Art in a Suitcase

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With each global art exchange, children exemplify their creativity and thoughtfulness. The world is indeed full of hope.

At the Davis Magnet School in Mississippi, as part of their global art exchange, kindergarten and second grade children made drawings of important elders in their lives.

In Bangladesh, as part of the global art exchange, the children at Sharaf Pathshala and Nayakrishi Andolon Ishwardi and Tangail, created finger and hand puppets based on the Bengali New Year, Pohela/Poila Boishakh.

This past April, we began our 2016 global art exchange. As part of the exchange, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School second and fourth graders learned more about textiles and prints which are central to the Tangail region of Bangladesh.

The last global art exchange took place in the fall when the Sharaf Pathshala children gifted a group painting on canvas to the Goddard School that art educator, Shubho Saha, brought with him during his visit to the United States. Similarly, the Goddard children sent a handmade naturally dyed rug to the Sharaf Pathshala children back in the spring.

Over the past few months, the Nayakhrishi Andolon Ishwardi children have created portraits.

Over the past few months, the Nayakhrishi Andolon Tangail children have worked on self-portraits and construction art.

Over the past few months, the Sharaf Pathshala children in Khlikhet have focused on observing nature, seeing shapes, creating collages, and group drawing.

Over the past few months, Art in a Suitcase has not only been creating art with children, but also has been preparing for its yearly global art exchange. A big thank you to art educators, Shubho O Saha, Shimul Saha, Jesmin Jahan Jhuma, Ashik Sculptor, and Alok Rajbongshi and for the centers/schools that have continued to stress the importance of global understanding and citizenship through art. Ethical Culture Fieldston School, UBINIG, Nayakhrishi Andolon, Goddard School (IL), Davis Magnet School (MS).

A big thank you to the Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA) for inviting Art in a Suitcase to lead an art workshop, "Everyone is an Artist."

Children's Art Workshop organized by BIPA in collaboration with Marvin Cabrera funded by Council Member Brad Lander

A big thank you to Liz J. Fernandez, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, its teachers and students, for welcoming me this past Monday for a Pay It Forward Forum discussion about Art in a Suitcase. It was truly inspiring to listen to the students' thoughtfulness in how they are making the world a better place.

Last year, Liz, Alex Canals with their son, E, came to visit us in Bangladesh. Under Liz's leadership, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Riverdale Country School, and the Spence School were able to do an art and global share with the Bangladeshi children Art in a Suitcase engages through UBINIG Nayakrishi Andolan and Mohammadi Group's Sharaf Pathshala. The following video is a compilation of the experiences.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEs8WkrIzuI&feature=youtu.be

Bangladesh Adventures 2015 2 HD 1080p