Beginning With the Self: Self-portraits in pencil, watercolor, colored pencils, marker, and acrylic

Students of The Gateway School visually explored the many facets of their lives in self-portraits to create Beginning With the Self: Self-portraits in pencil, watercolor, colored pencils, marker, and acrylic. Guided by their teacher, they immersed themselves in the imagery of traditional mandalas and incorporated those designs in vibrant drawings that poignantly capture each student’s complex inner world. These self-portraits also illustrate the students abilities to reflect on who they are, and who they are becoming.

At Gateway, the arts program is carefully integrated into all areas of academic development  and supports the goals that are common to all parts of the Gateway program.  Arts education promotes and increases perception, depth of inquiry, language acquisition, problem solving skills, self-concept and social awareness.

About the Student Art Project

The Child Mind Institute believes the arts are critical to child development and academic success. They promote self-esteem and provide opportunities for self-expression. Four times a year the Child Mind Institute invites public and independent schools to participate in our Student Art Project, a gallery program dedicated to displaying works of art created by student artists. We invite schools to prepare an exhibition for our gallery based on a theme chosen by their art teachers. Student pieces are displayed prominently and each exhibition launches with an opening reception for student artists, their families, and the entire school community, hosted by the Child Mind Institute.

The Child Mind Institute Student Art Project is supported by the Doris and Melvin Sirow Art Fund, which gives schools from the New York metropolitan area the opportunity to exhibit students’ work at the Child Mind Institute.

If your child’s school would like to participate in a future gallery show, please contact Angela Gage, the Student Art Project Curator, at 212.212.308 or angela.gage@childmind.org. Art teachers are also welcome to contact us on behalf of their students.