Help bring quality art education to more students.
Art in Action is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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Class of "Thinkers"
Inspired by Rodin
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Greetings!
A few weeks ago, I went to see the Urs
Fischer exhibit at MOCA Los Angeles. If you aren't familiar with Fischer's work, this Swiss-born artist is known, in part, for creating sculptural works that are designed to erode or decay during the length of an exhibition. His works include a Swiss chalet constructed out of loaves of bread and larger-than-scale reproductions of Roman statuary made out of wax and then burned so they slowly melt away.
The centerpiece of the retrospective was a project at MOCA's Geffen space which enlisted nearly 1,500 participants who were each given mounds of clay -- out of which they created a virtual city of sculptures. Taken individually there were thousands of unique works of art and moments of creativity from unnamed artists. Taken collectively this one huge installation was an ode to the fleeting nature of time and was the uncompromising vision of a singular artist.
The experience reminded me that in every Art in Action lesson we reinforce that art can be at once a highly personal, introspective endeavor and yet has its greatest impact when there is a collaborative aspect - either in sharing ideas during the creative process or in viewing artwork as a group and sharing reactions and perspectives.
As schools continue to move toward providing students with 21st
century learning skills like collaboration and creativity, we know that art lives at the intersection of these and endeavor to bring these skills to every child.
Jeffrey Dollinger, Executive Director
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Art in Action Goes to Kenya
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We welcome our newest school,  Red Rhino Orphanage in Kenya. Thanks to former school coordinator, Kim Richardson, these children will now have the same art program that many of your children or grandchildren enjoy. Our online lessons make it possible for us to train teachers everywhere how to teach children about a variety of artists and their art. Let us know if you can help bring Art in Action to a school that needs an art program.
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Thank You Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund
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We thank the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund for a generous grant of  $5,000 to underwrite the Art in Action Program at Willow Oaks Elementary School in East Menlo Park, CA for a third year. View Willow Oaks student artwork at the East Palo Alto Library, June 1- 30.
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Summer Student Volunteer Opportunities
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With school out soon, what is your high 
school or college student doing this summer? We have exciting volunteer opportunities available in graphic design, business, social media, fundraising, development, or program. Students can build their resumes with new skills while making a difference in the community in a fun and friendly working environment. Learn more or apply
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Join Us for Special Private Tours
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Student Art in Your Community
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Students and their families feel a sense of pride 
when student artwork is displayed at school or in the community as the culmination of all the learning and hard work that has occurred during the year. Be sure to see the artwork at your child's school or at San Francisco Bay Area libraries.
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Working Together - Common Core Standards
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In fourth grade, students learn about the 
historical impact of past events on the present. They study the significance of geography and the importance of the roles of a variety of people in their state history. The new Common Core Standards stress the importance of integrating the arts into the core curriculum and are "designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers."
Art in Action provides a variety of ways to integrate the arts into the core curriculum through our program. The 4th grade lesson inspired by artist Diego Rivera teaches students about the artist, his techniques, and the purpose and significance of his murals. They discuss how murals are used, not only as "decoration" but to depict social commentary, political issues, and a point of time (and view) in their history. " Integration
of the arts requires collaboration, research, intentional alignment and practical application on behalf of the teachers who take on this challenge." (Edutopia) This lesson provides a perfect way to integrate art into the Social Studies curriculum.
Fourth grade students in California and Texas are learning about the importance of the Spanish Missions; students in Oregon are discovering how the Oregon Trail helped expand our country; students in Florida are studying about the significance of the National Monument of Castillo de San Marcos - all of them can benefit from working together to create murals based on these significant historical contributions to their state. When students work together discovering, problem solving, and sharing ideas, it sparks their creativity and engages them in the learning experience. Using lessons like the Rivera mural project to make history come alive through art stimulates and deepens learning experiences.
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