Harvard-backed program brings out creativity in third-graders
It may have been hanging a bit over their heads, but that didn’t stop Gardner Pilot Academy students from noticing their colorful art prominently featured at the Harvard Ed Portal’s Crossings Gallery in Allston. The excitement of seeing their creativity on display was palpable during the opening reception for “Magnificent Mosaics and Spectacular Self-Portraits: Works by GPA Third Graders” on June 7. More than three-dozen young artists and their families attended the event celebrating the students’ self-portraits, mosaic tiles, and abstract paintings. The exhibition capped an educational initiative that began last fall, when a team of faculty and staff from Gardner Pilot Academy, the Harvard Art Museums, and the Ed Portal united to create an experiential learning program for third-graders. “An overarching goal of our collaboration is to help students harness their passion for learning, creativity, and curiosity,” said David Odo, director of student programs and research curator of University collections initiatives at...