WE ARE ASHEVILLE (TAPAS BOOKLET)

WE ARE ASHEVILLE (BOOKLET)

WE ARE ASHEVILLE - Paintings Inspired by Jacob Lawrence

A creative workshop project presented by Vance Elementary Fifth Grade students

Two 5th grade classes from Vance Elementary in WestAsheville created narrative paintings, inspired by Jacob Lawrence and his dynamic cubist, expressionist style. Student paintings are based on brief narratives they wrote about what it is like to be a child in our vibrant North Carolina city. Students collectively chose the title of their exhibition to be We Are Asheville.

During this residency, students learned about the life and art of Jacob Lawrence - via storytelling, literary and visual prompts. They were introduced to the ALNUGE Codes (Alphabets Numbers Geometrics) Cubism Visual Language - an Evidence Based Practice - in alignment with STEM + Art Curriculum. TAPAS Master Teaching Artist Cleaster Cotton and Fifth Grade Teacher Mitzi Levering led this workshop.

The Vance fifth graders learned and used art terminology, art materials, and sketched preliminary narratives from the categories of home, community, school, and recreation. They created vibrant (11 x 14”) narrative paintings with tempera paint on canvas.

Student paintings will be exhibited at Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, during the exhibition Between Form and Content: Perspectives on Jacob Lawrence and Black Mountain College.

Contributors:

Ruletta Hughes — Principal

Mitzi Levering — Fifth Grade Teacher

Fifth Graders — Morning & Afternoon Students (named by painting)

Cleaster Cotton — TAPAS Master Teaching Artist, ALNUGE Inventor, Photographer

Kate Pett — Executive Director, Asheville City Schools Foundation

Katie Dalton — TAPAS Coordinator, Asheville City Schools Foundation

Alice Sebrell – Photographer

Asheville City Schools Foundation made this TAPAS program possible in partnership with Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center

Cover painting:

Jacob Lawrence, Ices I, 1960, gouache on paper.

COVER (OUTER + INNER)