The Brothership Building Window curated by IS183 Art School of the Berkshires will feature We Are Pittsfield by Fourth Grade Elementary Students in Pittsfield Public Schools for the month of March.

In celebration of Youth Art Month, We Are Pittsfield is a Pittsfield Public Schools district wide artistic collaboration created by fourth grade students in each of Pittsfield’s eight elementary schools.

Organized by the Visual Arts Teachers for each of Pittsfield’s Elementary Schools, students created a self-portrait during their art classes with the artistic intent of self-representation. Every participating fourth grade student of Pittsfield Public Schools has represented themselves in this display. Students reflected on their own personal identity by considering their appearance, their personal interests, and core values through creating sketches and discussing ways they could artistically express the complexities of who they are in a small 4x4 inch square.

During the project, students learned how their identities are shaped through their experiences, personal interests and passions. Students also examined self-portraiture throughout various eras and discussed the ways artists choose to represent themselves and their identity. Students viewed self-portraits of famous artists such as Frida Kahlo, Bisa Butler, and Wendy Red Star, the current exhibiting artist at KidSpace MASS MoCA.

Youth Art Month is a celebration of the visual arts administered by The Council for Art Education (CFAE) at the national level. Youth Art Month encourages support for quality school art programs, and promotes art material safety. The program provides a medium for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences unlike any other curriculum subjects, including problem solving, creativity, observation, and communication. Art shows, special exhibits, fundraisers, and school and community activities take place annually, traditionally during March, to celebrate visual art education for children in grades K – 12.