Art Opens The Door To Imagination and Education In New York, By Melody Schubert

While I admit I have set aside my paint brush to highlight unique travel destinations across America, I am still a Artist. My tools are a pen, pencil or keyboard that I use to paint a picture of America's Backyard. Art is in my blood, and soon Art will inspire students throughout New York!

The first event - the Young at Art event - held in September is an innovative New York City arts education initiative that kicked-off the second phase of the program. Sponsors included the celebrated gallery owner Mary Boone (credited with discovering artists including Jean Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, David Salle, Barbara Kruger, etc.), the Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, the Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer that was joined by young volunteers and school children who painted and restored the entranceway to MS 131 at 100 Hester Street, located between Eldridge and Forsyth.

During this event the group transformed the school's entrance using the colors of Oriole, Neon Celery, Banana Yellow, Apple Green and Yosemite Blue in a weave pattern inspired by artwork the children of MS 131 created. M.S. 131 will be the first of 30 public schools to see a transformation of a public space through art, courtesy of this new philanthropic project. The program sponsor, Mary Boone, will be joined by New York City Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein, Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer, Ruth Lande Shuman, President and Founder of Publicolor, representatives from the Fund for Public Schools, the children from MS 131 and a large group of young volunteers.

In the first phase of Young at Art , students in 30 schools across New York City created a unique work of art based on a new curriculum, which teaches the relationship between art and the environment. In the second phase, a public space in all participating 30 schools is to be restored, inspired by the artwork created by the students.

Young at Art was formed in the past year by a unique public-private joint venture between renowned art gallery owner Mary Boone, the not-for-profit organizations Publicolor and The Fund for Public Schools and the New York City school system. Through this initiative, a portion of the proceeds from Gallery sales is also being donated to improve the arts education in New York City schools.