Milagros Batista learned to crochet as a child in the Dominican Republic.

She told the story of working her way into a group of women who crocheted as a young girl. Now, her wearable art is center stage at the Wallach Art Gallery at Columbia University. 

What You Need To Know

“Children’s Art Carnival in Harlem: The Making of Contemporary Artists” is an exhibit at Wallach Art Gallery at Columbia University

It features art from those affiliated with the Children’s Art Carnival, a longtime community arts group in Harlem 

The show was curated by Souleo 

“People ask me, ‘How long does it take?’ It’s a long, long time. Just to finish one piece, one side, it can take me a whole week,” said Batista.

She is a studio and teaching artist at the Children’s Art Carnival in Harlem, which is the focus of a new exhibition at the Wallach Art Gallery called “Children’s Art Carnival in Harlem: The Making of Contemporary Artists.” The carnival, as it is known, grew out of MoMA’s art education series started in 1942. It was reimagined as a free outreach program in Harlem in 1969 under the leadership of the late artist Betty Blayton-Taylor, who also co-founded the Studio Museum in Harlem. 

“Initially, they were teaching 4-to-7-year-olds; eventually, they went up to 21, and they even had classes where they would educate teachers, and they developed curriculum, the curriculum which used art education to improve literacy. It was implemented in New York City public schools and part of the Board of Education system for over 20 years,” said Souleo, who curated the exhibition. 

In 1974, the carnival became an independent nonprofit organization, moving into a Harlem townhouse which remains its home. The exhibition features the work of 30 artists affiliated with the carnival over the years, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, who interned there in the mid to late 1970s. Batista said being part of the carnival and the exhibit is something she could never have imagined.

“We are not only artists, we’ve become families, like when I come, we talk about, ‘How are your children, how are your grandchildren, what are you doing?’ and we talk about what I came to this place for, to create a piece,” she said. 

Souleo said the exhibition examines how all those who came through the carnival’s doors were impacted by the experience on spiritual, personal, and artistic levels, since the focus of the organization was not just making artists, but making whole human beings.

“The fact that Betty had the vision along with the rest of the carnival’s team, to create this amazing resource for the community, is really inspiring. So I hope folks come here and are inspired, they see reflections of themselves, they are inspired either to make art or just support art and celebrate it, because it really can transform the world,” said Souleo. 

The exhibition is on display through Sept. 13 and is free and open to the public. Plan your visit by clicking here.