Black Library, CAS Kids collaborate on art

By Michelle Adams-Thomas | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – Last year, accomplished artist-educators Douglas Schindler and Michael Davis were awarded a $400,000 grant by the Mellon Foundation to help them launch their plan for a library of African American literature. Finally, on March 28, Schindler and Davis celebrated finding a building to house the library at 418 Broadway in Monticello.

Since the opening of their facility, both creators have been collaborating with art spaces and nonprofit organizations. Each month, they hold a meeting at their new location. At their monthly meeting they go over future activities they will be attending or hosting as well.

Recently Schindler and Davis have been working with CAS Kids. CAS Kids is a program that Catskill Art Space Executive Director Sally Wright has been running for years. The program gives youth the opportunity to celebrate their creativity in workshops while meeting inspiring artists.

In early April, Schindler and Davis worked together to teach the CAS Kids members about well-known African American artists with a brief presentation. The students, after being well invested in learning about the artists, created a piece of their own.

Set on a huge canvas, the students made an abstract art piece with acrylic paints. The exercise taught the CAS Kids teamwork and what it’s like for others to see a blank canvas. Schindler and Davis continue to work together to make a name for themselves and African-American history.