Blanka Amezkua
BRAC Teaching Artist, Mixed-media, 2017 - present
Blanka Amezkua is an artist, cultural promoter, educator and project initiator based in South Bronx. Formally trained as a painter, her practice is greatly influenced and informed by folk art and popular culture. In 2008 she began an artist-run project in her bedroom called the Bronx Blue Bedroom Project (BBBP). BBBP ran from 2008-2010. In 2016 she initiated and she currently operates AAA3A (Alexander Avenue Apartment 3A) an alternative artist-run project which offers food, dialogue, workshops, and art in her living room. Mentions of her work and projects can be found in various notable national and international publications.
Why I Teach: “
My reasons for teaching are numerous but what I find fascinating and intriguing is discovering how my students allow themselves to be free as they create their work. This freedom or hesitation reveals who they are; my goal is to help them be and feel free, as much as possible, as they create.
I’ve taught art to middle school and high school students and with BRAC I have been primarily working with seniors. While working with my seniors, I have discovered that time has slowed down for them and I realize that many are now willing to invest in their creative side, something that perhaps was not possible, for many, due to their commitments of raising their children and taking care of the family. Surely, I believe my seniors teach me more than I could ever teach them, or perhaps it’s an exchange of experiences. But the breadth of their experiences is by far deeper and greater than mine. I am extremely grateful and thankful for what they instill me.
Most of my teaching with BRAC has been cancelled due to the virus. I teach a Saturday class at The New School and we were forced to move to virtual teaching during the last week in March. Fortunately my students had all their material to continue working on their projects; these are such strange and uncertain times for all of us, I hope everyone is well.
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Blue bird, Collage/tissue paper and glue, 12 x 15 in, 2019
Pink and black birds, Collage/tissue paper and glue, 12 x 15 in, 2019