Learning To See Student Gallery

Each lesson is inspired by the life and work of a Focus on the Masters Documented Artist.

Artwork by students from Mrs. Rodriguez’s 5th grade class at Blanche Reynolds Elementary
2020-2021

These residencies were generously funded by the California Arts Council.

Learn more about Porfirio HERE.

Porfirio Gutierrez is from a family of Zapotec weavers in a small village in Oaxaca, Mexico.
He lives in Ventura and still works with his family to carry on the tradition of weaving in his village. Porfirio shared his experiences with Learning To See students, saying that Dia de los Muertos is the most important day of the year for his people. Our students then created their own altars.

This altar is from his family home in Teotitlan del Valle in Oaxaca.

Dia de los Muertos Altar 1

Dia de los Muertos Altar 2

Dia de los Muertos Altar 3

Dia de los Muertos Altar 4

Dia de los Muertos Altar 5

Dia de los Muertos Altar 6

Dia de los Muertos Altar 7

Funding

Our standard 8-week in-the-classroom residency is $600 (including instructor and supplies).
You can “Adopt A Classroom” for $600.00. Click HERE to donate.

Four week and single lessons are also available. Our lessons are cross-curricular and support the California content standards. Many of them can be tailored and grouped to work with a particular unit of study, i.e. zoology, social studies, history, language arts, sciences, etc. They are adaptable to a wide range of grade levels from elementary through secondary grades and beyond, including community groups and programs. Programs are supported in a variety of ways, including school and PTA funds, grants, or personal donations from an individual or group of parents/grandparents.

Our program is taught by professional artists who have extensive educational experience. We feel that this criterion helps to guide the student with a deeper understanding of the art making process.

For more information, or to arrange a residency in your neighborhood, call 805.653.2501 or email [email protected].

SUPPORT

Your donations support the programs that are at the heart of the FOTM’s mission…

to document and archive extraordinary artists and their work through photographic portraits, audio and video interviews and biographical research that encompass each artist’s experiences, artistic reflections and development; and 2) to present this work to a broad public through extensive education outreach to all ages – including at-risk youth through our Learning to See Youth Outreach program, Art & The Creative Spirit Enrichment Program for Seniors, a public monthly Artist Spotlight Series, exhibitions, publications, website and an extensive resource library.

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