Sunday, October 28, 2012

"We're Not Invisible. We Want To Be Seen."

Our music teachers gathered our students last week for an impromptu recording of Memphis Street Academy Charter's school song. The song, written by music teacher Mr. Joe McNichols, is a work in progress (like all of us). The song exemplifies Memphis Street Academy's first year, stressing the points of turning around, making changes, and reaching great heights. Every day, we see miles in inches from our students as we grow together as a school. It's amazing to see how much progress has been made, even in one month.

I once heard Jim Henson reiterate on old Native American proverb, “We do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." Please take a look at these amazing students. We learn from them as much as we teach.


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Memphis Academy Student Showcase - Fall 2012

Every day, we see glimpses of magic and wild imagination in Memphis Street Academy Charter School's art and music students. Showcased below you will see some of our overachieving visual arts students. These five scholars brought their own work in from home. They take art very seriously, carry their work around in binders and folders. They aim high, even when sitting at the kitchen table and drawing at home. Please look through our very first art showcase to see just a few examples of our prodigious students' work. We are so proud of them...

Zaijian Romanowski is an eighth grader who has been drawing his entire life. He has been influenced by his cousin who works in a tattoo parlor, where Zaijan has spent days studying and redrawing the work on the walls and in the flash books. He plans on continuing with art throughout his life, even though he has other interests (like playing on our flag football team).






Neffera Hart, a 7th grade scholar, has been drawing since she was four years old. Her work is highly influenced by animated cartoons. She is also inspired by her sister, mother, and father. Neffera puts a lot of time and effort into all of her work, and it shows. She plans on pursuing art in high school and beyond, because she believes she is full of "hidden skills" that have not yet been discovered.






Anastacia Perez, an eighth grader at Memphis Street Academy, has been making art since she was nine years old. Her father would always draw at home, so he is her major artistic influence. Anastacia likes to work in many different styles and all media - from pencil to paint. When asked what she'd like people to know about her artwork, Anastacia stated, "I'd like people to know that I put a lot of work into my art, that it is art work."



  





Bahiyah Ware, a 7th grader, was recently awarded a full scholarship to the University of the Arts Saturday Arts Lab program. Bahiyah has been drawing since she was four, and is also a member of Memphis Street's first Arts Club. He work shows a strong influence of both street art and cartoons. Bahiyah's father taught her how to draw, and she plans on one day becoming a famous artist and maybe even an art teacher, so she can share her gift with others.





 

Josh Figueroa is an eighth grade student inspired mainly by Anime cartoons. He has been drawing all his life, and has been influenced by his brother, who also draws. He is proud of his work and would one day like to exhibit in a solo gallery show.






Friday, October 12, 2012

Welcome!

Welcome to the Memphis Street Academy's Arts Blog. This site will feature the work of many of our amazingly creative scholars. Every day, our students surprise and inspire us. We are so proud of our students and their work. We love to show off their amazing talents. This site will be used to showcase their accomplishments in visual arts and musical performance.

To learn more about Memphis Street Academy and its overall mission, please CLICK HERE to visit our website.