Bronx elementary students from P.S. 152 in Soundview joined District 18 City Council Member Amanda Farías and others last month for the launch of a new art exhibit featuring bold watercolor paintings of sunflowers painted by the students in honor of Ukraine.

 

The exhibit was created in partnership with “Studio in a School NYC,” an initiative which brings visual arts education to students from 3K to 12th grade in public schools and to community based organizations across all five boroughs. It is intended to showcase local talent, while also highlighting the role art can play in stress reduction and healing. The attendees also had the opportunity to create a new project together.

 

Created by young students living and learning in The Bronx, the exibit was launched on March 7 around the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and is on display at Montefiore’s Gallery of ARTFul Medicine at Montefiore Einstein’s Hutchinson Metro Campus, located at 1250 Waters Place in the Pelham Bay section of the borough.

 

“I was excited to visit the ‘Gallery of ARTFul Medicine’ at Montefiore Medical Center to admire the best new artists in the City of New York – P.S. 152 students!” Farías said. “I am very proud to have funded Studio in a School to bring this programming to our students in Council District 18. When I was growing up, my favorite class was always art, and it is a top priority for me to make sure our students have access to arts programs.”

 

The council member added, “It was great to see the amazing students work, and connect with them on why and how they created their paintings. Thank you to the team at Studio in School for your hard work and thank you to Montefiore Einstein for this great opportunity and partnership.”

 

Alison Scott-Williams, president of Studio in a School NYC and Jodi Moise, director of the fine art program and collection at Montefiore Einstein were also in attendance for the launch.

“We foster the creative and intellectual development of students from 3K to 12th grade through exemplary visual arts instruction,” representatives from Studio in a School said. “Since our founding in 1977, Studio has served over 1.2 million students, helping them discover, learn, and grow. We also provide professional development opportunities for teachers, sharing our expertise to further support educators’ work in classrooms and beyond.”

 

Studio in a School fulfills its mission through two divisions: Studio NYC, which provides visual arts programs directed by arts professionals, and Studio Institute, which shares professional learning, partnership programs, arts internships, and research grants in local and national forums. Learn more at www.studioinaschool.org.

Meanwhile, founded in 2014, The Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore Einstein is described as an innovative visual arts program of Montefiore Health System. According to Montefiore officials, by transforming areas throughout its network of high-traffic facilities into soothing and restorative environments with quality artwork, the program helps reduce stress and promotes accelerated healing. They say its life-affirming and supportive visual displays consist of three key components: the Collection, Rotating Exhibition Galleries, and the Technology Innovation Lab. Learn more at www.montefiore.org/artprogram.