EXPRESSIONS 2009: Art by DC Youth at the Corcoran Gallery of Art

May 8, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Expressions 2009: Art by DC Youth will showcase the art and creativity of young people involved in the award-winning Corcoran ArtReach program. ArtReach extends the resources of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design to Washington, DC communities through free after-school and summer art classes. Using the Corcoran’s collections as a primary resource, ArtReach fosters visual literacy, critical thinking skills, and creative expression while encouraging young people to develop meaningful connections between art and their lives.

Expressions 2009, on view from May 28 to June 21 in the Corcoran’s Gallery 31, marks the 17th anniversary of the Corcoran ArtReach program. Inspired by visits to the Corcoran’s recent temporary
exhibitions, Elena Del Rivero: Home Suite and Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power, both on view in the last year, and current exhibition Maya Lin: Systematic Landscapes, ArtReach students created vibrant works that explore and celebrate themes such as experience and memory, power and identity, and perceptions of the landscape.

“The Corcoran has a long history of community engagement and a strong commitment to supporting art education opportunities for the District’s young people. Expressions 2009: Art by DC Youth
celebrates the talents and gifts of our ArtReach students and provides them with a platform to respond to art through a variety of mediums. It is a joyous celebration and an opportunity for the museum, parents, and community partners to support the ArtReach students and their many accomplishments,” said Sarah Durkee, Director of Public Education.

The multimedia installation—comprised of photography, painting, charcoal, and digital media— will open with a reception and award ceremony for students, families and guests at the Corcoran Gallery
of Art on May 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Gallery 31.

ABOUT CORCORAN ARTREACH

Corcoran ArtReach is a year-round, museum outreach program designed to empower DC youth and families to explore and trust their own creativity within the context of art appreciation and art making.
ArtReach partners with community-based organizations in Washington, D.C. to deliver high-quality art programs on-site in the communities it serves. Community Partners include: The Sitar Arts Center in
Northwest, Town Hall Education Arts and Recreation Campus (THEARC) in the Anacostia neighborhood of Southeast, and Saint Augustine Episcopal Church, located in Southwest.

ArtReach programs are taught by art educators who are dedicated to nurturing young people’s creative growth through hands-on learning. They encourage students to look at, discuss, and interpret
works of art in the galleries on field trips; experiment with a variety of art materials and methods; and create their own artwork inspired by these experiences. ArtReach has received awards from the
President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and The National Multicultural Institute.

EXHIBITION ORGANIZATION AND SPONSORSHIP

Corcoran ArtReach extends special thanks to the following individual, corporate, and foundation donors whose generous contributions have enabled the program to serve more than 200 D.C. youth this year:
Anonymous, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Besharov, D.C Commission on the Arts & Humanities, The Betty and Wes Foster Family Foundation, The Foundation for Building Bridges Across the River, The Mark & Carol Hyman Fund, Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Sagalyn, Sagalyn Family Fund, Weissberg Foundation ,Michael A. Wyatt, David & Sybil Yurman Humanitarian Arts Foundation.

For more information about the Corcoran ArtReach program, please visit www.corcoran.org/community.

CONTACT:

Kristin Guiter, Head of PR,
(202) 639-1867, kguiter@corcoran.org

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