MODEL CITY BRANCH LIBRARY

As an undergrad, I was worried that following my art practice would be selfish and I was fearful I would not be doing anything for the community. My artwork always had a humanitarian aspect to it and now is even more about justice.

I believe in the power of art to empower youth. In 2011, I was invited to teach art to children ages 5- 16 in Uganda. I did a fundraiser through Kickstarter for the youth organization. This invitation to Uganda was my first experience at the benefits of what sharing my art knowledge with children could do, and I learned they could also teach me. The children did not have art as a subject taught in schools, and simple art supplies—like acrylic paints—were not sold anywhere except in the capitol, Kampala, and even there I could hardly find any supplies.

I saw that creating opened their minds up to the future. It was not only about teaching art, but teaching possibilities. This experience was not only rewarding to them, but incredibly rewarding for me. Today, one of my students’ brother is still my Facebook friend and regularly updates me on her performance in college and how our art class influenced her. 

At the same time, my students opened up my mind, teaching me about traditional Ugandan techniques like paper bead making and painting on bark cloth. I learned as much t traditional art technique from them as I was teaching western art techniques as collage, drawing, and painting with acrylics.

I discovered the same kind of dynamic when I taught for ProjectArt, which transforms the nation’s public libraries into vital cultural hubs by offering youth year-round visual arts classes and providing studio spaces for emerging visual artists.