A ‘benchmark’ for youth social action
BY LINCOLN ANDERSON
You better grab a seat for this
one.
In the greatest number of
schools participating in a citywide
parks event ever, students from 30
schools recently unveiled their powerful
social-action “bench murals” in
Washington Square Park.
The brightly painted benches — 30
of them in all — were arrayed along the
edge of the park’s fountain plaza, spanning
nearly three-quarters of the way
around the circle. They bore colorful
and thought-provoking art and messages
focusing on our world’s pressing
topics, from racism and gun violence
to L.G.B.T.Q. pride, bullying, the environment
and more.
The May 30 event was the launch of
a citywide exhibition, “CEI BENCHMARKS:
Youth Setting the Standard
for Social Change.”
CEI, or Center for Educational Innovation
(www.the-cei.org), is a nonprofit
that works directly with students,
teachers, local school leaders and the
community. The benches have since
been scattered around the city — in one
park per borough — and will remain
on view through mid-September.
“Why did we do this?” asked Michael
Kohlhagen, the C.E.O. of CEI,
in his remarks at the event. “We did
this so each of the students could participate
in a discourse — and to take a
stand. Each of you are leaders,” he told
the students. “You are all the future of
New York City, New York State and
the world. What’s obvious today is that
your opinions matter.”
The CEI BENCHMARKS program
was created by Alexandra Leff, CEI director
of arts education.
“I’m just so proud of the students,”
Leff said. “They painted such powerful
works of art. These vibrant and meaningful
bench murals have such strong
messages for social change. Young
people have so much to say and this
program gives them a voice through
art. There are so many issues swirling
in the media, and this program allows
young people to join the conversation.
It’s time to hear what young people
have to say.”
The program’s concept is to inspire
young people to confront major social
issues, become engaged citizens and
effect social change through creating
large-scale, issues-based murals on
benches for public display in a public
place — city parks.
In all, around 650 students in grades
5 through 9 from around the city participated.
Students from M.S. 127 in the Bronx with their bench, expressing an anti-gun violence theme.
Alexandra Leff, C.E.I. director of arts education, left, with Michael
Kohlhagen, CEI C.E.O.
The program includes inclass
instruction and visits with distinguished
guest artists at their studios,
museum or gallery exhibitions, or at
the schools.
At the Village event, the throng of
students and teachers fi lled the plaza
between the fountain and the Washington
Square Arch.
Groups of students each read aloud
statements about their individual
bench and the message it conveyed and
its importance. One class focused their
bench on homelessness.
“They’re homeless — not hopeless,”
one of the students stressed.
Another girl spoke about a bench
that she and her friends focused on
bullying and L.G.B.T. rights.
“There’s a secret message on the
bottom of our bench — ‘Wake Up,’”
she said, adding, “Get involved.”
One girl emphasized the message of
the bench she and her classmates did:
“Keep immigration, not deportation.”
Another dealt with mental health, depression
and even suicide. Its message
was uplifting.
“We want our bench to be like a
hug,” a girl with that team of young
artists explained.
The students did all the painting
PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY
themselves.
“Autistic and ADHD brains work
differently,” read a message on one
bench covered with interesting abstract
shapes.
A bench about gender equity sported
slogans like “Equal Pay,” “#MeToo”
and “50/50.”
In Manhattan, three of the benches
are now in Tompkins Square Park,
right by the ping-pong table and fl agpole
on the Ninth St. walkway.
One class each from three Manhattan
schools did those benches, including
Middle School 322M, City Knoll
Middle School 933M and University
Neighborhood Middle School 332M.
Also praising the functional public
art were Bill Castro, the Manhattan
borough Parks Department commissioner;
Matthew Washington, a deputy
Manhattan borough president; and
Ketler Louissaint, the superintendent
for District 75, from which 10 schools
participated.
“Thank you for taking a stand,” Louissaint
told the youth. “Students are
showing, if adults won’t tackle tough
issues, students are ready to do so.”
Virginia Wagner, one of the program’s
guest artists, talked about how,
through art, students can learn to express
themselves.
“Young people speak from a place of
passion about a better world,” she said,
“and they know what that world looks
like.”
20 June 20, 2019 TVG Schneps Media
/www.the-cei.org
/(www.the-cei.org)