Portland High School Digital Exhibition: Vivi[d]evolution

What is abstraction? How do we visually represent an idea or theme in abstract ways? 

These are some of the questions that Portland High School (PHS) Advanced Art students grappled with during an exploration of representing big ideas through abstraction. In Spring 2023, we started by looking at a variety of contemporary artists and their practices working with abstraction, including a visit to the PMA to see artworks by artists such as Jeffrey Gibson and Leonardo Drew. Student artists then created their own body of work that connected to one or more of the following themes: memory, conflict, or identity. Each artist created three to five pieces of art that relate to the themes and demonstrate progression or regression, or a metamorphosis. Collectively and individually the artworks devolve or evolve to reflect change in various forms. 

Since 2019, the Portland Public Schools (PPS) and Portland Museum of Art Partnership Program has aimed to build connections, resources, and collaborations with the PPS district. These partnerships are focused on student needs and interests, and developed in collaboration with educators doing essential work in all content areas. We hope that partnerships such as these help to amplify the power of art and art-making, along with the incredible arts education work being done in our local communities. 

For more information, about school programs and partnerships at the PMA, please visit our Learn page, or email Meghan Quigley Graham mquigley@portlandmuseum.org. 

 The PMA Schools Experience Initiative, including the PPS and PMA Partnership Program, is made possible by the Sam L. Cohen Foundation.