Caldecott winner to read to MPS students, give public lecture as part of Arts @ Large exhibition

MILWAUKEE (May 14, 2014) — Internationally acclaimed author and Caldecott Honor Book winner Faith Ringgold will read to students at Milwaukee Public Schools’ Hampton Elementary School Thursday and present a free public lecture at MPS’ North Division High School later that evening.

At Hampton, Ringgold will read from “Tar Beach,” her 1992 Caldecott Honor Book to classrooms Thursday, May 15 at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at Hampton, 5000 N. 53rd Street, Milwaukee 53218. Media are invited and welcome to attend and should contact Tony Tagliavia, MPS media manager, at (414) 475-8675 or tagliaaj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

The public lecture runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the auditorium at North Division, 1011 W. Center Street, Milwaukee 53206. Ringgold will be signing books immediately after the event. Media are also invited and welcome to attend the lecture.

The visits tie in with the new “Stories Shared” exhibition by the nonprofit organization Arts @ Large, which was founded in 2001 to connect arts to academics through meaningful arts experiences for MPS students.

“Stories Shared” includes original artwork “Tar Beach” along with sculptural art from local artist and children’s author Andrea Skyberg and the artwork of MPS students who helped create illustration for Skyberg’s new book “Shimmerling.”

“This has been a lifelong dream for me to bring Faith Ringgold to Milwaukee and to share her creativity with our students, families and educators,” said Kim Abler, MPS Art Curriculum Specialist and co-director/co-founder of Arts @ Large.

Milwaukee Public Schools continues to be committed to bringing more arts opportunities into MPS classrooms. In addition to working with Arts @ Large and other partners, the district has added more than 90 art, music and physical education specialists into classrooms over the last two years. The proposed 2014-15 budget would add another 50 art/music/PE specialist positions.