Collaboration with Philadelphia-based nonprofit brings student art to Penn GSE

UTAP student Molly McQuoid (left) and a representative from Fresh Artists hang one of the student art pieces in the Penn GSE building. (Photo courtesy of Fresh Artists)

It’s not every day that a middle school art program reconnects with a student in the halls of their graduate school. Molly McQuoid, a student in Penn GSE’s Urban Teaching Apprenticeship program, participated in the Fresh Artists initiative through elementary and middle school. Now, through a recent collaboration between Penn GSE and Fresh Artists, artwork from the program is installed at Penn GSE — including one of McQuoid’s own pieces.

The new art installation highlights Penn GSE’s new partnership with Fresh Artists, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides art supplies and programming to under-resourced public schools.

The organization transforms student projects into large-scale works and contracts businesses and universities to pay exhibit fees to display the art. Those funds help procure art supplies for thousands of public schools across the country, including in Philadelphia, Camden, Norristown, New York, and Denver.

Earlier this year, Penn GSE leaders contacted Fresh Artists to bring its colorful student creations to the renovated wing of the school’s building.

“Our new building is so beautiful, but the blank walls made it feel empty and lacking,” said Mark Harmon-Vaught, Penn GSE’s chief of staff. “The installation of the student art, which directly supports art programs in public schools, brought our building to life.”

Penn GSE staff and faculty helped select the collection, with 50 individuals casting about 2,500 votes for their favorites. Ultimately, 60 pieces were chosen for the Penn GSE gallery.

“The amazing mission of Fresh Artists is deeply aligned with our own strategic vision, Together for Good, and the opportunity to collaborate and support our shared priorities while showcasing student art was a really exciting prospect,” said Harmon-Vaught.

Veteran art curator Barbara Chandler Allen cofounded the organization in 2008 with her son Roger to support art in public schools and empower young artists. In partner schools, children create art using Fresh Artists supplies, and their parents grant the nonprofit permission to replicate the work digitally with the children keeping the original pieces and copyrights.

“We are focused on bringing access and resources to schools that are very poor and have invested in an art teacher, and that teacher has no consumables,” Barbara Allen explained. “It creates a circle where the child is the giver.”

Fresh Artists began building its collection in 2007 and has curated more than 3,500 pieces.

McQuoid first encountered Fresh Artists at John Hancock Elementary in Philadelphia. She recalled visiting the organization’s studio in middle school, where she created a piece using recycled paint chips.

“My experience with Fresh Artists was so amazing; the more Philadelphia schools that can connect with them, the better,” McQuoid said.

McQuoid, the daughter and granddaughter of Philadelphia educators who previously worked in daycares, said she was always drawn to education. After graduating from Dartmouth College, she taught English in Estonia on a Fulbright scholarship. Upon her return, she enrolled in Penn GSE’s UTAP program. McQuoid teaches social studies at The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts and is working on her secondary education certification.

When McQuoid started at Penn GSE in July, she noticed the first installation of Fresh Artists pieces hung throughout the school. During the second installation phase, McQuoid ducked out of class to help Roger Allen hang pieces and was stunned to see her own piece, the one she created back in middle school, on display.

“It was a moving experience to reconnect with something that was a big part of my life when I was younger,” she said. “It is an incredible organization, and I loved working with them.”

After graduation, McQuoid plans to teach social studies in Philadelphia and hopes she can bring Fresh Artists to her future school. “I want to do anything I can to support their mission,” she said.