Thursday, August 6, 2009

More Summer Arts in the City

Another huge Thank You to ANDA (Allentown Neighborhood Development Alliance)’s Neighborhood Partnership Program, funded by KNBT and PPL, for another day of Summer Arts in the City. On Wednesday, August 5, 2009, through ANDA arts programming, Old Allentown Preservation Association treated 27 local teenagers to a day of arts in the city, the second such session. The teens enjoyed a two hour visit to the Allentown Art Museum, featuring the exhibit, Fashion in Film. After viewing and learning a bit about the many portraits downstairs, the teens explored the thirty two costumes on display upstairs. The period costumes captured their imaginations, all the while absorbing valuable historical information, and connecting the past with today. The teens had a chance to put their creativity to use by learning how to insert dyed wool into felt in the museum’s Crayola Learning Center. This project became the cover of a journal they put together for themselves to take with them back home. But it wasn’t time to go just yet! Just outside the museum, across the street at the Arts Park, the teenagers had a delicious lunch of gourmet deli wraps from Plaza Deli waiting for them. And, after eating, Alfonso Todd (BLURB Media/Promotions), presented “Hip Hop Interactive.” Alfonso and the teens had fun taking turns dancing and learning new steps from each other while discussing their surroundings and how the ‘hip hop’ lifestyle affects themselves, their family and friends, and schools. There were many smiles to be seen.

1 comment:

Scott Ott said...

Thank you for helping to introduce the next generation to the pleasure and the mind-stretching power of the arts. The fact that this program is privately-funded provides an example worth emulating, and a challenge to other corporations and individuals to get involved. As someone who started a non-profit that saved the historic Embassy Theatre in Lewistown, I just wanted to encourage you.
Scott Ott, candidate
Lehigh County Executive