2023 Awaken Your Dreams Poetry and Art Show Recap (Photos)
The second-annual Awaken Your Dreams Poetry and Art Show kicked off with an opening reception on June 2nd followed by a week-long exhibition at 1040 Creative!
The show aimed to uplift the voices and visions of our incredible students, including participants from Parkway Northwest High School, Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School, John H. Taggart School, Emlen Elementary School, Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School, C.C.A Baldi Middle School, Please Touch Museum, and Urban League of Philadelphia.
Since the theme of the show was LOVE, attendees had the unique opportunity to see love through the eyes of Philly’s young people, and to read about it in their words. As each person moved through the space, they experienced the different expressions and emotions of love. They also experienced several art forms, including tile art, collage, canvas paintings, sculptures, digital portraits, video, written poetry, and even repurposed art made with vinyl records.
The breadth of artwork and poetry on display was inspiring. Below are a few highlights.
Art Show Highlights
9th-12th grade students designed their version of a Love Park sculpture representing what love looks like to them. Materials included clay, paper mâché, acrylic paint, watercolor paint, LED lights, felt fabric, hot glue, newspaper, tissue paper, and more.
Students reflect on their sculptures:
“My art piece is about how love can be in the palm of your hand. If you find the right person for you, love will be with you at all times.”
“Love means more than one thing. I put “joy.” Joy is a way to show love.”
10th-grade students at Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School reflected on self-love and what it means to them before painting and describing it on canvas.
One of ArtWell’s students stopped by to view her work on display! In her poetry collection, she reflected on the topic of love in her native language, morse code, and English. Also on display was her social justice trifold poster, highlighting the dangers of bullying.
Also shown in the photos above are her Teaching Artists, Sabriaya Shipley, and Donnell Powell, and her classroom Teacher, Althea Chisolm, who gathered around her in support and celebration!
Photo Gallery
So many wonderful moments were captured thanks to our photographer, Tavis Sanders. To view all the photos, click through the gallery below!
Luckily for anyone who missed the show, many of our students’ works are now on display at Gryphon Cafe! Stop by 100 W. Oxford St. in Fishtown for a coffee or tea and enjoy the creativity of Philly youth!
Thank You
We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this event possible, whether you attended the event, helped spread the word, volunteered at our install day, led ArtWell programming in classrooms (shout out ArtWell Teaching Artists!), or encouraged the young people in your life to participate with ArtWell.
We also want to give a special shout-out to our Program Director, Briana Clarke, who led the planning, execution, and curation of the show. We are also grateful to our Program Coordinator, Keyonna Butler, who supported the venue search, overall planning, artwork prep, and promotion.
Thank you to the organizations who shared their love through raffle door prizes, including Dock Street Brewery, Costco, Low Life Coffee Co., and Metropolitan Bakery.
Last but certainly not least, a big thank you goes to the Penn Treaty Special Services District, whose sponsorship made the show possible. Thank you for your support!