2004 Camden Children at Peace Poster
Art Aware Newsletter

#9 (2004)

Art Aware
1701 South 4th Street

Camden, NJ 08014

(856) 365-0831

artaware@hotmail.com

Whitney Museum of Art, NYC


This was the year for Art Aware to celebrate African American artists, including Horace Pippin, Faith Ringgold, William H. Johnson, Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden.

From January to June, we made presentations to approximately 4,050 students in six schools (Bonsall, Cramer, Gesu, Sacred Heart, Molina and Sharp).

From September to December, we focused on Romare Bearden in eight Camden schools (Bonsall, Cooper’s Poynt, Cramer, Molina, Parkside, Sharp, Sumner, Washington) and in one Philadelphia school (Gesu). Two hundred and twenty-five students received in-depth preparation on Bearden through slide presentations and art-making workshops and then were taken to the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City to see Bearden’s original artwork. (See Lesson Plan.)

How the students (grades 3 to 8) enjoyed being introduced to Romare Bearden (1911-1988) – one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. And what outstanding artwork they produced which will be displayed in their schools and in public places for the remainder of the ‘04/’05 academic year.

The collage Art Aware created to introduce students to Bearden describes well what they experienced this year. Through Romare Bearden’s work they appreciated what a “Renaissance man” he was in how he introduced images from the past into his own 20th century collages.

They heard Wynton and Branford Marsalis’ jazz tributes to the artist and could see the rhythms in Bearden’s artwork. (See jazz CD in Bearden Resources List)

Through the students’ own art-making, influenced by Bearden, they came to understand how the world can be made whole through scholarship, art and music.

Art Aware most certainly fulfilled its Mission Statement this year – that of “enabling students to see the life-giving force of art, each in his or her own way.”


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Posted 6 February 2005

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