Free family ARTS day at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art

Fourth- and fifth-grade students across Sonoma Valley are exploring concepts of form, space, color and change thanks to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art’s Art Rewards the Student (ARTS) program.

This year’s program is inspired by the museum’s current exhibitions featuring light artist Phillip K. Smith III, and ceramic artists Richard Shaw and Wanxin Zhang.

A student exhibition, titled “Light, Space, Clay: Portals to Creative Explorations,” is on view in tandem with “Phillip K. Smith III – Portals: A Space for Color” and exhibits by Shaw and Zhang through April 7.

For the past two months, fourth- and fifth-grade students have been visiting the museum and finding inspiration in the three exhibiting artists.

“The portals conjure daydreams, reflecting mostly on ways in which the student’s families might experience peace, calm and safety,” said Dianne Aoki, education and community engagement manager at SVMA, in a press release announcing the 2019 ARTS program. “Viewing art is a productive, essential platform from which students tap into personal, creative dialogs. The student’s observations are valuable cognitive tools that prompt inquiry, reflection and expression, and connect them to the world that surrounds.”

The ARTS program brings, free to the schools, experienced teaching artists both into school classrooms and to the museum, where students experience art-making projects themed to the museum’s current exhibition that spark creativity and critical thinking. Student work is displayed alongside the museum exhibition.

Saturday, April 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., is the museum’s annual free Family ARTS Day, celebrating the young Sonoma artists on display.

There will be art-making stations, refreshments and a midday performance by the Valley Vibes Orchestra.