ARTIST STORIES
July ~ 2020
Artists in Place:
Bringing the Arts Home to our Students
by Angelina Coppola
“ When we saw the students’ enthusiastic response, what initially began with one video quickly grew into a series. ”
I deeply believe in the power of arts education for all. As the In-Schools Program Coordinator for Light Bringer Project, I am continuously inspired by the empowering effects of arts programming in our local public schools.
 
With distance learning this school year, we were faced with the challenge of how to adapt our work in support of the virtual classroom. We started by reaching out to the high school art teachers we collaborate with in Pasadena and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. We found that teachers loved the idea of customized and interactive virtual content to help with student engagement. Out of this,  Artists in Place was born — a curated series of at-home videos by local artists we admire. 
 
When we saw the students’ enthusiastic response, what initially began with one video quickly grew into a series.  Artists in Place explores the creative process across a variety of disciplines, including fine art, muralism, filmmaking, illustration, creative writing, music, mosaic art and much more. 
 
Participating artists welcome students into their home studios and address their distinct journeys, influences and dreams. They demonstrate different techniques and projects you can create at home with the supplies at your fingertips and show us how we can all find shelter in art. It was an amazing and personal connection. I must add, the amount of talent and passion these artists possess is truly awesome. 
Bianca Ornelas, Visual Artist
D'arby Rose, Filmmaker
Artists in Place reached hundreds of arts academy students in Pasadena Unified, including John Muir High School, Marshall Fundamental School and Pasadena High school, as well as students in the  Literature for Life classrooms we serve in Los Angeles Unified, including James A. Foshay Learning Center, West Adams Preparatory High School and Fairfax High School.  Literature for Life is our literary arts journal and author in-schools program which is dedicated to sparking the joy of reading and writing in our local public schools.

Tom Coston
President

"These times are stretching all of us. We are called to find new approaches and new ways to do the things we did before. And as the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. We need to be the trail blazers and the role models. Young people we serve deserve our best ideas, our ingenuity. Help us focus on what matters most."
Photo left to right: Jervey Tervalon, author, Leigh Adams, artist, D'arby Rose, filmmaker, Lucas Gorham, musician, Gary Phillips, author, Bianca Ornelas, artist, Jennifer Swain, artist, Maddie Saunders, artist.