On view February 1–March 17, 2023
Reception February 9 from 5-7pm
Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday noon-5pm
Curator's Statement
Welcome to My Happy Place is an exhibition curated by Rose, a fifth grader at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School and Dr. Kiara Hill, a professor in the School of Art + Design at PSU. It invites viewers to experience the magic that is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School Museum of Contemporary Art (KSMoCA). KSMoCA is unique in that it's a contemporary art museum housed inside of a public school that provides students and staff the opportunity to regularly engage with art and artists. On any given day you can walk the halls at Dr. MLK Jr. School and see student artwork adorning the walls, engendering an atmosphere of creativity that serves to uplift and inspire anyone that walks into the space. This is the feeling we wanted to bring to this exhibition. The student work in this show is only a small part of our permanent collection. We curated these pieces to show the love and labor that makes KSMoCA a happy place for all.
About KSMoCA
The Dr Martin Luther King Jr School Museum of Contemporary Art (KSMoCA), is a contemporary art museum and social practice art project inside and in partnership with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School, a Pre K - 5th grade public school in NE Portland, OR. Founded in 2014 by Portland State University professors Lisa Jarrett and Harrell Fletcher, KSMoCA connects public school students with internationally renowned contemporary artists through collaborative workshops, exhibitions, artists lectures and site-specific commissions. Students learn through experience about museum practice and careers in the arts by participating as curators, preparators, artists, gallerists, writers, and docents.
KSMoCA reimagines the way museums, public schools, and universities can affect people, culture, and perspectives by creating radical intersections for sharing resources across organizations. Programs are developed collaboratively with the Dr MLK Jr School community, PSU students, and a team of supporting artists.
ksmoca.com
Instagram @ksmoca