Photo courtesy of Valerie Anglen
Valerie Anglen empowers students to express themselves through art
Valerie Anglen used her grant from the KDA Creative Corps to create “All About Art,” a program that provided art instruction to thousands of students within the Greenfield Union School District. This program promoted social and emotional learning through artistic education for first to fifth-grade students living in the lowest quartile of the Healthy Places Index in Kern County.
The “All About Art” curriculum inspired young artists to take risks and make mistakes, enabling them to discover their inner potential and express themselves through art. All About Art visited nine schools within the Greenfield Union School District located in Kern County. Anglen provided hands-on art lessons with all materials included. In March 2024, the All About Art program completed their final classroom visit at Horizon Elementary.
Photos courtesy of Valerie Anglen
During the visit, students toured an art exhibit curated by a talented 9-year-old artist, Adoniah, who is a professional young contemporary artist and Anglen’s granddaughter. The exhibit showcased a collection of canvas paintings, each displaying a unique perspective. Adoniah is inspired by her grandma and great-grandpa, who are both talented artists. When she first started painting, she didn’t let a lack of supplies deter her. She found that cardboard, old brushes, and kitchen supplies could be useful tools in a pinch.
By the end of this project, approximately 6,000 students had been exposed to the unique opportunity to explore their artistic talents while developing essential social-emotional skills. As a result, students showed improvements in focus, self-discipline, and self-confidence. The All About Art program nurtures and emphasizes a passion for art in young students. By recognizing a peer like Adoniah, these students find powerful inspiration to pursue their own creative endeavors.
Visit https://www.anglenartistry.com/ to learn more.
About the Artist: Valerie Anglen
Valerie Anglen is an art teacher and creator of the All About Art program. With over 45 years of experience as a professional artist, Valerie has a strong background in acrylic painting and dance. Valerie is the senior interior and exterior commercial designer for the largest school district in the state of California, where she designed over 15 high schools and colleges.
