As part of the school’s celebrations surrounding Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black History Month, Chestnut Ridge Middle School sixth and seventh grade students created posters highlighting contemporary African American artists.  The project was inspired by The Lumpkin-Boccuzzi Family Collection and featured in the September 2020 book, Young, Gifted and Black, A New Generation of Artists. 

“We honor Dr. King, Jr. by spreading the message that we are all brothers and sisters, fellow Americans of all races, religions, and political background,” said art teacher Veronica Akhtar, who directed the project. “Art is universal.”

CRMS seventh-grade students Heebba Singh (pictured left) and Olivia McCullough pose next to their poster designs.

Posters by Jakyree Burt, Jayden Schmidt and Kaleb Ruiz, Grade 8.

Posters by Sophia Bennett, Lokelani Pellegren, and Lucas Pawlowski. Grade 7.

Posters by Christian Galioto, Isaiah Dunleavy Grade 7 and Bryan Ekstrom Grade 8