Advancement

The Rockwell piloted a new drop-in Summer Explorers program with five weekly themes about our environments. The program was geared towards children ages 5 - 12 and incorporated fun gallery games, activities and take-home art kits designed to encourage family visitors to engage with art. A total of 400 Art-On-The-Go kits and activity bags were distributed for the Summer Explorers program.

These summer activity resources were designed to encourage critical thinking, visual literacy, communication and collaboration through accessible arts experiences. Providing early exposure to welcoming museum environments supports literacy and educational STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) initiatives, emphasizing the value that art contributes to other academic subject areas. Supporting students in all areas of learning and enrichment activities is critical to early childhood development and cultivating social experiences in fun and inspiring environments.

Alley Art Project: Life in a Tapestry

Life in a Tapestry is the 13th mural created through the Alley Art Project in collaboration with the High School Learning Center (HSLC) of the Corning-Painted Post Area School District and 2021 Teaching Mural Artist Betsy Z. Casañas. 40 students, 5 HSLC teachers, Dakota Stevens (2021 Alley Art Intern) and 3 local assisting artists contributed to the designing and/or painting of the mural, located on Corning’s Northside on the building façade of Pudgie’s Pizza, 61 Bridge Street.

The mural is inspired by Diné (Navajo) textiles in The Rockwell’s collection, and illustrates the weaving process, symbolic of how living traditions, ideas and goals are ongoing and reflective of society and our environments. Thinking about the metaphor of “life as a tapestry,” students were asked to consider their past, present and future, and designed mandalas that focus on the importance of process, growth and transformation. 120 students, teachers, Corning-Painted Post District administrators and community members attended a celebratory ribbon cutting. This project was funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), as well continued support from The Triangle Fund.

A virtual Alley Art Panel: A Public Art Discussion was held on Zoom and facilitated by Dakota H. Stevens, Alley Art Project Intern, Curatorial Track Ph.D. Student and Andrew W. Mellon Fellow at the University of Delaware in Art History. The panelists featured Betsy Z. Casañas, Erich S. Lehman, co-curator and lead organizer of the WALL\THERAPY mural program in Rochester and Connie Sullivan-Blum, director of The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes. The panel discussion highlighted behind-the-scenes processes and the creation of Alley Art Project murals around Corning. It also addressed what public art representation means in a city, and how art can create an intentional culture of diversity and vibrancy within a community.

“Your Voice, Your Place” Student Outreach Program and Exhibition

The Rockwell Museum collaborated with Corning-Painted Post Middle School art teacher Maria Goldwyn and Onödowa’ga:’ – Deer Clan (Seneca) artist Hayden Haynes on a virtual outreach project and student exhibition. 65 eighth-grade students enrolled in IB Digital Art classes created their own digital collages that represent aspects of their heritage and identity inspired by Haynes’ art and artwork from The Rockwell’s collection. The student exhibition was on view in The Rockwell’s Student Gallery. We used a combination of a pre-recorded video and live Zoom sessions facilitated with Haynes to talk with students about his art, culture, history and studio practice. Haynes shared about his recent series of photographs in collaboration with model Jocelyn Jones to spread awareness about the Thomas Indian School (TIS). He emphasized the ongoing impact of assimilation, attempts to erase Native culture and poor treatment of children in boarding schools.

The Rockwell values collaborating with the Corning-Painted Post Area School District and artist Hayden Haynes to bring the arts to classrooms virtually. All participating students received free Family Passes to visit The Rockwell with their families.

Corning-Painted Post High School International

Baccalaureate Student Exhibition* In collaboration with art teacher Sharron Holland Exhibition dates: April 1 – May 2, 2021

Rockwell Reimagined* Corning-Painted Post High School Exhibition dates: May 5 – June 1, 2021

Alley Art Project: Life in a Tapestry*

High School Learning Center In collaboration with Teaching Mural Artist Betsy Z. Casañas Exhibition dates: June 8 – September 5, 2021

Rockwell Oaxacan and Butterfly Interactive for Dia de los Muertos

Exhibition dates: September 18 – November 4, 2021

Your Place, Your Voice*

Corning-Painted Post Middle School In collaboration with Digital Art Teacher Maria Goldwyn and Onödowa’ga:’ – Deer Clan (Seneca) Artist Hayden Haynes Exhibition dates: November 24, 2021 – January 3, 2022

*These virtual or hybrid exhibitions were published online! Explore at rockwellmuseum.org/blog

Teaching Mural Artist Betsy Z. Casañas speaking at the Alley Art Project mural Ribbon Cutting Rockwell Reimagined Student Artwork

The launch of Summer Explorers was a hit for families Artist Tori Burdick painted a Frida Kahlo butterfly interactive for Dia de los Muertos The Art Lab opened with regular hours to the public