If you’ve shopped at MFTA in the last month, you may have noticed some new art near the check-in counter and in the video room. This summer MFTA is lending our Education Gallery to student artists from the Visual ARTS initiative of the Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation. SASF, an MFTA recipient since 1999, provides after school programming for more than 25,000 low-income students in over 150 schools citywide. The Visual ARTS initiative gives students access to art and art-making. Almost 100 student artists from 30 schools are represented here.
The range of mediums and styles is testament to the breadth of the program, from photographs, prints, and cyanotypes to drawings, paintings, and collages. There is also a large cityscape in the gallery that was made by 5th and 6th grade students from IS 125 Q. Students were asked attached comments to their artworks, telling us their inspiration or describing the subject or how the work makes them feel. One student said that his Mondrian-inspired drawing looks like “rush hour in the big city,” while another noted that he felt happy while creating art. We couldn’t be happier ourselves to display these artworks this summer. Be sure to check out this show next time you are at MFTA!
The Education Gallery at MFTA is open to the public weekdays from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free. Groups of nine or more must schedule their visit to the gallery at least 48 hours in advance by calling 718-729-2165.