In honor of Black history month in February and Women’s history month in March, artists at J.O. Wilson studied Alma Woodsey Thomas, a pioneering artist and educator. A DC public middle school teacher for 38 years, she was the first graduate of Howard University’s art department. She was also the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the first Black woman to have work acquired by the White House. An abstract expressionist, she avoided political or social commentary, once saying “Through color, I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man’s inhumanity to man.”
Under the guidance of Karen Kelly and Elizabeth Wyrsch-Ba, the young artists focused on Thomas’s Color Field paintings, achieving a similar effect by using construction paper tesserae to create mosaics. This introduced them to both the history of mosaics and an understanding of what is meant by “expressionist” art.
The Young Artists Gallery is a rotating exhibit on the ground floor of Hill Center. Swing by to see these projects in person!
Alejandro – 5th
Anziyah – 5th
Ayesiga- kindergarten
Bella – 5th
Blythe – kindergarten
Brooklyn – 2nd
Chassidy – 5th
Cherry Blossoms- Brick and Blocks Pre K 3 class
Christian – 5th
Declan – 2nd
Demario – 2nd
Eamon – 5th
Esperanza – 2nd
Ethan – 2nd
Gaby – 5th
Grace – Kindergarten
Greydi – 5th
Jaylen – kindergarten
Jermaine – 5th
Jesiah – kindergarten
Jordyn – 2nd
Journee – 2nd
Jurnie – kindergarten
Justin – 2nd
Kanay – 5th
Kayden – kindergarten
Kevin – 5th
Khalil – 5th
Kyle – 5th
Landyn – 2nd
Laneshia – 5th
London – 2nd
Luciana – 5th
Marcus – 5th
Mason – kindergarten
Omar – 5th
Roxie – 2nd
Safiyah – 2nd
Savannah – 5th
Sebastian – 2nd
Solana – kindergarten
Xavier – 5th
