Art Makes You Smart!
The Bo Bartlett Center Art Makes You Smart! program takes art and artists into select Muscogee County Schools teaching the basic
principals of art. Inspired by the 2013 study by University of Arkansas social scientists
Jay P. Greene, Brian Kisida and Daniel H. Bowen, the program’s goal is to foster critical
thinking, encourage human empathy and inspire creativity.
AMYS is a Partners in Education, Partners at Large Program collaboration with the Columbus
Chamber of Commerce and the students of the Muscogee County School District. AMYS
is a 4 part program held over 4 weeks, which brings professional artists and BBC Artist
Board members to the classroom to lead students in creative exploration.
Artists/volunteers demonstrate and students participate in drawing and painting sessions.
Classes include a 4-part series: “Art Tells a Story,” the story of Bo and his life
in Columbus, his art studies and paintings, led by Suzanne Fine; “Drawing Sessions
with Bo Bartlett;” “Painting Bartlett Pears” on canvas with acrylics, led by Gloria
Mani; commencing with Tours of Bo and Betsy’s Studios and the Bo Bartlett Center.
Highlights: Art Makes You Smart received the distinction of the PIE/Chamber of Commerce Partners at Large Award in
2016.
The first AMYS exhibition included the drawings and paintings of over 200 students and was held
at the RiverCenter in April the same year. Participating Schools: Downtown Elementary,
Kendrick High School, and South Columbus Elementary.
Goals of the program: Inspire creative and critical thinking, drawing and painting
skills learned from the discussions with and demonstrations by artists at work.
Class ratio: 3-5 Committee members to 35 students.
The Education Value of Field Trips
Science Says Art Will Make Your Kids Better Thinkers
Watch the Videos!
Bo Bartlett - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
Suzanne Fine - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
Betsy Eby - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
Tony Pettis - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
Gloria Mani - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
Virtual Art Makes You Smart!
Our AMYS Videos series is based on the Bartlett Center’s ART MAKES YOU SMART (AMYS)
program. This program takes art and artists into Muscogee County Schools, teaching
the basics of art to school children. Inspired by the 2013 study by University of
Arkansas social scientists Jay P. Greene, Brian Kisida, and Daniel H. Bowen, the program’s
goal is to foster critical thinking, encourage human empathy, and inspire creativity.
AMYS is a Partners in Education, Partners at Large Program in collaboration with the
Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the Muscogee County School District students. AMYS
is a program, which brings professional artists and BBC Artist Board members to the
classroom to lead students in creative exploration. All video segments are available
now to MCSD, online, free of charge.
Watch the videos!
Have you used one of our videos for educational purposes? Fill out this survey so we can improve!
Bo Bartlett Video - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
See the vocabulary words for the video above here: Bo Bartlett Keywords
(PDF)
Suzanne Fine Video - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
See the vocabulary words for the video above here: Suzanne Fine Keywords
(PDF)
Betsy Eby Video - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
See the vocabulary words for the video above here: Betsy Eby Keywords
(PDF)
Tony Pettis Video - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
See the vocabulary words for the video above here: Tony Pettis Keywords
(PDF)
Gloria Mani Video - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
See the vocabulary words for the video above here: Gloria Mani Keywords
(PDF)
Home Is Where the Art Is
Home Is Where The Art Is (HIWTAI) is an outreach program in Columbus, Georgia. Its
purpose is focused on the shared passion for art and a shared belief in its ability
to change lives. HIWTAI began as a venue in which local artists and volunteers could
provide assistance to individuals in the homeless community with creating their own
artworks. The program is now a collaborative effort between SafeHouse Ministries at
Rose Hill United Methodist Church and the Bo Bartlett Center. Through this collaboration,
the impact on lives extends to the workshops with individuals in the homeless community.
Inspiration and mentoring is available as local artists volunteer for the program
and assist attendees.
Media coverage: Electric City Life, The Ledger Enquirer video and article.
View our slideshow
K.I.D.S Workshop
Virtual Drawing Together Videos
Family Art Workshops for children ages 4+ with a caregiver
Made possible by The Bo Bartlett Center’s partnership with VIRTUAL DRAWING TOGETHER,
Family Art Workshops designed by K.I.D.S. Art Education Teaching Artists, a program
of Kentler International Drawing Space in Brooklyn, New York
Through these videos, children and families will create fluid drawings, often inspired
by music
Join Teaching Artist Victoria Calabro for a workshop based on the work of Flatfiles
artist Abby Goldstein! Families will create fluid drawings inspired by music. Send
a photo of your finished project to us at bobartlettcenter@columbussstate.edu or tag
us on social media:
Instagram: @bobartlettcenter | Facebook: The Bo Bartlett Center
We hope you’ll enjoy this time together. Take a moment to explore, and remember to
keep drawing!
Complete List of Videos
Kindness Through Art
Kindess Through Art is an outreach program of the Bo Bartlett Center designed to show
compassion and attention to underprivileged children (ages up to 15 years old) residing
in Columbus area shelters. Each child receives an “Art Bag” filled with crayons, pencils,
Bartlett Center coloring books, watercolor sets, washable markers, stickers, play–dough,
etc., and a stuffed animal to cuddle. The program’s primary goals are to promote the
many benefits of art, build confidence in the minds of the child while they have fun
learning, and provide some relief to struggling parents in the shelters.
To donate to this program online via card ($20 per gift bag), head to our Donation Page, select “Kindness Through Art” in the drop down menu, and put the name and address
of the honoree you would like to dedicate your gift to in the comments below. We will
mail your honoree a card letting them know they have had a gift made in their honor.
Your contribution is incredibly helpful in supporting this program.
To learn more about our work with Valley Rescue Mission Women and Children’s shelter,
click here!
Artistic Ability
Artistic Ability is art-based programming for disabled adults, ages 18 to 70, held in collaboration
with New Horizons Behavioral Health at the Columbus Service Center, a day center,
located at 2401 Buena Vista Road, Columbus. The curriculum for AA was originally designed
and led by Geri Davis, BAA, Auburn University, and trained volunteers. This volunteer
team has been together since the program started. The class/volunteer ratio is one
to one.
Goals of the program: Introduce creativity, develop eye-hand coordination skills and
special abilities, gain recognition and confidence through joy driven hands-on painting
projects, and promote happiness.
Art In Jail
Art in Jail is an art based ministry to men incarcerated in the Muscogee County Jail. Art in
Jail was founded by Bo Bartlett as an extension of Home Is Where The Art Is and in
collaboration with the Chattahoochee Valley Jail Ministries and Chaplain of Muscogee
County Jail, Neil Richardson.
Goals of the Program: Develop a creative outlet for personal expression, increase
self-esteem, and provide a positive and constructive experience in each class session.
Bo: “Art can play a significant role in their rehabilitation. The ability to draw
is highly prized in prisons, inmates are asked to do portraits and design tattoos.”
Check out this in-depth Ledger-Enquirer article by Chuck Williams about Art in Jail!