ALLENTOWN, Pa.- The future of our communities starts with the children we inspire today, and at Arts Academy Elementary Charter School in Allentown, students are learning that art can connect people, cultures, and generations.
Through a special artistic exchange with students in Vieques, Puerto Rico, children are using drawings, colors, and creativity to share their worlds with each other.
The project was made possible after Daniel Djuro, the school’s Director of Arts Integration, was selected to participate in an artist residency in Vieques called Bio Lumina.
“It’s run by an artist called Marco Caridad, who actually came last year to do an art residency in Allentown,” Djuro explained. “He interacted with our community, and we decided this year to have an impact in his community.”
The exchange gives students the chance to learn about each other’s homes through art. Kindergarten students at Arts Academy created posters featuring native animals from Pennsylvania, hoping to teach students in Puerto Rico about wildlife from their region.
“They’re expecting something too,” said kindergarten teacher Ailenni Melo. “They don’t know which animals they see over there, and they are very excited about that.”
For the young artists, the project became an opportunity to be creative and share what they know.
One student, Josiah, proudly explained how quickly he completed his artwork.
“For 20 minutes,” he said when asked how long it took him to finish his drawing.
Students from different grade levels also participated by illustrating and writing about animals native to Pennsylvania.
Third-grade student Genesis shared what she learned about the bobcat through her project.
“The bobcat lives in the forest. It is larger than a house cat,” she read.
Her classmate, Emma, created a drawing of a barn owl and explained the story behind her artwork.
“It’s an owl that sometimes lives in barns. It eats rats and mice,” she said.
She even added a creative detail to her drawing, explaining how a farmer used cheese to attract mice in her story.
The excitement reached beyond students. Teachers also joined the exchange by creating artwork for educators in Vieques.
Third-grade teacher Sariann Knerr painted a pileated woodpecker for a teacher she has never met.
“This is for the teacher in Puerto Rico. I don’t know if it’s a man or a woman,” she said.
As students in Allentown wait to receive artwork from their new friends in Puerto Rico, the experience continues to build curiosity and connection.
Djuro says the true power of art comes from allowing students to express themselves.
“I think the reason why I’m so passionate about working with students in art is that it reminds us that the real artist always taps into a childlike mind,” he said. “To see them pushing themselves, finding ways to communicate, and taking pride in the little things they’re doing, it just fills my whole cup of my heart.”
Through this exchange, students are discovering that even though they may live thousands of miles apart, art can bring them closer together.