#FlashbackFriday End of Summer Feels

  Summer is a busy time for an Artist that's involved in camps. As the time for longer and warmer days end each year, I get a little nostalgic and reflect on all of the great things the season brought. This year I returned to Hidden Voices and Blue Ribbon Mentor Advocate's Seeking The Self (STS) Camp as an Assistant Art Instructor and also joined SEEDS' Summer Camp as a Guest Teacher to [finally] complete my North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program's Community Partnership Project. Working with the kids lesson-by-lesson to come up with a concept for a mural we designed together and began painting was a challenge, but very rewarding. I met many talented young artists and it was a pleasure to teach them some of the basics of art and design. Photos from SEEDS' Camp directly follow. Read on for more about STS Camp after that!

  Last September, I shared a post about my first experience working in the art spaces of UNC-CH with the middle school kids during STS, a week-long, overnight summer camp for middle school students of color that explores racial identity and develops positive counter narratives to racial stereotypes through writing, conversation, theater and visual arts. It was great, and I returned from July 30th through the 3rd of August to guide the new group through their self portraits with an awesome team. The week was filled with aha moments and beautiful self-discoveries. It's always a pleasure to see the kids transform and light up through their time at the camp. Some photos from our afternoon art sessions are below, as well as the video capturing their interviews and final performance. Enjoy!