LOCAL>> Architects in Schools: Designing Community – online exhibit

2nd Friday Virtual Art Walk Opening:
* June 12, 6:00 pm

Exhibition dates:  May 29 – August 6

How do you build Towers of Power? What should San Rafael’s next library look like? What would a revitalized downtown need to thrive?

Third, fourth and fifth graders at Laurel Dell Elementary School in San Rafael spent 12 weeks in Youth in Arts’ Architects in Schools program learning “design thinking” skills. The drawings and models they created will be showcased in the online exhibition. The celebration will coincide with San Rafael’s 2nd Friday Art Walk, which will be held virtually.

Students in the program looked at what makes a community thrive and tackled real world problems like affordable housing and climate change. Third graders who studied 4th street also came up with innovative ideas for making it more safe, welcoming and fun.

Youth in Arts’ Architects in Schools program has been at Laurel Dell for four years and grew out of a partnership between Youth in Arts and UC Berkeley’s YPLAN/Center for Cities + Schools. It is part of a K-5th sequential arts program in which skills are built upon from year to year.  This Fall, the program was extended to include students at Short Elementary School; their work is included in the show.

The online exhibition will include a bilingual discussion with Laurel Dell and Short Principal Pepe Gonzalez. Viewers can also enjoy a video that is a virtual tour of the art, which includes Towers of Powers built by fourth graders from wood scraps; observational drawings; and fifth graders’ plans for how to create a welcoming entrance to San Rafael’s future library.

4th & 5th Grade Architects in Schools Video Link
3rd Grade Architects in Schools Video Link

Visit our YouTube channel on Friday at 6pm for the Art Walk presentation.