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Community Art Project: "Mapping My Story"

A sample artwork for the Moss Arts Center's community art project, "Mapping My Story." Two children play as a smiling teacher looks on, a stack of books nearby. The outline of a hand is visible over a drawing of two mountains.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Educators may send student work to:
Bethany Costello
Engagement Manager
Moss Arts Center
190 Alumni Mall
Suite 213
Blacksburg, VA 24061

 

Deadline:
Thursday, February 20, 2025

 

All works must be on paper 8.5 x 11 inches or smaller

 

Please write, on the back of your student's submission:

  • Student's first name
  • Student's grade
  • Student's school
  • Title of work (environment/location)

 

The exhibition closes on Saturday, March 29, and works will be stored until Friday, May 30, 2025. Educators may pick up student art work from the Moss Arts Center by emailing Bethany Costello at bethanycostello@vt.edu to schedule a pickup time. Works not picked up by May 30 will be recycled.

March 1-29, 2025

PK-5

The Community Art Project is an innovative engagement initiative aimed at fostering artistic expression and collaboration among students from various schools and districts. This program invites students to create and submit art that reflects a chosen thematic focus, providing a unique opportunity to showcase their creativity in a prominent public space — the lobby of the Moss Arts Center. Through this project, we aim to cultivate a vibrant dialogue about art and community, inspiring the next generation of artists while enhancing their educational journeys.

Selected artworks will be displayed from Saturday, March 1-Saturday, March 29, allowing the community to experience the diverse perspectives and talents of young artists. To enhance the likelihood of inclusion in this exhibition, students are encouraged to submit their works by Thursday, February 20 (earlier submissions are welcome and encouraged, as the works will be displayed in the order they arrive). 

Get Inspired

This initiative draws inspiration from the artists featured in the spring 2025 exhibitions at the Moss Arts Center. To deepen participants' understanding of contemporary artistic practices and the thematic elements explored in these works, we invite students, educators, and community members to visit the exhibitions from Thursday, January 23–Saturday, March 29 (gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Additionally, we encourage schools to arrange field trips or guided gallery tours, which will provide educational insights and enrich students' experience of engaging with the featured exhibitions. Please contact bethanycostello@vt.edu for more information.

Mapping My Story

SEL-driven, visual arts-driven, and social science-driven

  • Students will create a work inspired by Moss spring 2025 exhibiting artist Shaunté Gates, who makes beautiful collages using different materials. Gates' art is full of imagination and is designed to make us think about our feelings and the places we live (also known as psychogeography). For a detailed gallery tour and artist biography, email Bethany Costello, engagement manager, at bethanycostello@vt.edu. 
  • Psychogeography is a fun way to explore how we feel about different places. Show students images of different locations they could relate to (bed, house, park, school, etc.) and instruct them to use their face to show the emotion that location makes them feel. Students can also write or draw the first descriptive word that comes to mind. Explain that psychogeography affects our feelings and thoughts. 
  • Ask students to draw a map of a place that makes them feel deeply. This could be their neighborhood or a special place like their bedroom, soccer field, or dance class. Encourage students to use colors that match their feelings and lines that reflect how they feel (straight and harsh for angry feelings, wavy and bright for joyful feelings, etc.).
  • Students can make their maps more personal and vibrant with collage materials, like photos or magazine scraps.
  • Everyone's map will be different, just like our feelings. Have fun exploring and expressing yourself through art! 
A sample artwork for the Moss Arts Center's community art project, "Mapping My Story." A big blue monster is framed in a closet door, and two bunk beds are nearby, each with a pillow with eyes. One pillow looks scary, the other's eyes seem to be shut tight in fear.