Youths are creating a vision of community through art
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| Some of the students involved in the GMU art project with Officer Kathleen O’Leary (center). |
Local residents are invited to a community dialogue and
pop-up art exhibit on the theme “Youth Re-imagining Community” May 3 at the DarAl-Hijrah Islamic Center in Seven Corners.
pop-up art exhibit on the theme “Youth Re-imagining Community” May 3 at the DarAl-Hijrah Islamic Center in Seven Corners.
The event, hosted by the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), will give teens and adults an
opportunity to have a dialogue about their vision for communities of the future
and how art can be used to develop a vision and engage communities.
opportunity to have a dialogue about their vision for communities of the future
and how art can be used to develop a vision and engage communities.
The event is part of an ongoing initiative that brought
together a diverse group of 11 students from Annandale, Falls Church, and JEB Stuart high schools to learn about art from professors and graduate students in
the School of Art at George Mason University.
Officer Kathleen O’Leary the former community liaison
officer at the Mason Police District and a former art student at GMU, helped
facilitate the project, along with Norma Lopez, a community organizer with NCS,
and Peter Huyn, a member of the Annandale Roundtable.
officer at the Mason Police District and a former art student at GMU, helped
facilitate the project, along with Norma Lopez, a community organizer with NCS,
and Peter Huyn, a member of the Annandale Roundtable.
The high school students spent a day at GMU during the
winter break in various art workshops. They learned about photography, met a
music professor who turns musical vibrations into design, and were given art
supply kits designed by GMU art students.
winter break in various art workshops. They learned about photography, met a
music professor who turns musical vibrations into design, and were given art
supply kits designed by GMU art students.
The youths will come together again this month during spring
break for more workshops at GMU on art and poetry, says Lopez. They will meet
with artist Mark Strandquist, who has done a lot of work with incarcerated
youths, to talk about how art has been used to promote social justice in
communities, then will meet at the Willston Multicultural Center in Seven
Corners to explore the community and be inspired by their surroundings.
break for more workshops at GMU on art and poetry, says Lopez. They will meet
with artist Mark Strandquist, who has done a lot of work with incarcerated
youths, to talk about how art has been used to promote social justice in
communities, then will meet at the Willston Multicultural Center in Seven
Corners to explore the community and be inspired by their surroundings.
The students will continue their explorations of art and
community at the GMU School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution’s retreat
center in Lorton. More art sessions could take place this summer.
community at the GMU School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution’s retreat
center in Lorton. More art sessions could take place this summer.
The students are not only learning about art, Lopez says, “they
are also gaining an understanding of how art can be used for community change.”
are also gaining an understanding of how art can be used for community change.”
The ultimate goal, she says, is to turn this initiative into
a permanent program whereby GMU graduate students would regularly work with youths
at local community centers. This effort would start with the three centers in
the Annandale/Mason District area – the James Lee, Bailey’s Crossroads, and
Willston centers – then expand to the rest of Fairfax County.
a permanent program whereby GMU graduate students would regularly work with youths
at local community centers. This effort would start with the three centers in
the Annandale/Mason District area – the James Lee, Bailey’s Crossroads, and
Willston centers – then expand to the rest of Fairfax County.
The art created by the 11 students will become part of a
traveling exhibit that will help spur dialogues about a vision for community at
upcoming public sessions, the first of which will be May 3. 6:30-8:30 p.m., at
Dar Al-Hijrah. 3159 Row St., Falls Church. That event is free and includes a
light dinner. To RSVP, contact Brittany Burns, 703-533-5701. The next one is
expected to be at Stuart High School.
traveling exhibit that will help spur dialogues about a vision for community at
upcoming public sessions, the first of which will be May 3. 6:30-8:30 p.m., at
Dar Al-Hijrah. 3159 Row St., Falls Church. That event is free and includes a
light dinner. To RSVP, contact Brittany Burns, 703-533-5701. The next one is
expected to be at Stuart High School.
As the dialogue will center around “what kind of future do
we want to leave our kids with?” Lopez says, it’s is important to have youths
be a part of the discussion. “If you want them engaged, you’ve got to engage
them.”
we want to leave our kids with?” Lopez says, it’s is important to have youths
be a part of the discussion. “If you want them engaged, you’ve got to engage
them.”
Seriously sad to see Kathy O'Leary leave the station. She has been a positive impact on Mason District. Was happy to see her get officer of the year. Thanks officer O'Leary for facilitating this!