Through compelling exhibits and engaging events, The Fralin Museum of Art has made great strides to evoke an appreciation for creativity, and community among University students, local residents and Charlottesville’s youth. But beyond its displays of noteworthy artwork, the Fralin commits itself to empowering children through the arts. This is evident in its Early Visions program — a 10 week-long after-school program that brings together children from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia with University student-artistic mentors.
From reflecting on various pieces in the Fralin’s collection to creating personal masterpieces of their own, both the mentors and the mentees in the program develop a greater sense of confidence in their artistic abilities.
The Early Visions Program began in 2005 as a partnership between the Fralin and Charlottesville High School before moving to partner with the Boys and Girls Club in 2007. The program encompasses mentees from the Cherry Avenue, Albemarle Campus and Southwood Clubs. The artistic journeys that these kids embark on are guided by a dedicated team of University students. Angela Corpuz, director of the program and manager of Studio & Docent Programs at the Fralin, said students from all backgrounds and majors at the University volunteer every year.
“We’ll oftentimes see a lot of people who are in the A-school, but then there’s people in studio arts … or as far-flung as commerce, lots of people from the Education school [and] pre-med” Corpuz said.
The application to be a mentor — which opens on the Fralin’s website every fall — is a two step process including the application itself and an interview. University students who continue past the application and interview stages then become mentors for the spring semester. The diverse backgrounds of the student mentors enrich their respective mentor-mentee relationships. Each mentor brings a unique perspective to the creative and educational experiences, like perusing the museum and gaining inspiration before delving into the day’s planned art activity.
The program offers a family style atmosphere — a few mentors and multiple mentees sit together at each table so everyone has a chance to collaborate and learn as a group. Beginning with an exploration of the museum’s art offerings followed by an engaging personal art project, each meeting strives to inculcate an environment where everyone feels comfortable and creative.
Second-year College student Emily Tran, who served as an Early Visions mentor this past spring, said that this structure cultivates a strong sense of mutual growth and belonging among the entire program. Tran said the nurturing environment and engaging activities allowed her to create a meaningful and lasting bond with one of her mentees, Aranza.
“Early Visions became more than just a program for me. It’s a space where I can connect, learn and create without expectations,” Tran said. “I grew very close with Aranza, and even after the program ended, we kept in touch, exchanging little gifts and messages that kept our bond alive.”
These activities, which integrate pieces and exhibitions from the museum into interactive and hands-on initiatives, allow children to use art to explore and express their individual identities. The activities also allow mentees to gain exposure to a variety of mediums, techniques and styles of art over the course of the 10 weeks.
One example of a project well-loved by the participants was the creation of clay mascots based on a lesson which highlighted the Fralin’s own mascot — Fralin the Bull.
“We have a replica of Fralin the Bull right outside … so we take the kids out there … then we go back into the classroom and do the reverse and make their own mini mascot for themselves and express something that they like or something about themselves through their own designed character” Corpuz said.
Above all, Corpuz emphasized that a main goal of the program lies in helping the kids to believe that they are capable of creating art, not only as a skill but also as a powerful outlet for expression.
Early Visions also provides kids with a chance to hear firsthand from successful artists in order to demonstrate the possibilities of art as a way to express emotion in a personal or professional manner. Past guests have included Patricia Michaels — a fashion designer featured as a competitor on Project Runway — as well as photographers like Sarah Maple, best known for her award-winning self-portrait collection titled “SIGNS,” and Tokie Rome-Taylor, whose work, celebrated for its rich symbolism and exploration of identity, was featured in the Fralin’s 2022 “Power Play” exhibition.
“It's really gratifying whenever we have visiting artists come because the kids get to see contemporary working artists who’ve had their artwork displayed and exhibited at the museum,” Corpuz said. “[Early Visions gives] these kids lots of opportunities to see artists and also see themselves as artists.”
Corpuz said that the Charlottesville community has also been very supportive of the Early Visions program. For example, at the conclusion of the 10 weeks, Welcome Gallery — located in the New City Arts initiative, which is an organization on the Downtown Mall that connects local creators with the broader community — sponsors an exhibition that highlights work the students have made during the program. Corpuz said this culminating presentation allows the mentees to see their artwork in a real gallery setting, but also lets them share their journey as an artist with family and friends.
“We give the kids invitations, and they invite all their friends and their teachers,” Corpuz said. “Last year, there was one kid [where] her entire teacher squad came … the reading specialist, her classroom teacher, everybody just came.”
Corpuz said that incorporating more events which increase community engagement is one of her many goals as director. She said that she believes it gives the children a chance to develop interpersonal skills in addition to honing their creativity.
In an effort to strengthen this mission, Corpuz said she has brought on new staff to the Early Visions team to best support the holistic learning of the participants from the Boys and Girls Club. The approach emphasizes a balanced curriculum designed with opportunities for social, emotional and practical life skills that mentees can apply to other aspects of their lives.
“I’ve hired a social emotional learning specialist to help make sure that our curriculum doesn’t just say that we help [the kids] with life skills and self-regulation, but really just digs into the core and foundation of what we’re doing,” Corpuz said.
According to Corpuz, the most rewarding aspect of the program is being able to provide more children the resources to freely explore the arts.
“Anything I can do to get more people making artwork, that’s my whole goal and purpose,” Corpuz said. “Art and creativity [are] a part of the human experience and that should be free and available to everyone.”
Corpuz’s dream has become reality for program participants like Tran, who said that working with the mentees through Early Visions has changed her own mindset around making art. She said that it has given her a new-found sense of creative freedom.
“There’s something so refreshing about being around kids. They bring a kind of honesty and perspective that makes me see things in new ways,” Tran said. “Working with them reminds me of the importance of staying curious and open-hearted.”
An uplifting and mutually beneficial program, Early Visions provides an artistic outlet for kids and mentors alike. The opportunity for creative expression proves a space to decompress and bridge a relationship between University students and the greater community. The program accepts applications for the spring cycle throughout the fall semester, and students interested in joining can apply through the Early Visions mentorship application to learn more.
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