Tejas | Photo by Jessica Fugett | The Wright State Guardian
Driving past K12 Gallery and Teen Educational and Joint Adult Studio (TEJAS) has drivers questioning the story behind the vibrant art displayed proudly on the building.
Started in the Cannery building with two studios in 1993, K12 Gallery and TEJAS has been around for 26 years and now houses six studios.
“There was a donor to help develop the Teen Educational and Joint Adult Studio,” said Cantrell.
The mission
“The mission is to inspire people of all ages to imagine learning and creating a unique and encouraging environment,” said Rebecca Cantrell, Development and Marketing director.
Cantrell obtained her Master’s degree in Public Administration with a Nonprofit Management concentration from Wright State University.
K12 Gallery and TEJAS’s main focus was on children, but as those children began growing up, they wanted to continue on with art and creativity. They partner with approximately 15 schools.
“Great place for summer art camp. Lots of offerings, friendly teachers and staff. My 9-year-old came home excited each day to tell me what she had done. I will definitely be back for more classes,” said Anne Schoen in a Google Review.
Art accessibility
K12 Gallery and TEJAS teaches for Miami Valley residents as well as art as a curriculum in detention centers where they don’t have access to art.
“We partner with the Montgomery county juvenile courts with an art mentorship program. A lot of their students don’t have a frequent encounter with art so with this program we have court personnel that are on hand as well as artists,” said Cantrell. “They create about 50 percent of the murals you see around the Dayton area. They bring such vibrancy to our community. It really engages them with civic pride.”
Additionally, TEJAS partners with organizations with assistance with disabilities, setting up curriculum and classes to help inspire them and foster creativity.
“The ability to pay is sometimes a hindrance. We go into school and have a minimalized art curriculum where we can send accomplished artists to teach the curriculum,” said Cantrell. “We take it a step further where they can do exhibitions and competitions to help understand the basic fundamentals of art.”
Many of these students come back to take classes after obtaining a lifelong skill.
“They’re given the task of a small little section of a big mural to stay focused. No matter how big a scenario seems, if you stay focused on the task at hand, it all falls into place,” said Cantrell.
After School art program
60 percent of students in the After-School Art Program fall under the poverty level, according to Cantrell.
“Without the assistance of our funders and supporters, they wouldn’t get to experience such great things that are accomplished in the classes,” said Cantrell.
Rebecca Sargent is in charge of that program. Sargent attended University of Pennsylvania to obtain her Master of Fine Arts and WSU for her Bachelor of Fine Arts, according to the K12 Gallery and TEJAS webpage.
“There’s a 95 percent success rate for college submissions. She takes them through the whole program and gives those students the confidence to move on to college and do some amazing things,” said Cantrell.
K12 Gallery and TEJAS can’t be missed, at 341 S Jefferson St, Dayton, OH 45402.
