Kids exhibit art inspired by Jones Collection

Parents and children survey the hundreds of paintings by Edison Charter School students on exhibit in Arsht Hall.

3:43 p.m., June 14, 2005--The 800 students who attend the Thomas A. Edison Charter School in Wilmington paid tribute to artists whose work is featured in UD’s Paul R. Jones Collection of African American Art, with an exhibition of their own artworks inspired by the collection on Wednesday, June 8, at Arsht Hall on UD’s Wilmington Campus.

At the school’s third annual Art Smart Night, attended by UD Provost Dan Rich and Terry Whittaker, assistant provost for student diversity and success, hundreds of paintings created by the children as an homage to the artists hung from every available wall space in Arsht Hall.

An evening ceremony included musical numbers by the school’s choir and comments by Rich.

“I feel honored to be surrounded by all this talent and these extraordinary works of art. It makes you all part of UD’s extended family,” Rich said. He told the students that Paul Jones is proud of how hard they worked on their art, and said that Jones gave the collection to UD so that it could be shared with the world. “But, little did he know it would also be shared with all of you! We are here to celebrate what these youngsters have done,” he said.

Each year, all 800 students from kindergarten through eighth grade are required to produce art based on an exhibition they’ve seen throughout the year. The first two years of the Art Smart program, the students saw exhibits at the Delaware Museum of Art.

Chuck Hughes, principal of the Edison school, credits his art teachers, Patrika Wellington, Amy O’Brien and Roberta Forwood, for the success of the program. But, they say it was Hughes who began making plans for all 800 students to see the Paul R. Jones Collection as soon as he knew it was coming to UD. “Our demographic is 95 percent African-American. This is a monumental collection of African American artists. This artwork is a living representation of all that can be accomplished,” Hughes said.

He arranged for school buses to take approximately 100 students a day, three days a week over a three-week period to view the collection. After that, the art teachers dedicated class time to studying, researching and reproducing key elements of the collection.

Edison Charter School student Jomanda points out her contribution to the school’s tribute to UD’s Paul Jones Collection.

Adolphus, a first-grade student, chose to emulate Rex Goreleigh’s watercolor Red Barn. He said he liked the colors the artist chose and that it reminded him of the artwork he’s done at home. He said the collection is meaningful to him because, just like the artists in it, he puts so much effort into the things he loves to do.

Fourth-grader, Dominik also painted the Red Barn. “I liked how Rex Goreleigh used color. I thought it was really a good collection. He [Jones] picked so many artists who used so many colors and texures.”

“It wasn’t like any other collection we’ve seen. It was personal, like a family. He [Jones] brought African-American artists’ work together,” second-grade student Bianca said.

Kenyon, who is in the eighth grade, agreed. “Some of the pieces were like nothing I’ve seen before. I was impressed with the creativity of the artists and wanted to mimic their styles.”

Article by Barbara Garrison
Photos by Greg Drew

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