The Lehman College Art Gallery (LCAG) was empty early one June morning when the Norwood News visited. The doors had just opened for the day, and artwork that included paintings on social justice to lifelike sculptures and stop-motion videos were on display. Attached to one of the glass walls in the gallery was a small donation box, the only suggested fee one could pay.

Beyond serving as a hub for local art, the center also thinks outside itself, looking to inspire the surrounding communities through educational programs for children and their families. LCAG has been working with Bronx schools for over 30 years, including PS 36, PS 86, PS 94, and PS 340, and plans to continue developing new ways to bring art into the community. That first starts with the gallery itself, which is free to the public.

Access to free, educational outings in the Bronx is vital to Deborah Yasinsky, Curator of Education for the gallery. Yasinsky has been with LCAG since the fall, and develops programs for children and families while also working with them directly. “There’s definitely a need because the numbers have increased so rapidly in who’s coming,” she said, adding that guests usually mention “there’s not a lot to do in the community that is free.”

The current exhibition is about human rights and photography, highlighting the struggles and journeys of people around the world. Upcoming exhibitions this year include fantasy architecture and a series on money, debt, and its relationship to art.

Six Sundays throughout the year, LCAG holds free family days. Unlike the typical visit to an art gallery, these family days include a guided tour and an art-making session in a workshop. While viewing the gallery’s exhibit, families are encouraged to discuss and interpret artwork on display. In the workshop, materials and space are provided to make visual art, with an instructor to help if needed.

The gallery strives to educate students, and they want to build strong connections in all of the community. Through the SU-CASA grant from the city Department of Cultural Affairs, senior homes can bring teaching artists to have classes with residents.

Another grant by the city Department of Education allows public schools to partner with art groups, such as LCAG. These partnerships focus on students learning English and those with disabilities. The grant allows for an experienced artist to visit the school for an extended period of time. Many of these collaborative projects become permanent art installations in the school, decorating the hallways and displaying work students are proud of.

When schools choose to partner with the gallery, they get more than the residency. They will receive professional development for teachers, a guided trip to the gallery, and time in the gallery workshop. The experience is tailored to the age of the students, and they are encouraged to lead discussions.

Susana Valera is one of the local artists that LCAG contracts to do these programs. She is currently working with second and fifth grade students from PS 340, located in Kingsbridge Heights, and seniors from Bay Eden Neighborhood Senior Center. Valera has been working with the elementary school students since March, and is integrating art into their social studies classes. The mural they are painting in the school will be a visual timeline of immigration in the Bronx, teaching the students about the heritage of their community as they complete the artwork. “I think they will be more aware of their community and who they are, and how everyone is unique,” Valera said. “Especially doing this kind of work, discussing issues with immigration… They learn to appreciate their ethnicity and be proud of it.”

Working with the students has also had a strong impact on Valera. “I feel like I want to do more work like this because it just brings so much richness. It brings kids together, and makes them appreciate their community and where they come from.”

LCAG’s program also helps teachers develop curricula and explore art personally. Yasinsky sees art as a way to help students understand every subject. “The idea is not just for the kids to have that great experience, but for the teachers to be able to infuse that into what they’re doing…I really believe in the capacity for art as a way to learn about all other subjects and make them come alive.”

Yasinsky said many students who visit the gallery come back. “We get a lot of families from our partner schools… It definitely builds community.”

Editor’s Note: For more information on LCAG educational programs, contact Deborah Yasinsky at Deborah.Yasinsky1@lehman.cuny.edu.