ArtsWestchester’s ArtsMobile and Teen Tuesdays & Thursdays Workshop are Now Virtual
Once social distancing became the norm, ArtsWestchester took its ArtsMobile and Teen Tuesdays & Thursdays offerings to a new level—virtual. Recognizing that these programs could no longer function in person, they reached out to its roster of teaching artists, who stepped up to the challenge. Before long, both programs went digital, each offering one new art-making workshop every week, all of which are made public for anyone interested in participating.
These virtual workshops use mostly household or recycled items for supplies. The featured crafts and activities don’t require special materials. Some don’t require any at all, like Marion Jones-Archer’s African drum and dance lesson. Additional ArtsMobile workshops include folk songs for the family, paper crafts commonly made in Mexico, and more. These workshops, made possible with support from Con Edison and White Plains Hospital, are uploaded every Wednesday.
Teen Tuesdays & Thursdays programs engage students aged 12-17 years old while using minimal supplies. For instance, Dhanashree Gadiyar leads students through an Indian folk art drawing exercise in which instant coffee is used instead of ink. Other workshop topics include collage selfies and symmetrical drawing. While schools are closed, these activities provide meaningful literary, performing and visual art workshops led by professional teaching artists. New Teen Tuesdays & Thursdays workshops are uploaded each Tuesday.
For many of us, our entire world has been flipped upside down. Our homes are no longer just homes: dining rooms are now classrooms, bedrooms are offices and kitchens function as if they are full-time restaurants. On top of that, we’ve been forced to seek new avenues to serve students, families and communities. While the practice of social distancing prevents exposure to COVID-19, it has also had a negative impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of mental health recipients – but drummer Ronnie Negro is working to combat isolation and keep these recipients’ spirits up.
A version of this article first appeared in the June issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.