EMPOWERING YOUNG VOICES THROUGH THE ARTS
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*cover photo and black and white photos above by Zoe Foxe
OUR PHILOSOPHY
- The Portland Child Art Studio is inspired by the Berkeley Child Art Studio, which was led by Miriam de Uriarte in Berkeley, CA during the 1970s through the 1990s.
- The mission of PCAS is to support the perceptual development of children through artistic learning. Our understanding of child perceptual development and the teaching practices that we develop around these ideas was given to us by Rhoda Kellogg. Rhoda was a "psychologist, scholar and child educator who collected and studied children’s art over the course of her lifetime. From 1948 to 1981, Kellogg collected several million drawings made by children, ages 2 through 6, as they scribbled to teach themselves to draw. Kellogg’s thesis was that universal patterns and developmental stages can be found in a study of children’s art." (http://rhodakellogg.com)
- Rhoda Kellogg's developmental stages in art lead us to understand how shapes and compositions are practiced and extracted through scribbling, how they add shapes together to create more complex forms, how composite forms evolve into contour drawings, etc. Working from the premise that a child's artistic expression naturally progresses in its own way as they grow, PCAS offers a developmentally appropriate and child-centered learning approach. Our studio supports each child's unique art practice by providing them with the creative space, high quality art materials, and the encouragement and support they need to thrive in the studio.
- PCAS is deeply committed to the enriching process of making art over the product that is created. A teacher at PCAS does not direct the children to make art in any specific or 'right' way, nor do we pass judgment on what the children create. A teacher's role at PCAS is to be a resource to the students; introducing new art materials, discussing ideas and themes within art, and demonstrating new art techniques while supporting the students in making the art they want to create. With a growing knowledge of the studio materials and tools, and using the magic of their imaginations, students are able to bring their own stories to life in their art practice. It is this connection between information, exploration, and imaginative directive that creates a powerful learning experience, leading the children to become knowledgeable, confident, and independent both inside and outside the studio environment.
- Through each session of classes, teachers at PCAS look for patterns within each child's body of work. Acknowledging a student's creative process and finding the common thread that connects their pieces allows us to understand the creative choices that a child makes over and over again. Some kids choose a repeating subject, like Maayan's dogs below. Some kids use a repeating color palette, like June's pink and black painting series below. Some kids are deeply curious about exploring the abstract qualities of color and shape and pattern, like Kylie's painting series below. Some kids make art through a framework that is narrative, or conceptual. Some kids really prefer 3-dimensional art making over 2D art, or vice versa. Our most powerful teaching tool at PCAS is the knowledge we gain when we understand a child's creative process, because it allows us to speak directly to each child about their work, giving them the words and language they need to talk about their art. With a deeper perspective of their own art, children are also able to see the unique qualities in the artwork of other children, leading to a general decrease in competition and feelings of inadequacy and leading to a visible increase in their appreciation for everyone's unique creative process.
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- Lastly, at PCAS, making art is a process accompanied by joy. We whole-heartedly believe in the power of exploration, play, discovery, and joy as the foundation upon which children begin to build a life-long relationship with art.
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Portland Child Art Studio is blessed to have a fantastic team of teachers and volunteers, as well as a very supportive Board of Directors. Below is a brief introduction to the team that brings this organization to life.
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The Portland Child Art Studio was cofounded in 2012 by Devon Mitchell, Executive Director and Hannah Mickunas, Founder. Their efforts were guided by Miriam de Uriarte, who founded and directed the Berkeley Child Art Studio in California for over 25 years. Devon Mitchell herself attended the Berkeley Child Art Studio for ten years, beginning at age two. It is this foundational childhood experience in a playful studio environment that inspired her to pursue both an artistic career in painting as an adult as well as to recreate a child art studio in Portland, OR. For more information about Miriam de Uriarte and the Berkeley Child Art Studio, please visit her website at www.miraarte.org (Pictured right: Miriam de Uriarte and Devon Mitchell)
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OUR STUDIO DIRECTOR, TEACHERS, AND PARTNERS
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Kiana Lamberton, PCAS Director of Programs and Operations, is a multiracial teaching artist based in Portland, where she graduated with a BFA from Pacific Northwest College of Art. Kiana joined the PCAS team after working with Vibe of Portland, a beloved sister art organization. She enjoys working with various mediums and, in her own practice, explores natural materials through illustration, ceramics, dying fibers with plants, and concocting biodegradable-plastics. In her words, she has found that the act of making nurtures a sense of independence, whether that be the expression of a thought (maybe a non thought), or the act of creating something that functions (or not) in day to day life. The ways, the hows, the whats, and the whys are endless and kids understand that. She continues learning from them every day.
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Zoe Foxe, teacher, grew up surrounded by art in the city of Los Angeles, and art has remained a constant in her life as she has moved and traveled to new places. Zoe attended Cal-Poly Humboldt and majored in Environmental Studies, attending as many art classes as possible and falling in love with film photography. Zoe is connected with creators of all walks of life, from all over the states, who all find the beauty in life being a creation itself. She is thrilled to connect with the PCAS community.
