MSAC Cartoonist Society's Christmas Sketchbook Scavenger Hunt

 

On Monday, December 17, members of the Memphis Street Academy Cartoonist Society (an afterschool Club House activity) journeyed downtown to Center City Philadelphia with pencils and handmade sketchbooks in tow. The purpose of the trip was to have a "Sketchbook Scavenger Hunt", sketching something different at each stop.

Students first had lunch at the Reading Terminal Market, where they got to see the enormous toy train set, and then did some people-watching. As they ate their lunches and snacks, the young cartoonists were instructed to discreetly sketch other folks eating at the Terminal's cafeteria. 

After the Terminal, students headed over to Macy's to watch the legendary holiday light show and listen to the John Wannamaker organ. Once the light show was finished, students hung around to draw the giant eagle statue in front of the Christmas tree.

Later, the Cartoonist Society headed upstairs to the Dickens Village animatronic Scrooge show. Unfortunately, the show moved too fast and it was too dark to draw there. However, the students were cheered up as we concluded the trip by crowding up Santa for a group photo. Although Memphis Street Academy Charter is a middle school, our students are never too old to take a moment to return to fun times of younger childhood days. All in all, it was a great trip and a great way to build holiday memories.

Happy Holidays from the Memphis Street's Drummer Boys!

Memphis Street Art Students in the News!

A recent Olde City art show featuring local famous artists and our amazing students was covered in Broad Street Media this week. Please CLICK HERE to read the story!

A great big THANKS goes to Lisa Silveri for facilitating this event, and to Frances Connolly for all of her help.

Memphis Street Artists Design Cards for CcTC Kids

Some of our Fifth Grade artists show off their handmade holiday cards.

This holiday season, many of the art students at Memphis Street Academy Charter School designed cards for the children and staff in the Therapeutic Nursery at the Children's Crisis Treatment Center of Philadelphia (CcTC). CcTC is an amazing place of healing for children in the area.

  

Eighth Grader Anastacia Perez gave a framed Christmas-themed comic featuring her favorite Disney characters.

When the young artists heard the story of the strength and resilience of the children at CcTC, they were happy to "pay it forward" by spreading some holiday cheer. Pictured above is one of the 5th grade classes who designed cards. Our scholars decorated their little handmade masterpieces with assorted holiday imagery to warm the heart of a CcTC child or staff member.

At first, I thought I was teaching students a lesson on why it is better to give than receive. However, when I saw how hard these students worked and read the heartfelt messages inside the cards, I realized they are all well aware of the power of sharing and generosity.

To read more about CcTC, you can click here go to their website.

Friday "Jam-n-Draw" in Room 100

Click on the photo to see a larger version

Last Friday afternoon, as the Memphis Street Academy Cartoonist Society held their meeting in Art Room 100, some very special musical guests dropped in for a pleasant surprise. Music teacher Joe McNichols walked in, unpacked his trumpet, and started playing "When the Saints Go Marching In". Many students continued to draw. Some joined in (as they are also musicians as well as visual artists). Mr. McNichols then improvised with students who taught him "Friend Like Me" from the upcoming school play "Aladdin". This is a testament to how hard Ms. Van Orden has been working with these kids. They love these songs and look forward to our Spring Musical.

Next thing, Engagement Coach Mr. Fred "Sojo" walked in with his violin and started to jam with Mr. McNichols and some of our students. Little Candace brought out her flute and played us some notes. A few students sang along. The gang played Christmas carols and many other tunes as our students continued to work diligently on their cartoons. Several teachers, who were leaving for the weekend, stopped in to hear the music and say hi.

These after school clubs provide a fun, less busy time, when things can relax and slow down. It is during times like this that I see exactly how much our students are growing and learning. They are SO smart and amazing. These are also the times when I can see how the faculty and staff of Memphis Street Academy are growing as a community and family. Moments like this strengthen my faith in this school, my coworkers, and especially our students.

Mark Scheidegg, 8th Grade

This work was created by Mark Scheidegg, an 8th grader at Memphis Street Academy Charter School. He has been creating art for a long time. What influenced him to take art seriously was when he won an art contest in the second grade. He would like to eventually attend an art school where he can focus more seriously on his art.

"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.

Memphis Street Academy Drum Line.

Congratulations Memphis Street Academy Drum Line!!!

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.

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.