PHILADELPHIA — Coming together to celebrate the city’s next generation of visual artists, Asian Arts Initiative and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program present the exhibition WE ARE ALL: Art Education Annual Exhibition (on view May 3–June 7). The showcase of creative works by rising stars in Mural Arts’ art education program kicks off with an opening reception (Friday, May 3, 4-8 p.m.) with remarks by Mural Arts Executive Director Jane Golden, Asian Arts Initiative Executive Director Gayle Isa and other special guests. 

“From hosting classes in our multi-tenant facility to getting involved in our Pearl Street revitalization project, Mural Arts Program is becoming deeply ingrained in the Asian Arts Initiative community,” saysIsa. “We are thrilled to host WE ARE ALL and continue developing this meaningful partnership.”

A cross-city conversation about identity among Philadelphia youth, WE ARE ALL engages creative minds and kindred spirits of students from disparate backgrounds. Young artists explore personal, collective, cultural and geographical identities through portraits, collaborative projects and interactive works of art that signify who they are and where they are headed. Throughout the school year, youth have worked on projects that incorporate mural-making, digital photography, airbrush, tape art and product design; most of the pieces in the exhibition will be for sale, with proceeds going directly to the student artists.

“What makes our annual exhibition unique is the opportunity for 16 art education classrooms to come together in an expression of project-based learning and public art that is rooted in entrepreneurship, environmentalism and civic engagement,” says Yolanda Wisher, Mural Arts director of art education. “The exhibition creates a collective experience for students through which they can showcase their accomplishments and be inspired by each other.”

WE ARE ALLis presented by Asian Arts Initiative’s Community Curators Program, which offers exhibition opportunities for those seeking to explore community issues through contemporary art. The program aims to engage diverse audiences, foster dialogue, and inspire social change in Chinatown North and beyond.

WE ARE ALL kicks off a season of celebration of youth-centered creative projects at Asian Arts Initiative. The exhibition will provide inspiration and momentum for Asian Arts Initiative’s weeklong residency and a culminating exhibition with Seattle-based artist Nin Truong in June. Nin Truong will work with Asian Arts Initiative teaching artist Nicole Schaller to create Skate Shop, a pop-up shop at Asian Arts Initiative with youth-designed skateboards and apparel that will open on June 14.

Exhibition Details

WE ARE ALL

May 3 through June 7, 2013

Opening Reception:Friday, May 3, 4-6 p.m. (youth-focused)

and 6-8 p.m. (general admission), FREE, with special guest Jane Golden

Asian Arts Initiative

1219 Vine St.

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday, noon-6 p.m.

For more information,call 215-557-4055 or visit www.asianartsinitiative.org.

About Mural Arts

For 28 years, the Mural Arts Program has united artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural-making, to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives.  At the heart of our work are the 50 to 100 mural and other public art projects we lead each year.  These projects range in scale and purpose, but all include a diversity of stakeholders in the creation of the artwork, and we work with partners to align our projects to existing strategies.  This deeply collaborative approach to creating public art builds social capital, inspires a sense of communal ownership over public space, and empowers people to continue to work for positive change in their communities.  Our murals also create unique project-based learning opportunities for thousands of marginalized youth and adults in our Art Education for Youth, Restorative Justice, and Behavioral Health programs.

We Are All is funded by: City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services, City of Philadelphia Streets Department, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, City of Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation, Philadelphia Water Department, Philadelphia Youth Network, ACE Group, Anonymous (2), The Christopher Ludwick Foundation, Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, FAO Schwarz Family Foundation, Forrest and Frances Lattner Foundation, Graham Partners, Heuer Foundation, Hummingbird Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation, Lincoln Financial Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, The Pew Charitable Trusts, PTS Foundation, Surdna Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation and the Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Arts Education Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation.