Going Up with SBMA

Going Up? Don’t miss the artwork in the Museum’s elevator in April by young artists as part of a newly launched Art After-School Program in partnership with Girls Inc.

This winter, SBMA piloted a weekly art after-school program for 12, 1st and 2nd graders at Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara. Museum Senior Teaching Artist Itoko Maeno began the 11-part lesson by sharing images of representational and abstract works from the permanent collection. The students discussed the elements of art (line, shape, and color) and practiced color mixing as a warm-up for their sculpture and painting lessons. They painted their own versions of Hans Hofmann’s Simplex Munditis (1962) in acrylic on canvas board using palette knives, paying special attention to warm and cool color juxtapositions that create a “push-pull” effect. The class visited the Museum for an interactive docent tour and sketching in the galleries.

The pilot partnership with Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara is an expansion of the Museum's weekly after-school program at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria for 2nd – 5th grade students that launched in January 2014.

Girls Incorporated of Greater Santa Barbara celebrates more than 50 years as an affiliate of an almost 150 year old national non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold. Through educational, research-based programs, activities and advocacy, Girls Incorporated offers girls ages 4-1/2 to 18 years opportunities to experience success as they prepare to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Girls Inc. was recently ranked among the top high-impact youth service non-profits! Community and After School Outreach Programs are made possible through the generosity of Connie Frank and Evan C. Thompson.

Image credits: (Top) Hans Hofmann, Simplex Munditis, 1962. Oil on canvas. SBMA, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Hofmann. (Middle): Student artwork, based off of Hans Hofmann, Simplex Munditis, 1962. (Bottom): Students gaze at Hans Hoffman's Simplex Munditis, 1962, on view in Highlight of the Permanent Collection, on view at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, February 7, 2016 - December 2016.