4th Observation at VYAS- The Art Opening
My friend and I were very excited to attend the Santaella Studios for the Arts’ art opening. Santaella Studios doesn’t just house the Vosler Young Artists’ Studio but other artists like, Indi Film Makers, jewelry designers, and printmakers. There are over forty studios and two galleries featured in the old Santaella Cigar Factory in West Tampa.
Mrs. Vosler invited me to come to the opening to see the students’ as wells as the other presenting artists’ works. She informed me that she was going to hire a merman for the students to draw as the art opening took place. I was very eager to see how the students would take part of this.
So as my friend and I arrived at the old cigar building at 7 pm on Friday we saw a lot of people nicely dressed for the occasion, entering the building. When we approached the second floor where the Vosler Young Artists’ Studio was located we saw about twenty or more people in the hallway going in and out of different studios. As we stepped inside the studio spectators looking at the four students drawing the 11-year-old merman greeted us. The students were relaxed and talking but still working. I was amazed to see the work they crafted within one hour. My friend noticed that none of the students were drawing the merman’s fin but focused on his face. So I asked the students if they were going to draw his fin and they stated no because they did not have a good drawing perspective. They allowed me to take pictures of their work and after I went to go see Mrs. Vosler in her studio. She was very happy and busy talking with other viewers. I was able to talk with her about the students’ work and how good they were doing. I told her I was surprised that they didn’t draw the fin on the merman and she told me that she didn’t mind and that she wanted them to have fun with it.
I thought this art opening was beneficial to me as an artist and art educator. It allowed me to see how students can be active during an art opening. I thought this was a great example for showing how Mrs. Vosler engages the community and home to support students’ learning, which is part of the Florida’s Educators Accomplished Practices.