Hello everyone! My name is JulieAnn Caputo. I am an artist, paraprofessional, and soon-to-be Art Educator from the South Bronx. My preferred medium is acrylic on canvas. Most of my work is an expression of my identity and my overall experiences as a biracial individual. Throughout my youth, I had the opportunity to witness the polarity between a White upper-middle class area in Westchester County, and a predominately Black and Brown, low-income neighborhood within the South Bronx, when spending time with my parents, who lived separately. While existing in different spaces, I noticed the disparities in the overall quality of life. After some time, living in an environment with a reduced access to essential resources created an emotional strain that prompted me to begin creating art in effort to cope with this newfound stressor.
Unknowingly to me at the time, my artistic expression had a positive impact in my life during my childhood. This was not limited to my interpersonal relationships, but also to my academic performance. As a result of this, I became increasingly interested in the role that art plays within the lives of marginalized individuals, specifically BIPOC, (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth.
Now as a paraprofessional, I have observed firsthand the benefits of artistic and creative expression in the classroom. At times, many students feel more confident expressing their frustrations and overall emotions, visually rather than verbally elaborating. In my experience, it is evident that this creative process not only enhanced the emotional state of these students but began to have a positive impact in their academics. Overall, noticing parallels between my own personal adversity along with my use of art, and the way these students utilize their creative outlets inspired me to delve deeper into this matter.
My current research project aims to investigate how art promotes the emotional well-being and academic growth of BIPOC students. Drawing from my own experiences, I aim to understand why art became an integral part of my life during the height of adversity and what are the effects that it has on the emotional state on these young people.
Some sources to investigate:
https://doi.org/10.1080/00043125.2020.1825596
