The Art For Change Residency at Mass MoCA was a total dream come true. The residency was part of Mass MoCA's four year long initiative to share focused arts education with elementary students of Northern Berkshire County. The initiative was built around four themes: Empathy, Optimism, Bravery and Problem Solving. The students visited the museum several times throughout the year and worked with artists in residence to create art around the selected themes.
I was invited to participate in the second year, Optimism. The theme inspired me to create a large butterfly sculpture with a disco ball helmet. Each day I made art with the students, and the completed butterfly was on display at Mass MoCA for six months.
This residency inspired me to share a similar process with students more broadly and in the end, I reached almost 200 students from 6 different schools. Together, we made art and learned about what makes us who we are. For this, I am eternally grateful.
