The Education of Mrs. Pannapulah: Rolling Deep In the ArtMOBILE!!

Hey Y'all!
So this past week I've spent the better part of my day driving around in a big purple Dodge Caravan teaching art. Ridiculous you say? No my friend, ArtMobile. The ArtMobile is actually comprised of two vehicles, the purple van, AND the humungous purple bus. I do not have enough gumption to drive the big bus so I'm low ridin it in the van. What does the van look like you say?


This is me and the van !! See the huge bus next to it? Yeah I'm not driving that!

The command center.

Organization is KEY when you're rolling in a Dodge Caravan.

Glue sticks, scissors, tape, neon rope, drills, you name we GOT IT!

Rolley cart, super technical term guys, helps us move our wares around .

I totally pimped her out this year with a clothes line to hang work, a cooler, a first aid kit, and a place to hang up our smocks.

The ArtMobile is a program that is affiliated with the New Bedford Art Museum (NBAM), and has been running for the past 17 years. We ( two Art Educators) drive all over the city, to parks and day programs, youth centers and even into the projects to bring art and the power of art making to children. We actually see about 800 kids over the course of the summer. It's pretty amazing when you think about it....I was lucky enough to get involved with it last year and it's really opened my eyes to how much art can change a child's life. I was incredibly lucky as a child to always have a ton of art supplies at my disposal. You name it I had it, including a little french beret and cloth apron. Very Claude Monet I know! But, in my travels with the ArtMobile I've met children that don't even have crayons at home. Now that just doesn't seem right to me. Every child should have a box of crayons so they can let their imagination run wild. I know I've definitely made a few kids' day just by being supportive of the work they make and praising their imaginations. You see their eyes just light up! It makes me smile but, it also breaks my heart a little bit because I know deep down that they're not hearing it at home. So tomorrow morning I'll wake up bright and early, pedal my bike on down to "the yard" and start my baby up. We'll cover alot of pavement tomorrow and we'll make alot of art. And that's pretty damn cool.

If you want to know more about the ArtMobile or NBAM check out their website at:
New Bedford Art Museum
AND ArtMOBILE

Here's a couple more pictures of the awesome little people we get to hang out with all day!