International artists visit Boyertown classes
Studio B, Foundation for Boyertown Education program brings worldly experience to students
Throughout the week of Sept. 5, artists from New Zealand, Thailand and South Korea visited Boyertown high school and middle schools to meet with art and life skills classes. Each artist held workshops corresponding to their areas of focus.
Chutima “Nok” Kerdpitak, a multidisciplinary artist born in Thailand and currently living in the United Kingdom, curated the “Asia Pacific” exhibition recently on display at Studio B. During her time with the students, after she spoke about her own work, she had the class create a story collage. Students were given various materials and were told to come up with some kind of story.
“You can do whatever you like; try to imitate my process,” Nok told the students.
“The insight into the lives and culture of artists from around the world — through their work and their presence in our rural small town — is of immeasurable value in the education of our young people,” said Jane Stahl, Studio B’s Director of Community Relations.
Tessi Melchior, executive director for the Foundation for Boyertown Education, coordinated the fundraising through the sponsorship of Body-Borneman Insurance Company, the United Way of Boyertown, the Melchior Family, and Fred Beans Ford of Boyertown.
“We came up with the idea as a result of meeting with Jane in the studio about bringing artists from across the globe to come and deliver art to the students,” said Melchior. Following that meeting, the foundation worked to gather the funding to bring the artists to Boyertown for the week. “Part of my goal is to collaborate with other local nonprofits so that we can decrease the burden on the funders.”
Sculptor and multi-disciplinary Jenny Hartley of New Zealand held a workshop at the high school using computers. Her interest is how animals have been moved around the planets and the effects on environment.
“Some of them did some really amazing work. It gives them something to think about – global connections and repercussions,” said Hartley. She went on to say how they have received “champion hospitality” during their visit.
Melchior said by working collectively, the foundation and nonprofits can continue to provide educational activities that are “outside the box” for the students.