Featured Image: James Nangeroni (aged 9) standing next to his painting Alien 4. (courtesy of Allentown Art Museum)
Creator returning to the Lehigh Valley to reclaim childhood art as part of community exhibition closing reception
Allentown, Pa. – As part of the closing-weekend activities for a community exhibition at the Allentown Art Museum, a former Allentown elementary school student will return to the Lehigh Valley to be reunited with artwork he created more than three decades ago as part of a nationwide school art program by Crayola.
James Nangeroni was a third-grade student at Hiram W. Dodd Elementary School in Allentown in 1992 when he painted a colorful creature that is now on display as one of more than 50 vintage children’s artworks in the exhibition Dream Makers: A Creative Legacy. On Saturday, March 1, Nangeroni will be at the Museum from noon until 2 p.m. to see his painting for the first time since he was a child and be reunited with his work. Now the Director of Robotic Surgery at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, New Jersey, Nangeroni still remembers the inspiration for his creepy creature.
“I’m assuming I saw a preview for Alien 3, as that would have come out that year,” he says. “I’m fairly certain my parents had not shown me any of those movies at nine,” he adds with a laugh.
Nangeroni will be part of a presentation at the Museum that begins at 1 p.m. with comments from Museum President Max Weintraub and Crayola’s Senior Director of Education, Cheri Sterman. Crayola Chief Marketing Officer Victoria Lozano also will share insights on the importance of childhood creativity. The public is welcome to join this celebration of childhood creativity. Admission and parking are free and refreshments will be provided.
The works in the Museum’s Dream Makers exhibition were selected from Crayola’s vast archives that are stored at the company’s headquarters in Easton, PA. Crayola is sharing the artworks as part of its Campaign for Creativity that is elevating the conversation about the value of childhood creativity to help kids reach their full potential and encouraging adults to nurture that creativity in everyday activities. The exhibition continues at the Museum until Sunday, March 2.
In 1984, Crayola worked with teachers across the country to inspire and celebrate children’s artwork through a program known as Dream Makers. A year later, the first Dream Makers exhibition debuted at the Allentown Art Museum. The nationwide initiative continued for 25 years with artwork displayed in museums, galleries, and office buildings across the country.
“The Allentown Art Museum is incredibly proud to celebrate more than forty years of partnership with Crayola, a collaboration that has been integral to our mission of inspiring creativity and fostering a love for the arts within our community,” says Abby Simmons, the Museum’s Director of Education and Public Engagement.
“We’re excited to once again be sparking imaginations and inspiring self-expression with the Museum, which has been a long-time, valuable partner in celebrating creativity,” says Lozano. “This exhibition aligns with Crayola’s Campaign for Creativity, transporting adults back to childhood, reminding them of the creative moments that impacted their life, and inspiring them to nurture their own children’s creativity.”
ABOUT THE ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM
The Allentown Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to use the arts and culture as a catalyst to drive interaction, experimentation, and social change for everyone. By collecting, preserving, studying, exhibiting, interpreting, and teaching visual art, the Museum enlightens, engages, energizes, and empowers people—transforming the community one person and one idea at a time. For more information, please visit AllentownArtMuseum.org.
ABOUT CRAYOLA
Crayola LLC, based in Easton, Pa., a business of Hallmark Cards, Inc., is the worldwide leader in children’s creative expression products. Known for the iconic Crayola Crayon first introduced in 1903, the Crayola brand has grown into a vast portfolio of art tools, crafting activities and creativity toys that offer children of all ages innovative ways to use color to create everything imaginable. From engaging products and content to location-based experiences, Crayola inspires creativity in everyone. Learn more at www.crayola.com.
Information provided to TVL by:
Chris Potash,
