Colorado State University Pilot Program Allows At-Risk Youth To Create Art, Improve Academics
Tuesday, August 18, 1998
FORT COLLINS--The Colorado State University art department
is directing a new after-school program designed to allow
elementary students to create art and improve academic skills in
the process. The Hatton Gallery at Colorado State will display
two collaborative community art exhibitions in association with
the after-school program.
The pilot program, called "It's a Gas!," is directed by
Colorado State faculty members Patrick Fahey and Linny Frickman
and will serve about 30 at-risk students at Garfield Elementary
School in Loveland. The children will meet twice a week during
the 1998-99 school year for collaborative art-making sessions
supervised by local artist Sharon Carlisle. Colorado State
students enrolled in a service learning seminar titled "Art,
Diversity and the Community" will assist the children with art
projects as well as with academics, homework, and reading.
"We've modeled this program after two highly acclaimed
community art projects," Frickman said. "These projects have
shown how art can be used to increase literacy, develop business
skills, improve math skills and boost self esteem. Both projects
stress the importance of school and provide safe after-school
environments. 'It's a Gas!' is designed with the same goals in
mind and has a special emphasis on reading in connection with
making art."
Exhibitions from the two collaborative community art
projects will be displayed at Colorado State's Hatton Gallery
this spring. The exhibition from YA/YA, or Young
Aspirations/Young Artists, features the work of at-risk youth
from New Orleans and will be displayed from Feb. 1-March 5. The
exhibition from Tim Rollins and K.O.S., or Kids of Survival,
consists of work by Latino students from the South Bronx. Both
groups are nationally renowned for the quality of their work and
for addressing the needs of marginalized youth.
During the spring of 1999, "It's a Gas!" participants will
take part in workshops with visiting artists from YA/YA and
K.O.S. and will visit the exhibitions at Colorado State. In the
summer of 1999 the Garfield Elementary School student work will
be presented in a professionally installed and publicized
exhibition at the Hatton Gallery.
The "It's a Gas!" project was created in consultation with
the Loveland Police Department "Project Yes." "It's a Gas!" is
funded by the Critic and Artist Residency Series in association
with the K.O.S. program, with assistance from Colorado State's
Office of Community Service's Service Learning Project. Local
support for the program also comes from Dr. Joe Jabaily, and Dr.
Larry Krantz and Dr. Elmo Frickman of Healing Arts Medical in
Loveland. The Hatton Gallery exhibitions are funded by the art
department's Critic and Artist Residency Series program, the
Office of the President and the Lilla Morgan Memorial Fund.
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