September 3, 2014, Miami, FL– Arts for Learning/Miami (A4L) presents Synthesis, an exhibition by Lewis Arts Studio (LAS) alumni. This exhibition will feature works of art by current magnet and non-magnet high school students who are former participants of A4L’s LAS program. The opening reception for Synthesis will take place on Saturday, September 6th, 2014 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM at The Lewis Arts Studio (101 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, FL 33133).
The six participating LAS alumni currently attend Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH), iMater High School (iMHS) and Miami Beach Senior High (MBSH). This exhibition includes works by Giselle Betancourt (iMHS), Sarah Birba (MBSH), Joseph Canizales (DASH), Julien Roberson (DASH), Cayla Scholz (DASH), and Maria Zalazar (MBSH).
This second LAS alumni exhibition marks the culmination of the week-long LAS Alumni Institute, led by A4L Master Teaching Artist, visual artist Yanira Collado. During this five-day intensive studio program, LAS alumni engaged in a series of exercises that involved varied forms of research, reflection upon personal and public history, contemporary music, ethics and world cartography. LAS alumni collaborated conceptually to produce artwork and take part in all facets of the production of Synthesis, including the curating, installing and marketing the exhibition.
“This experience provides these students with something unique – insight into their own creative process,” relates Janet Evans, A4L Program Director. “Students were introduced to sophisticated concepts of art-making that helped them become more sensitive to their artistic decisions and methods. Students learned to think more deeply about why they make art and what they want to say with their art.”
The Lewis Arts Studio Program and its Alumni program are made possible through the generous backing of the Jonathan D. Lewis Foundation. The LAS program provides intensive arts training to interested middle school students for five full days a week, throughout a four-week summer program. Throughout the school year, participants meet on a monthly basis to develop further their artistic technique and prepare for high school, including magnet school auditions. Students receive instruction from professional artists, and participate in excursions to local cultural organizations (such as Perez Art Museum Miami and Miami Dade College Museum of Art + Design), as well as artist studios.
The Lewis Arts Studio Alumni Program is designed to provide continued camaraderie and peer support for students who participated in the LAS program and have progressed to high school and beyond. The LAS alumni meet bi-monthly to enhance their artistic growth, exhibit their work publicly, participate in artistic competitions and meet with professionals in the arts.
The programs provide full, multi-year, need-based scholarship awards to eligible students. For more information on LAS or to apply to the programs, visit www.a4lmiami.org, or kindly contact Janet Evans, Program Director, at [email protected], or 305.576.1212, ext. 30.