Working in Miami’s middle and high schools, artists motivate students in the creation of artworks relevant to the students’ cultural and environmental experiences. After intensive dialogue and brainstorming sessions in the classroom and exposure to and information on public art through Miami-Dade Art in Public Places programming, students create artworks that communicate powerful messages on subjects such as diversity, respect, and community pride.
Master Peace is based on the belief that through collaborative art projects, youth can learn to value diversity, resolve conflicts, strengthen self-esteem, increase respect for others, and create pro-social bonds.
Painted murals, collaged works, and tile mosaics permanently enhance school walls, carrying with them messages about diversity, respect, and community pride. An interdisciplinary approach is encouraged: language arts students write essays that are incorporated into the artworks, dance students perform at dedication ceremonies, and media centers document the projects on video. Dedication ceremonies at the completion of each project celebrate the process and involve the entire student body and immediate community. The future vision for Master Peace involves expanding the number of schools and teachers.flower-purp.gif (2915 bytes)
This art form has two important features: The process and the product. The process is the coming together of students to develop a vision and work collectively to achieve a common goal, their art. The merit of this educational process is that everyone is valued for their contribution (diversity is rewarded) and success is based on the ability of the participants to support one another in reaching their goal. This process also leaves a product–the mural– that serves as a conspicuous reminder that by working jointly challenges can be met. The mural also creates awareness, leaving behind a pro-social message of youth, by youth, for youth.
Xavier Cortada, who has worked with diverse community groups across four continents to create pro-social art projects, serves as Artistic Director of Master Peace. He developed Master Peace as a tool to impact students, teachers and adminstrators to make positive changes within schools and communities. During its inaugural year, he directed Master Peace in twelve Miami-Dade County schools.
Master Peace is a collaborative effort of Regis House, Inc., a non-profit community-based center helping children and families, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Division of Life Skills, and Miami-Dade Art in Public Places.
Elementary School Projects
During the last weeks of the 1998-99 school year, Master Peace will create collaborative art projects with students in four Miami-Dade County elementary schools. Students will be working with Miami artist Xavier Cortada and using Internet technology in the development of these collaborative murals for their schools.
Each school will have a discussion forum and student web gallery capturing the words and images that contributed to the murals’ creation.
Coral Way Elementary School
Ms. Migdania Vega, Principal
Ms. Gloria Knowles, Art Teacher
Key Biscayne Community School
Ms. Darlene S. Mooney, Principal
Ms. JoAnn Young, Art Teacher
Palmetto Elementary School
Ms. Joanne Stearns, Principal
Ms. Pat Cummins, Art Teacher
Richmond Elementary School
Dr. Freddie G. Young, Principal
Ms. Felicia Sternbach, Art Teacher
Middle and High School Projects
During its inaugural year, Master Peace served students in twelve Miami-Dade County schools, including four elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools. The following are the high schools and middle schools.
SPRING 1999:
Citrus Grove Middle School
Carlos Cambo, Principal
Suzanne Lindheimer, Art Teacher
Miami Coral Park Senior High
William Machado, Principal
Peggy Falagan, Art Teacher
Miami Senior High School
Victor Lopez, Principal
Richard Perez, Art Teacher
West Miami Middle School
Marcos M. Moran, Principal
Pat Peck, Art Teacher
FALL 1998:
J.R.E Lee Alternative School
Edwina King, Principal
Sandy Maddock Schwartz, ArtTeacher
Kinloch Park Middle School
Lucy C. Iturrey-Perez, Principal
Johnny Roundtree, Assistant Principal
Josephina Santiago, Art Teacher
Ponce de Leon Middle School
Colleen Del Terso, Principal
Lowell C. Crawford, Assistant Principal
Carol Hughes-Thompson, Art Teacher
South Miami Senior High School
Thomas Shaw, Principal
Mike Richardson, Art Teacher