Can you imagine what it would be like to teach and mentor high school students in the visual arts so that they can teach art to young children? Ask our super team of Summer 2022 Studio Arts Mentors: Badiallo, Felix, Julia, and Tamara.
The Studio Arts Mentors program, a paid internship for undergraduate Studio Art majors, enables skilled college students to gain experience teaching art while providing guidance and support to the high school students participating in our Teen Apprenticeship Program (TAP).
In the spring, Studio Arts Mentors assist experienced Studio Artist Instructors in implementing the program. They shadow the artists to learn about effective art instruction and lesson plan writing and how to facilitate and engage high school students in discussions about arts learning.
During the summer, Arts Mentors work with our Artist Instructors and their Studio Assistants to help TAP interns produce, document, and deliver art instruction. Mentors support the interns by guiding them in lesson planning, giving feedback, and co-teaching live art classes to children enrolled in New York City summer camps.
We’re pleased—and proud—to introduce our newest cohort of Studio Mentors. They bring a wide range of experience and varied interests to roles that can play an important part in helping guide teens as they explore careers in the arts and education.
Badiallo is a New York-based graphic designer of Malian descent who recently graduated with a BA in Digital Design from The City College of New York in 2022. (Congrats!) She is an aspiring art director interested in conceptual design, and enjoys turning ideas into functional items used by people and brands in everyday life. Fun Fact: In 2021, Badiallo was selected to participate in a year-long course in branding and design taught by renowned designer Paula Scher.
Felix is a non-binary, afro-latine sculptor who works mainly in wood, plaster, and found objects. They are currently enrolled in an art education program at Pratt Institute and will be certified as an art teacher next semester. Felix brings experience in working with K–8 students and looks forward to mentoring the students in our Teen Apprenticeship Program as they teach art to young children this summer! Fun Fact: Felix is helplessly obsessed with seltzer water and crocheting.
Julia is a first-generation Latina majoring in Studio Art with a minor in Psychology at New York University who is passionate about art and how people can interact and participate in the art world. She can recall her own early art experiences using a color wheel and mixing colors in elementary school. At NYU, Julia co-created an art fair to help artists showcase their talents. Fun Fact: She indulges her love for animals with a side gig as a dog walker!
Tamara is a photography and computer science major at New York University. She brings experience in fashion design, film, early childhood education, and digital art—and has held internships at several arts organizations, including The Met MoMa, the Rubin Museum of Art and The Noguchi Museum. As a first-generation Latina, she aspires to encourage younger generations to pursue their dream careers even if it appears to be unobtainable. Fun Facts: Tamara can program in Python and loves playing games such as Connect 4 and Uno.
Participating in Studio programs can lead to long-lasting relationships and even employment opportunities. Case in point: Studio Artist Instructor Rosanna Victorio began her Studio Institute connection by participating in the Teen Apprenticeship Program in 2015 and serving as a Studio Arts Mentor in 2019.
We look forward to sharing the insights and learning experiences of our Studio Mentors and TAP teens as the summer progresses.
