Celebrating Our 2nd Year Partnering with ODU on YASS Program

We are proud to continue supporting the Youth Artist Summer Studio (YASS) program, now in its second year. This partnership with Old Dominion University connects future art educators with K-12 students across Hampton Roads, delivering immersive creative experiences in three prestigious local museums. Each program offers unique opportunities for participants to explore different art forms and develop their creative skills under the guidance of ODU Art Education seniors entering their preservice teaching semester.

The Details

The Youth Artist Summer Studio (YASS) program runs over three Saturdays: October 19, October 26, and November 2, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Chrysler Museum of Art, the Hermitage Museum and Gardens, and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Each workshop is designed for different age groups, ranging from 3rd to 12th grade. Participants are required to attend all three sessions, as each lesson builds on the previous one. For more details or to register, visit the YASS program page:

Learn More

Chrysler Museum of Art – Setting the Table: Food for Thought

This workshop, designed for students in grades 3rd-5th, focuses on exploring cultural identity through art. Inspired by the museum’s "Farm to Table" exhibition, students will engage with the museum’s collection and create both abstract and representational paintings. Further, playful museum activities will help students engage with the museum’s collection. Weekly warm-ups will help participants as they develop their works of art independently and collaboratively, culminating in a final display of their creations.

Hermitage Museum and Gardens – A Look Through Rose Colored Glass

This unique program is designed to inspire students in grades 6-12 to explore their creativity while connecting with the beauty of nature. Students will view the stunning landscapes of the Hermitage Gardens as we walk through the serene pathways. Each sessio includes guided exploration, encouraging students to observe and appreciate the natural world around them. Students will also dive into a variety of illuminating art processes! Participants will learn the fundamentals of observational drawing, capturing the beauty of their surroundings through sketching techniques. Additionally, they’ll have the chance to create stunning faux stained glass, transforming ordinary materials into vibrant works of art that reflect light.

Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) – What’s the Vibe?

Middle and high school students will find inspiration in MOCA’s "ART OF THE VIBE" and "Made in VA" exhibitions. This is an exciting workshops that prompts students tp question what it means and looks like to be a part of something bigger than themselves, whether through activism, color, or noteworthy imagery. Each participant will have the opportunity to explore MOCA’s latest exhibits, practice their drawing skills in a self-portrait, create a design that depicts their community connections, and collaborate in a larger work.  Artists will turn the individual works into their very own agamograph; an art form that uses optical illusion to alter what the viewer sees.

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These programs not only provide a platform for young artists to explore their creativity, but also offer valuable teaching experiences for ODU Art Education seniors as they prepare for their future careers. We invite parents to learn more about YASS and register their children for these exciting opportunities to grow as artists and connect with the vibrant art community in Hampton Roads.

To Honor Her Bold Walk: A Video Tribute

Synnika Lofton is an accomplished author, spoken word poet, and recording artist -- as well as the upper school literary teacher at Chesapeake Bay Academy (CBA). In early 2023, while our foundation was having initial discussions with CBA about ways we could collaborate, Dr. Judy Jankowski shared that Synnika created a poem in honor of Melinda.

Synnika, who connected with Melinda during her cancer treatment due to his wife’s own journey as a survivor, was inspired by their bond to create this powerful piece. During the first Melinda Vooss Creative Arts Festival at CBA in 2023, his reading was an unforgettable experience offering a heartfelt tribute to Melinda's love, passion, and dedication to arts education. Synnika shared, "Melinda always had a bright smile, a kind word, and fierce confidence. I am glad I was able to capture some of that in the poem." He certainly did.

During the 2024 festival, Synnika shared a video performance of the poem that incorporated music and dance. A special thanks goes out to everybody who was involved with the creation of this video, including film maker, Alexander Jay, percussionist, Greg Lee, educator, Julieta S. Grey, engineer, Drew Norvella, the brilliant dancers, Marilyn Pablo, Leah Hilliard, Anusa Pernic, and artist/ business owner, Ukwensi Chappell for allowing use of Gallery Ukwensi to film this video.

We are forever grateful to Synnika for his emotional voice and his generosity of spirit and talent.

What Lifts You Up?

That was the theme of the 2nd Annual Melinda Vooss Creative Arts Festival at Chesapeake Bay Academy on May 23, 2024. And what an uplifting experience it was as the event expanded in scope and scale in every way possible. The art space was extended into the large gym area where works across all mediums were on display. Students explored new and historical artists and applied their talents to collage, loom weaving, self-portraits, sculpture, murals, printmaking, and so much more.

Inspired by Yoko Ono's Wish Trees, students collaborated to create paper tree sculptures and leaf prints, echoing the interactive nature of Ono's work and inviting guests to share their wishes for the world back of a leaf and tie to a tree.

As part of the program's theme, "What Lifts You Up?," another interactive exhibit invited both students and attendees to engage in a collaborative art piece. This display featured a large set of angel wings crafted from paper feathers. Guests were encouraged to decorate blank feather templates with their own unique designs, which were then added to the wings, symbolizing a collective contribution to the artwork and reinforcing the festival's uplifting and inclusive spirit.

The main program also featured a variety of performances, including a choir, solo vocalist, original poetry readings, and an energetic drum ensemble, adding to the festival's vibrant celebration of artistic expression.

The class also presented an original artwork as a gift to the Vooss family incorporating the paper feathers.

This was a collective effort to plan, organize, and execute such a wonderful celebration and festival. Special thanks to CBA faculty including Destiney Kooiman (Music), Rachelle Viar (Makerspace), Synnika Lofton (Literature), and Jazmine Beatty (Art), as well as Dr.Judy Jankowski (Head of School) -- and, of course, to the incredibly talented student artists.