What is art? An expression of human creativity…a window on the soul…a means to communicate an ideal?

My colleague Rachel Goldberg recently asked some of the teachers from the museum’s partner schools to write the answer this question on a post-it note as seen in the illustration above left. They described art as “anything you want it to be,” “expression,” “creativity,” “communication,” “thinking,” and “untrained magicians weaving tapestries of emotions.”

Inspired by Rachel’s project, we asked visitors to the Creative Aging reception to describe how they understand art (above right). While some of the answers like “expression,” and “creativity,” aligned with the teachers, I found it fascinating how many of these individuals connect art with well-being. They defined art as “hope,” “healing,” “to cure illness,” “happiness,” and “a simple gift.”

This project reminded me a lot of one I saw this summer in Barcelona. Then and now I am astounded by the power a simple post-it note can have to collect our thoughts and feelings.

What is art to you? If you’re feeling inspired, use the comments below to share your thoughts (sorry we can’t use post-it notes)!

Since January, I have interned in the Phillips’s education department as part of the k-12 team that focuses on school, outreach, family, and teacher programs. Sadly my internship is coming to an end as I prepare for a fall semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I learned over the past eight months, and share with you here my top five takeaways from interning at The Phillips Collection:

1. Unglamorous work can be rewarding

I expected that administrative tasks like stuffing gift bags and assembling packets would be part of my internship, but I did not anticipate the great satisfaction of seeing a little boy’s face as he opened his new magnifying glass at a Young Artists Exhibition Community Celebration or teachers, aided by resources I put together, in stimulating conversation about art in the classroom.

2. Art brings families together

I worked in the art workshop during Jazz ‘n’ Family Fun Days, helping families make prints inspired by Jasper Johns: Variations on a Theme. During those two days, I saw families make art together without distraction from cell phones or outside interactions. Watching families spend quality time together and bond over the art they made will remain one of my fondest memories of the internship.

3. Arts education is pretty cool

I knew I liked both arts and education separately, but I had no idea how powerful the two could be together. Observing Art Links to Learning school tours, as well as DC Public Schools Teacher Professional Development Days, has opened my eyes to the power of arts education both in and outside the classroom.

4. Kids are insightful about art

On the first school tour I participated in, we stopped at Morris Louis’s Seal (1959), and the kids blew my mind with their insights on where the “seal” might be in the painting. A couple months later in front of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party (1881), a 1st grader explained how the painting should be renamed The Luncheon of the Disrespectful Party. After further reflecting on the painting, I’ve decided she may be right.

5. I want to pursue a career in the arts

I began college two years ago with no idea what I wanted to do but will leave The Phillips Collection passionate for a career in the arts. Though the internship was unpaid, I don’t think you can put a price tag on discovering what you love to do.

A student artwork on view at the US Department of Education as part of Museums: pARTners in Learning. Students Kiara Castellon, Ashley Low, Brenda Merlos, and Clarissa Miranda of Takoma Education Campus, DCPS, collaborated on this watercolor and ink drawing, "Ben’s Chili Bowl-Ward 1." Photo: James R. Brantley

I’ve spent my internship working on the Association of Art Museum Director’s projectMuseums: pARTners in Learning, an exhibition of student artwork created through museum-school partnerships. The exhibition is now open at the U.S. Department of Education, and we participated in an opening celebration Tuesday afternoon. I’ve been busy planning, coordinating, emailing, and writing all semester. While this work and exhibition opened my eyes to the incredible range of partnerships between museums and schools, I hadn’t thought about what the exhibition meant to the students until Tuesday. I had forgotten the thrill of being a student artist and having your work exhibited somewhere important. Seeing how excited and proud the student artists were reminded me how I felt as an elementary, middle, or high school student exhibiting my work. While I was never lucky enough to show artwork at the U.S. Department of Education, I remember being so proud to have my third grade tropical bird painting exhibited at the All County Art Exhibit in the Annapolis Mall and my high school artwork included in ArtQuest, Southern High School’s incredible program led by Michael Bell. These events can feel like all business for the adults organizing them, but it’s refreshing to remember the thrill of your first exhibition and share not only the students’ excitement, but also the thrill education leaders gain from museum-school partnerships.

Ashley Meadows, Education Intern

Students cut a ribbon to launch their exhibition on Tuesday, May 15. Photo: US Department of Education's photostream, Flickr.com