New York,
NY (August
9,
2006) --
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization that provides guidance and support to emerging young artists and writers, observes the one year anniversary of the devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes through exhibitions of original artwork and writing generated by students nationwide in grades K-12. Kids Reconstruct with Creativity is a special project of the Alliance that presents the authentic, unfiltered voice of our nation’s youth, showing how creative expression is a powerful vehicle for dealing with loss and dislocation and promotes healing during reconstruction and recovery. The traveling exhibition will be presented in New Orleans, LA, Jackson, MS, New York, NY, and Washington, DC. The collection will also be showcased at the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers’ website, online at
www.artistsandwriters.org.
The Alliance, which selected and curated the works for Kids Reconstruct with Creativity, is partnering with The Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, The Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, Mississippi, Scholastic Inc. in New York City, and the United States Department of Education in Washington, D.C. to exhibit the works from August 2006 through January 2007 at the following locations:
-
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans,
Louisiana (August 17 – September 24);
-
The Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, Mississippi
(August 15 – September 30);
-
Scholastic Inc. Corporate Headquarters in New York City
(August 15 – September 30);
-
United States Department of Education in Washington, D.C
(December 4, 2006 – January 31, 2007).
“The Kids Reconstruct with Creativity project gives America’s youth a creative outlet to respond to the events surrounding last year’s Gulf Coast hurricanes,” said B.J. Adler, Executive Director, Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. “This exhibition captures the struggle, the challenge and the unyielding resilience of the human spirit through the eyes of America’s young artists and writers. The project is a national reflection of the power of the arts to provide healing and recovery for our youth.”
Artwork and writing selected for the project will be showcased in a Kids Reconstruct virtual gallery going online August 15, 2006 at
www.artandwriting.org, to give youth across the nation the opportunity to share their stories —both young people who were impacted directly and those whose empathetic responses illuminate the power of human connection and compassion. Additionally, the online exhibition will continue to accept and display submissions until the end of the year. This interactive web component is designed so that young people across America can share their artwork, opinions, thoughts and stories through the Alliance’s Kids Reconstruct Virtual Gallery.
Once a student’s artwork or writing is chosen to be part of the online exhibition, a Youth Response Team comprised of talented students from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts/Riverfront (NOCCA), will post its artistic and written responses along with some of the Kids Reconstruct submissions in this online gallery from September through December. These students will bring a unique perspective to the project as gifted creative students who were directly affected by Hurricane Katrina and who are living and doing creative work in the midst of the reconstruction efforts.
Leadership support for Kids Reconstruct with Creativity has been provided by Scholastic Inc., Target, and Framerica. Generous support also provided by The Maurice R. Robinson Fund and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers Board of Directors Special Projects Fund.
Visit
www.artandwriting.org for more information about the Alliance and its programs. You may send requests for more information for Kids Reconstruct with Creativity to
a&woutreach@scholastic.com.
About the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization, tracks the creative development of more than a quarter of a million teenagers each year through The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Through The Awards program, the Alliance seeks to identify emerging artists for college scholarship consideration, but also invests in the critical role of creative development for youth beginning in 7th grade. In addition to The Awards program, the Alliance brings the authentic voice of America’s youth to a national audience through special exhibitions and publications, which provide opportunities for creative expression in the visual and literary arts, such as the Kids Reconstruct with Creativity Project.
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site,
www.scholastic.com.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,444 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives back more than $2 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.
