What If The Gowanus Canal Were Clean: PS 58 Fourth Graders Dare To Dream

Could you imagine what the Gowanus Canal area could look like if the waters of the waterway were clean? For the 4th Graders at PS 58, this vision would include water slides, surfboards, boats and healthy fish, and on its shores, picnics, playgrounds, lots of grass and ice cream. And above it all, there would be a wide blue sky.

This does not exactly match with the plans that Mayor Bloomberg and the Toll Brothers have for the area, but the children's dream of a clean environment for the canal is shared by the entire community. I know I do.
The " Hopes And Dreams For The Gowanus Canal" exhibit was part of the Annual Gowanus Arts Show Tour this last week-end.
The art was produced by the entire 4th grade class at PS 58. I would like to thank their art teacher, Megan Kimball, for engaging the children in such a meaningful way and for allowing them a voice in such an important dialogue.
Please check out Ms. Kimball's blog here.

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PS 58 Kids "Hope And Dreams For The Gowanus Canal" As Part Of A.G.A.S.T. This Week-End

We know what Mayor Bloomberg's vision for the Gowanus Canal area is. But what are the hopes and dreams of the community's children for the long neglected, polluted waterway?
The question was put to 4th graders at PS 58.
In collaboration with Brooklyn artists, the 4th Graders expressed their own very unique vision.
You will be able to see their work as part of this week-end's Annual Gowanus Artists Studio Tour (A.G.A.S.T.)

"Hopes & Dreams for the Gowanus Canal"

at the Annual Gowanus Artists Studio Tour (A.G.A.S.T.)
Location: 498 Court Street (b/w Luquer & Nelson Streets)
When: Saturday & Sunday, October 17th & 18th,
1 - 6 pm

Be the first to celebrate these artistic hopes for our community and come to the opening reception on Saturday, from 5:00 - 7:00. Both the reception & the studio hours are open to the public, so bring family & friends to enjoy this local art event!"

From An A.G.A.S.T. press release:

A collaboration of AGAST artists with children at PS 58 to create an exhibition of student work is an exciting community addition.Student artists from the fourth grade will work collaboratively to create paintings around the theme of the Gowanus Canal. They will be informed by research, on-site visits, their own perceptions of the canal and artist visits. The culmination of the project will be the exhibition where student work will be displayed and student docents will share their artistic process with gallery visitors. The fourth graders will be involved in all aspects of the exhibition process, from creating work to documentation, to installation of the show. The gallery exhibition will be a stop on the AGAST tour; an opening reception will be held Saturday October 17 from 5 to 7pm.
The Gowanus Canal is an historic industrial waterway where physical work necessary to the life of the City is still done. There are concrete plants where stone is pounded, petroleum transfer stations, and scrap heaps where the skeletal remains of cars are sorted by giant steel claw machines with surprising delicacy. Gravel and steel are ferried along the Canal on barges shepherded by tugboats stopping traffic as they pass through drawbridges. This is real work that cannot be done elsewhere, yet, it's also industry people do not want in their back yards. The industrial buildings and working atmosphere of Gowanus comprise a perfect incubator for contemporary art.

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