PS84

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development wrote about the fantastic photography exhibit of images of the Dominican Republic at PS 84:

On February 1, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) was delighted to take teachers, parents and students of the Brooklyn Visual Arts & Sciences Primary School on an exciting “study tour” to the Dominican Republic. The 50 some scenes of the Dominican Republic were presented through the itinerant photography exhibit, which was displayed in what became an "island oasis" of the school’s cafeteria. The exhibit showcased aerial images from the GFDD and FUNGLODE publication “New Perspectives: Dominican Republic” documenting lesser-known images of the country.

The special “tour”, started off from the welcoming words of the school’s part-Dominican principal, Sereida Rodriguez-Guerra.

Ms. Rodriguez, thanked GFDD and one of the Dominican teachers, Sandra Vizcaino, for initiating such a beautiful exhibition in their school. A large percentage of the school teachers and students are of Latin or Dominican descent and bringing the photography exhibit in, provided the teachers and students with a wonderful opportunity to experience close the land of their heritage.

The trip went on with a presentation of the exhibition by GFDD Executive Director Natasha Despotovic, who mentioned that she is originally from Croatia. A naturalized Dominican, Ms. Despotovic recalled how the exhibit was born in 2004 during a routine flight from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana with Photographer Anne Casale, she came up with an idea of capturing aerial images of the landscape passing below. The images taken were later presented in a form of the book, which was such an overwhelming success, the decision to create a traveling photo exhibition was made which to date has been seen by thousands in countries worldwide. On behalf of GFDD, Natsha thanked the school for its partnership and said that it great pleasure to present to the school audience today. She also hopes that this will be the beginning of a connection with students in the DR through cultural exchange opportunities.The principal also gave a special note of thanks to Dominican-born New York City government official, Jeanne B. Mullgrav, who was in attendance, and Brooklyn political leaders, Joe Lentol and Diana Reyna, for their strong support in advocating youth and community programs at P.S. 84 Jose De Diego Magnet School for the Visual Arts & Sciences. She continued that the school, which has been undergoing a rapid transformation thanks to a popular district-wide dual language program and a huge surge in parent involvement, is currently in the midst of fundraising for an enviormental awareness project for a school rooftop greenhouse.

The photography exhibit trip then came to its most enjoyable part – a reception with the Dominican food made by the students and their parents, some of whom were wearing traditional folkloric Dominican dress. The GFDD team was glad to see so many happy smiles on the faces of the gathered crowd intrigued by the breath-taking images of landscapes of the Dominican Republic. The photography exhibition, in the view of the parents, was extremely educating, interesting and inspiring; it served as a source of pride for those present and successfully reconnected the two big cultures, American and Dominican.

The New Perspectives: Dominican Republic photo exhibit is free and open to the public daily February 1 - March 1, 2013 at PS 84 Cafeteria 250 Berry Street, Brooklyn, NY.

Proceeds from the sale of posters, donated by GFDD, will go to the Greenouse Project at PS 84.

New Perspectives Dominica Republic hardcover book is on sale and can be purchased through the GFDD/New Perspectives websites or on Amazon.

Links:
www.newperspectivesdominicanrepublic.com

Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) is happy to announce it is bringing photography exhibit “New Perspectives: Dominican Republic” the Jose de Diego Magnet School for the Visual Arts & Sciences , PS 84, in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

This represents an invaluable opportunity for GFDD and FUNGLODE to continue in its tradition of connecting with New York City schools through a promotion of Dominican culture and heritage. A large percentage of PS 84 students and its teachers are of Latin or Dominican descent. Through the initiative, GFDD hopes that students of Dominican background, and the New York community at large, will be able to experience up close all thirty three provinces of the Dominican Republic as rarely seen before.

The exhibit will be inaugurated at the school on February 1 at 6pm, and thereafter open to the public, by appointment, Monday through Friday during school hours.

