Program / Event Details

Art Educator Andrea Sauer specializes in using art as a healing modality and will lead students through sessions of active listening with their peers, creating a safe space for feeling valued and heard, and students creating 3 joyful, bright figures based on several master exemplars including Angel Ortiz and Keith Haring’s playful paintings. The therapeutic painting style that she will introduce is practiced by indigenous cultures where intentional creativity is used to gain insight and heal. The somatic practice of painting while reflecting on life experiences and having a safe way to process them is a powerful way to be responsive instead of reactive to things that may normally feel triggering. Teaching the students ways to be responsive to feelings instead of reacting and understanding pausing is often the best option before reacting.

At William Paca Elementary, all students are exposed to social-emotional learning through restorative practices daily during their 15-minute morning meetings. By students coming together for discussions led by a teacher, giving students an opportunity to get to know one another and build a sense of community.
With that in mind, the art residency’s goal is to incorporate restorative practices within it while emphasizing the sense of belonging, connection, and understanding. Studies show, when the atmosphere and “feel” of a school is positive, that school becomes a place that students, staff, families, and community members want to be — and where teaching and learning can thrive. The first 10-minutes of the arts residency begins in a restorative circle (a model Baltimore City Schools adopted) to serve as a quick check-in to assess overall emotional state of mind and well-being. During that time, the students (the participants) have a chance to practice active listening and reflection skills derived from guided thought-provoking questions or case scenarios creating a space for authenticity, fostering healthy relationships, and vulnerability. For instance, questions may include:
How do you express your feelings?
How do you deal with conflict?
What brings your joy?
What does community mean to you?
These are just examples of how guided questions can build open and respectful communication to reduce conflict or repair harm. Also, form connections with each other.
With this grant opportunity, the final art piece is inspired by Angel Ortiz’, a Puerto Rican pop and graffiti artist who uses his work to display urban energy through movement and joy to connect the community. Movement, dance, celebration, and art are positive and effective ways to regulate our nervous systems and effective ways students can resolve conflict and build interpersonal relationships. Using Ortiz’s art piece as a guide, our final art project is three large scale wooden figures that students will fill with their interpretations of joy and connection.

Here are specific agreed upon dates with William Paca approved by Olia Hardy, Principal and Dana Fleming

Everyday cited below for 2 hours- facilitation times 12:15-2:15 p.m.

Week 1: Monday, January 11th through Thursday, January 14th (8 hours)

Week 2: Tuesday, January 19th through Thursday, January (6 hours) à Monday, January 18th is excluded because school is closed for MLK Day

Week 3: Monday, January 25th through Thursday, January 28th (8 hours)