October is National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM). NAHM is a celebration to honor artists and scholars, and the power of the art to inspire, connect people, and shape communities.
If you’ve been inside many of our KIPP DC schools, you’ve seen bold, beautiful portraits celebrating our students. They depict scenes of joy, celebration, community reminding the they belong in these schools.
In honor of this month, we met up with their artist, Mr. Malandela Zulu. Zulu is an art instructor at KIPP DC College Preparatory, and an internationally celebrated mixed media artist who uses elements from printmaking, drawing, painting, photography, and ceramics. He brings his unique style and talent to these hallways to help welcome and inspire students every day.
Over the next month, we will share some of his background, get a special tour with insights to the special artwork lining the halls, his approach to teaching students, and the importance of art to help heal.
First, let’s step into the hallways of our campus at Benning Campus….