to view the November 2015 Newsletter

SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS
Ha rle m Fi ne Ar t s Show, Chica go
Patrick Oliver Talks
About Vision Boards
On My Own: Vision Board
Guidebook for Young People is
one of Oliver’s latest literary projects designed to
guide young people through
an interactive process that
will assist them with goal
setting associated with their
personal aspirations. Mr.
Oliver discussed the Vision
Boards that the students are
making in Mrs. Watson’s
class that channel his Vision Boards.
Patrick Oliver and SOFA
Youth Empowerment Day
(YED) is a S.T.E.A.M
(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math)
program. YED is an avenue
for students to be exposed to
the arts outside of the classroom. Students from participating schools are able to
tour the art show for free,
watch a play depicting multicultural experiences, interact with artists about how
the arts connects to science,
and speak with sponsors
about career opportunities.
7th and 8th Grade Students from the School of Fine
Arts Attend Harlem Fine Arts Show
and Youth Empowerment Day
On Friday, October 30,
2015, all 7th and 8th grade
School of Fine Arts students
traveled to the Merchandise
Mart in Chicago, IL to attend Youth Empowerment
Day at the Harlem Fine
Arts Show. The Harlem
Fine Arts Show (HFAS) is
the largest traveling African
Diasporic art show in the
United States. Inspired by
the Harlem Renaissance,
HFAS provides a platform
for African Diasporic visionaries as well as American
visual artists to exhibit and
sell their artwork. The students were able to participate in a Vision Board Ses-
sion with author Patrick
Oliver, tour the art gallery
with the artists themselves
as tour guides, and watch
a performance by
Little Black Pearl.
The students are
fortunate to be
able to have been
a part of this show. The
Art Tour only travels to
Martha’s Vineyard, Washington, and Chicago and
is in each location for
only 3 days. This tour
definitely enriched our
SOFA’S Project-Based
Learning unit, “Heroes of
Harlem-The Harlem Renaissance.”
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
D AY
Thus, YED is a way for students to embrace the past
and archive the history of
now.
As a part of Youth Empowerment Day, our students
from the School of Fine Arts
participated in a Vision
Board Session with Patrick
Oliver. Patrick Oliver, a
literary consultant, program
manager and radio host in
Little Rock, devotes most of
his life to developing programs that introduce black
youth to literature and the
importance of reading and
writing well. In 1993, he
founded “Say It Loud! Readers and Writers,” the nonprofit that provides opportunities for youth ages 10 – 18
to participate in literary arts
activities and events de-
SOFA students listen while
Patrick Oliver talks about
Vision Boards
signed to enhance their appreciation for literature as a
tool for empowerment.
Patrick Oliver
Page 2
OUR DAY AT THE HARLEM FINE ARTS SHOW AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT DAY, CONT...
SOFA Makes a Showing in Kevin WAK Williams’ FB Post!
The Work of Woodrow Nash
Check out the Facebook page
of Kevin WAK Williams and
you will find a picture of him
talking to our students from
the School of Fine Arts about
his art. Kevin WAK Williams
is one of the best-selling artists
in the African-American print
market. Williams is also a
popular personality at national art shows, conferences
of African-American groups
and major international
events, including the Essence
Music Festival. His art has
been featured on television’s
“Law & Order” (NBC) and
“Soul Food” (Showtime). The
Facebook post of this successful artist reads as follows, “I
want to Thank my City!!!!
for a GREAT SHOW.
Thanks to all my friends,
family, collectors and spectators..BUT by far the highlight of my experience was
the beautiful Youth of Chicago “OUR FUTUREThank you ALL..n see you
next year.”
Kevin WAK Williams with
our students-how cool!
Artist Dana Todd Pope Takes 8th graders on the Art Tour
and Shows Them Her Art
Students were able to meet
and talk to many of the artists.
Students stop for a pose with Mrs. Winters and Patrick Oliver.