On this month long journey, we will explore the lives and works of the following 20th/21st centuries prominent African-American artists while creating artwork. 

Augusta Savage 
Alma Thomas 
Kehinde Wiley   
Bisa Butler

Each weekly session we will focus on one visual artist of color who has made significant contributions to the art community. I will show the students how to a create colorful, mixed-media collage paintings or an art project that will honor the artist’s work. Students are encouraged to include elements for added texture such as rhinestones, buttons, yarn, fabric, ribbon and newspaper/magazine clippings. The painting, crafting and collage techniques we will be using are simple in execution, therefore students will not have to know how to draw in order to produce beautiful, powerful, artistic pieces. We will apply these same mixed-media collage techniques to each canvas (except the Augusta Savage piece). Consequently, students will grow in their artistic expression across all four works.

We will apply paint and other media in stages. As we work, I will share some interesting facts about the featured artist. We will explore information available about their lives such as their childhoods and how they became artists. I will show pictures or videos (Youtube) of the artist’s work and encourage students to critique and learn art terminology. All the information will be age-appropriate with the aim of honoring the person’s artistry and whetting the students' appetites for learning about art history.

Session 1- August Savage
Camp attendees will learn how to make a project honoring Harlem Renaissance, sculptor Augusta Savage famous for her own work and influencing the careers of other African-American artists.

Session 2- Alma Thomas
Camp attendees will learn how to make an abstract painting/project honoring the work of painter and educator Alma Thomas who was famous for her "color field" style of abstract paintings.

Session 3- Kehinde Wiley
Camp attendees will learn how to make a collage-painting honoring the work of sculptor, painter Kehinde Wiley who became internationally known for painting the official presidential and first lady portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama. 

Session 4- Bisa Butler
Camp attendees will learn how to make a collage painting project honoring the work Bisa Butlter an up and coming  African-American, textile artist appreciated for her vibrantly colored and intricately designed portrait quilts.