In addition to featuring more established D.I.Y. artists, Artists & Fleas’ “Market in McCarren,” which runs every Saturday through the summer, has the additional benefit of providing a venue for Williamsburg’s more up−and−coming artists.
Last Saturday, a collection of young artists from area elementary schools showcased an array of silkscreen textiles, necklaces, tie−dye tote bags, and other crafts. The event represented the culmination of their hard work in the Weaving Community Program, a supplementary arts education program that just completed its first year of existence.
Funded by Councilmember Diana Reyna, the program was founded by Kate Yourke, an art educator and community activist whose two children attend P.S. 132 (320 Manhattan Ave.), one of four area schools that hosted the program. (The others were P.S. 18, (101 Maujer St.) 19 (325 South 3rd St.), and 257 at 60 Cook St.).
In all, around 200 students participated in the program. At P.S. 257, the program was targeted at students in need of physical and occupational therapy.
“These activities improve coordination, fine motor skills, and bilateral brain communication, so they’re really good for this population,” said Yourke.
