At times, Black History Month seems to be focused on the national heroes: the figures that went down in the history books for shaking up the political or social system, who were considered innovators or groundbreakers. But what about the local figures, the unsung heroes, our own community celebrities? For the Black Artstory Month exhibit title “Local Heroes”, PS 20 art teacher, Magin Schantz, encouraged students to create portraits of someone they consider to be a hero or an inspiration. Here is more about their process, and reflections from the students themselves. The work is on view at DC Optics all month, as part of an avenue-wide Black Artstory Month exhibition that includes 20+ artists at 10 Myrtle locations. Download the Art Walk map here and take a self-guided tour!

Drawing Mr. Parker

Born in Harlem in 1930, Warren Parker has been living and making art on Myrtle Avenue for decades. Mr. Parker visited the students in their classroom, where they turned the tables on the artist, making him the subject of these chalk portraits. Students worked to capture his likeness while also experimenting with different techniques of using chalk pastels. After the drawing session, students were able to view Mr. Parker’s work and engage in a dialogue with him about art. “Last Thursday when we were going to art, Ms. Schantz, our art teacher, surprised us with a very special artist and made us draw him. It was very fun, trying to capture all the features on him and light and dark spots that shone on him. I really liked drawing Mr. Parker and when we saw his drawings they were very creative and inspiring.” – Jordan Scantlebury, 4th Grade

Drawing Mr. Hampton

Lonnie Hampton is PS 20’s beloved music teacher, and also a talented jazz musician outside of the classroom.  He came to visit in order to collaborate on a gesture drawing exercise. Students drew him quickly and energetically while he played saxophone, working to capture a joyful, rhythmic spirit in their work rather than a realistic likeness. His love of music, and their love for him, is captured in these watercolor painting. “What I liked about drawing Mr. Hampton is that I got to learn a lot of new stuff. I liked that he was moving a little so it made it a little harder, I like that he made the class happy.” – Zuffy Cazabon, 4th grade

Role Model Collages

Students were assigned different celebrities who have various ties to Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, and were asked to deconstruct and reconstruct images as a way of relating their own artistic style to that of the role model they were investigating. These mixed media collages re-imagine some of Fort Greene’s living legends, who helped to establish our neighborhood’s reputation as an incubator for important African American artists, and include Erykah Badu, Saul Williams, Yasin Bey (Mos Def), and Spike Lee. “I like Saul Williams because I like acting and I want to act. I also want to do other things. I like art because you get to express your feelings in your drawing.”  –  Jahlil White, 4th grade

DC Optics is located at 390 Myrtle Avenue, between Clermont and Vanderbilt.