experienced New Jersey artists are employed and trained to conduct tours and art-making workshops. AiS is free to participating schools thanks to funding support provided, in part, by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Art Moves

Art Moves is a gallery educational outreach program bringing arts, arts education, and therapeutic arts to communities and audiences not having ready access to the arts. An objective of this new program is to expand services to people in health care, retirement, and corrections facilities. Art Moves delivers on-site and off-site image and object presentations with interactive discussions focusing on Robeson Gallery–organized exhibitions. The program also provides art-making workshops at no cost to participants.

Art Moves currently has partnerships with groups including: Bethany Senior Citizens Center, Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, St. Luke’s AME Church, Focus Hispanic Senior Center, Nellie Grier Senior Citizens Center, Sinai Post-Acute Nursing and Rehabilitation, Spring Hills Somerset Assisted Living, and the Wellness, Arts, & Enrichment Center. Client communities include individuals who may have limited mobility, but who retain an interest in the arts and continue to benefit from visual and intellectual experience. At the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, our clients are young men and women who benefit from exposure to cultural experiences with which they may be unfamiliar and to modes of critical thinking, which can help them better negotiate their relationship to society.

New Jersey artists conduct discussions and art-making workshops. Artists plan workshops that are life enriching, educational, and custom-designed for the participating organization.