Art All-State
“Art All-State is awesome. I'd do it again anytime.” - Sean Hobin, Longmeadow
 |
On May 25 and 26, 2007, 142 high school juniors from all over Massachusetts converged on the Museum for two days of exploration and collaborative art making with 16 professional artists and mentors. Learn about becoming an artist/mentor. With this the 20th Annual Massachusetts Art All-State, the program now boasts nearly 2,500 alumni.
Kristy Thomley, a ‘97 alum now living and working in Los Angeles as a production designer, recently contacted the program to say, “Time and again, when people ask me why or how I became involved in set design and art production, I come back to a singular pivotal event - Art All-State. Thank you, Art All-State, for inspiring me to continue with a life full of creation and art.”
During Art All-State, world-renowned tape artist Michael Townsend worked in residence at the Worcester Art Museum. Townsend uses colored, low-adhesive, biodegradable artist's tape to “draw” on the exterior wall of the Museum, offering Art All-State participants the chance to view a public art installation in progress. This is the 10th year that Townsend participated as an artist in residence with Art All-State.
Images from:
Art All-State 2007
Art All-State 2006
Art All-State 2005
Art All-State 2004
Art All-State 2003
Sweet Sixteen Alumni Art Exhibit
Art-All State Mission
- to boost student self image through recognition and encouragement
- to bring together students and professional artists from diverse disciplines to work in a studio setting
- to allow students to work in collaboration with these artists and their peers from other schools in the Commonwealth
- to introduce students to the Museum as a resource for the practicing artist
- to provide a forum for parental inquiry and discussion regarding their children's future in art
- to increase communication among secondary art teachers by providing opportunities for them to serve together on panels and review committees, and to act as program facilitators
Who should be nominated? Each high school may nominate up to two Grade 11 students who are in good academic standing. These students should demonstrate a keen interest in visual art, have imagination, flexibility and a willingness to experiment in new situations. They need not be students who demonstrate the highest degree of technical expertise, but they should be students who would benefit from the Art All-State experience and may be considering further education in art. Nomination materials mailed statewide to high schools in early November. Student application deadline is in late January.
Who is selected? Final participant selection will be based on points accrued through the returned nomination materials and a personal interview in which the students discuss their artwork with a group of art teachers. These interviews are conducted in March at nine regional sites throughout Massachusetts.
Notification of acceptance. One hundred and forty students will be invited to attend Art All-State. Students will be notified of the status of their application by mid-April.
 |
| A.A.S. 2007 Participants click on thumbnail for larger image |
Art All-State is a collaboration of the Massachusetts Art Education Association, and the Worcester Art Museum. This program is supported in part by the David J. Freelander Memorial Education Fund, and this year’s program is sponsored by Fidelity Investments. We also receive gifts from alumni and parents including an annual gift from the Ostrowski Family in memory of Christopher Ostrowski, AAS ‘97.
In addition, we'd like to thank the following organizations for their generous contributions: Acme Pre-Pac Corporation, Art Supply Wholesale, CC Lowell, Cocoon Graphics, Curry Printing & Copy Center, Danforth Museum of Art, Davis Publication, Extras for Creative Living, Guida's Dairy Products, Higgins Armory, Institute of Contemporary Art, J&J Box, Millbrook Distributors, Papa Gino's, Polar Beverages, Price Chopper, RH White Bus. Co., Sanford Art Supplies, SAX Arts & Crafts, Sysco Corporation, Six Flags New England, Thompson Food Service and Trader Joe's East Inc.
Links of Interest
If you would like to find out more about the Worcester Art Museum's Art All-State program, or have any questions, please call 508.799.4406, x3072, or email artallstate@worcesterart.org.