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Maxwell Howard, teacher, is an artist living in SE Portland who is eager to contribute to caring communities. They have always enjoyed supporting people’s dreams of expression, working and playing with ceramics, paint, collage, photography, dance, music, writing, cooking, and much more. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley and studying anthropology at UC Santa Cruz, Maxwell was exposed to an intergenerational practice of sharing art and nuanced perspectives. They were heavily involved in the Summer Art Academy which encouraged their desire to find belonging in relationships of boundless creation. Whether it be from the brave movements of a new or old friend, they appreciate and cherish all stories shared.
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Allur Duffy, teacher, is an artist focused in repair & reuse and who endeavors to be a loving community member wherever they find themself. Allur studied the science and art of filmmaking at Emerson College and fell in love with light, sound, visual art, design and the theatrical arts- determined to bring sustainable design to the field. They have studied and traveled all around Turtle Island & the world incorporating experience, observation and stories from Earths people into their understanding of the children in all of us. Allur recently completed a certificate program at PCC in Interactivity Design & Sonic Arts. They are very excited to use all they know to assist the brilliant young artists in their expression & creation!
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John Vance, teaching partner, is a Portland-based painter, illustrator, and muralist with a BFA in illustration received from Parsons School of Design in NYC in 2004. In addition to creating his own work, John also works with youth programs to bring positive art-making projects, workshops, and classes to kids in the Portland area since 2009. He has worked locally with the YMCA, Portland Child Art Studio, PNCA, Randall's Children Hospital, Skyline Elementary School, Village Home School, and Sun-School after-school programming. His favorite activities include painting, playing music, moonlight bike rides, watching old movies, and camping. And cats. And naps.
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Aaron Bocanegra, teaching partner, is an interdisciplinary visual artist based near Portland. He received his BFA in Fine Art Photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology and his MFA from the Art Center College of Design. Aaron has been a professor of art and technology since 2005. After working in LA for the last 20 years he returned to Portland in 2020. His art research has taken him throughout North and South America. As a Latino artist and educator he has a deep personal interest in inclusionary art history and practices. His art practice includes 2D and 3D work both physically and digitally, using photography, sculpture, woodworking, metal working, filmmaking, painting, technology, light installations, and immersive interactive environments. He is excited to join the Portland Child Art Studio.
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OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Jakola, President of the Board, has long admired the unique child art that kids make at PCAS. Michael brings a strong business background to PCAS, with many years of sales and marketing management experience in the art publishing business coupled with local art gallery and real estate industry experience. He is passionate about team building and strategic planning and enriches our Board’s commitment to successfully serve children in our community.
Wendy Mitchell, Vice President and Secretary, has a Masters Degrees in Psychology and Education, with a specialty in Child Development. Wendy met Miriam de Uriarte when she dropped off her two-year-old daughter, Devon Mitchell, at the Berkeley Child Art Studio 30 years ago and is thrilled to be able to bring PCAS to Portland and carry on Miriam's work.
Paula Gehrig, Treasurer, has a background in food service sales. She is a mother of 2 and grandmother of 5, and her two oldest grandchildren have wonderful memories of spending summer days at PCAS. Her latest project is lining bookcases with her grandkids' paintings and one of her own favorite pieces of art is a section of the painting wall from PCAS.
Reem Ghunaim, Director, is an advocate for Human Rights, economic development, social entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and creative arts. She is a Positive Peace Activator and a Global Peace Index Ambassador for the Institute for Economics and Peace. Reem started in Rotary as a Rotaractor in Ramallah, Palestine. Later, she earned a Rotary Peace Fellowship at Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center where she earned her master’s degree in City and Regional Planning and a certificate in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Reem is the immediate past Executive Director for the Rotary Action Group for Peace based in Portland, Oregon. She served on RAGFP from 2016 to 2021. Reem has served on the boards of several international organizations including Rotary Club of Portland, Hands of Peace (an organization that empowers youth to lead the solutions for peace between Israelis and Palestinians), and Peace Village (an organization that creates access to peace education for children worldwide).
Reem Ghunaim, Director, is an advocate for Human Rights, economic development, social entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and creative arts. She is a Positive Peace Activator and a Global Peace Index Ambassador for the Institute for Economics and Peace. Reem started in Rotary as a Rotaractor in Ramallah, Palestine. Later, she earned a Rotary Peace Fellowship at Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center where she earned her master’s degree in City and Regional Planning and a certificate in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Reem is the immediate past Executive Director for the Rotary Action Group for Peace based in Portland, Oregon. She served on RAGFP from 2016 to 2021. Reem has served on the boards of several international organizations including Rotary Club of Portland, Hands of Peace (an organization that empowers youth to lead the solutions for peace between Israelis and Palestinians), and Peace Village (an organization that creates access to peace education for children worldwide).
Margaret Fivecrows, Director, works in graphic design and is the mother to two very passionate little artists. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work and is deeply committed to supporting and expanding arts education for children in Portland, OR.