The exhibit will showcase aerial images from the book “New Perspectives: Dominican Republic”, a publication by GFDD, realized by an international interdisciplinary team led by Project Director and Editor-in-Chief, Natasha Despotovic. Over 50 aerial photographs, by Dominican-based photographer Anne Casale, will be on display, depicting scenes from the thirty three provinces and will represent nine conceptual categories – reflections of light, coasts, heights, plains, history, city, people, tourism and work – and commemorate the country’s achievements in the areas of economic, social, environmental and democratic progress.

The exhibition has been shown with great success both nationally and in Spain, the United States, and Chile. Through the initiative, GFDD and FUNGLODE seek to expand and enrich understanding of the Dominican Republic.

Dates:

February 1- March 1, 2013
Location: PS 84 Cafeteria
250 Berry Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Opening: Friday, February 1, 2013 @ 6pm

www.newperspectivesdominicanrepublic.com

The Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) teaching method and school curriculum centers on open-ended yet highly-structured discussions of visual art, significantly increasing students' critical thinking, language and literacy skills along the way.

Through VTS' rigorous and engaging individual and group 'problem-solving' process, students cultivate a willingness and ability to present their own ideas, while respecting and learning from the perspectives of their peers.

Through VTS training programs for schools and museums, educators learn to facilitate student-centered discussions, engaging learners in a rigorous process of examination and meaning-making through visual art that has been carefully selected for age and developmental appropriateness.

Experience with VTS produces growth in all students, from challenged and non-English language learners to high achievers. In addition, teachers enjoy the process and benefit from a new approach that reaches all students and is useful across their practice.

History

VTS has been molded and refined over the past 30 years based on ongoing research by VTS co-founder, Abigail Housen. Abigail first developed VTS as an effective teaching strategy based on her theory of aesthetic development.

Abigail's theory describes the viewer's experience of the visual world, and specifically of visual art. Abigail's research has influenced every aspect of the VTS program which was developed to accommodate the strengths and needs of viewers at different aesthetic stages. 

Process

Students are presented with a work of art and asked to discuss ‘what is going on in this picture’. The teacher guides the conversation with lose prompts dictated by the questions and comments of the students.

Iris Rodriguez, one of PS84‘s Dual Language Kindergarten teachers gave her perspective on using VTS in our classrooms:

The VTS program that PS 84 uses allows all of the children in a class to offer opinions about the piece of art they are observing. The children are offered the opportunity to develop verbal skills, as well
as thinking skills. Everyones thoughts and comments about a piece are "right", there are no wrong answers. The children gain confidence by expressing themselves in a group setting. They also learn to how to substantiate their opinions by answering the question, "What do you see that makes you say that?”. My kindergarteners enjoy talking about the art work that is presented to them during our VTS sessions.

One of Mrs. Rodriguez’s students offered this:

“Well, it’s really relaxing and we all end up seeing different things in the pictures, like we end up talking about if we think its a lady or a boy and we all have different comments. It’s like a good test for people who don’t see so well and a good test for your brain. We end up talking about new things altogether.” 

Pre-K and Kindergarten students are eligible for Cool Culture Family Passes, which provide admission to  90 of NYC’s cultural institutions . The Family Pass helps parents, grandparents and caregivers to give their children cultural experiences that cultivate a love of learning. The programs aim to help parents play an active role as their child's first teacher.

These institutions include: Brooklyn Botanic Garden,  Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Brooklyn Museum,  New York Transit Museum, Museum of Modern Art , The Drawing Center,  American Museum of Natural History,

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Sony Wonder Technology Lab, Children's Museum of the Arts …..just to name a few!

Training, Cool Culture Fair and other outreach activities provide support for the extensive network of educators known as "Cultural Liaisons." Liaisons encourage families to visit cultural institutions, and offer parents techniques to make their visits as enriching as possible for children.

Ms. Wendy (Pre-K, 130), had this to say about the Cool Culture Pass:

“The Cool Culture Pass is a brilliant way for the children and parents to engage in a variety of age appropriate learning opportunities, focusing on the arts, museums and zoos. It allows families as a whole to enjoy cultural events together promoting a love for learning while enjoying family time, too”.