District News

Celebrating Black History Month: Middle School Art Basquiat Inspired Portraits

Celebrate Black History Month

Students in Bridget Whited’s Middle School Art Class at SMMHS created expressive portraits, using oil pastels on acrylic, based on Activist and Artist Jean Michel Basquiat. An artist of many talents and a strong vision Basquiat changed the art world with his powerful images which spoke louder than words. The themes of Basquiat’s work focused on awareness of power structures and systems of racism and class struggle. He blended graffiti-style typography with African-Caribbean imagery with thick dabs of color and symbolic iconography. The crown portrayed frequently in his work is often referred to as his tag. Some suggest it symbolizes Basquiat’s interest in challenging history, but also as a reference to heroic greatness, privilege, and intellect.

Jean-Michel Basquiat
Street Artist/Social Justice Artist/ Activist Artist
December 22, 1060-August 12, 1988

  • Basquiat’s art focused on “suggestive dichotomies”, such as wealth versus poverty, integration versus serration, and inner versus outer experience.
  • He appropriated poetry, drawing, and painting, and married text and image, abstraction, figuration, and historical information mixed with contemporary critique.
  • Basquiat used social commentary in his paintings as a “springboard to deeper truths about the individual”, as well as attacks on power structures and systems of racism, while hie poetics were acutely political and direct in their criticism of colonialism and support for class struggle.
  • Basquiat tragically died of a heroin overdose at his art studio at age 27.
  • Worked with Pop Artist Andy Warhol, dated Madonna before she was famous and predicted she would be a huge influence o n the music industry.
  • His father, Gérard Basquiat, wa born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and his mother Matilde Basquiat, who was of Puerto Rican descent, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Matilde instilled a love for art in her young son by taking him to art museums in Manhattan and enrolling him as a junior member of the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
  • Basquiat was an extremely intelligent young person who spoke 3 languages: French, Spanish and English. He struggled with the Public School System structure in New York at the time and taught himself art and art history by visiting museums and mimicking what he saw.
  • His father kicked him out of the house when he quit school at age 17. Basquiat went from being homeless and unemployed to selling a single painting for up to $25,000 in a matter of several years.
  • SAMO is a slang term for “Same Old…” Basquiat coined the phrase and crown tag that accompanied the slogan with his friend Al Diaz in high school. This tag was spray painted throughout Manhattan and used to call out and bring attention to issues that he felt were inequitable and unjust. SAMO was not just about tagging graffiti – it had an intelligent message beyond the artwork and ego graffiti artist at the time.
  • The crown is a symbol used throughout his artwork and career as an artist and to represent intellect and privilege.
  • “Basquiat’s work celebrated black culture and history but also revealed its complexity and contradictions.” -Lydia Lee, Curator

 

Superintendent’s Update 9/21/23

We are back in full swing in our classrooms and on our athletic fields! I hope you’ll come out and support our Fall athletes at Easton High and St. Michaels High!This week some of our students joined me in participating in the county’s September 11th Commemoration here in downtown Easton. This is always a very somber and reflective event, and our students did a fantastic job.

I have LOVED being back in our school buildings with all of our students and staff these last few days! A terrific group of new teachers and Instructional Assistants has joined our outstanding team of educators; our Operations Team has worked hard to make sure that our buildings are SPARKLING; and our Transportation Team is back on the road to ensure our children arrive at school safely!

Superintendent’s Update 9/14/23

We are back in full swing in our classrooms and on our athletic fields! I hope you’ll come out and support our Fall athletes at Easton High and St. Michaels High!This week some of our students joined me in participating in the county’s September 11th Commemoration here in downtown Easton. This is always a very somber and reflective event, and our students did a fantastic job.

I have LOVED being back in our school buildings with all of our students and staff these last few days! A terrific group of new teachers and Instructional Assistants has joined our outstanding team of educators; our Operations Team has worked hard to make sure that our buildings are SPARKLING; and our Transportation Team is back on the road to ensure our children arrive at school safely!

Talbot 9-11 Day to Remember

TCPS was honored to be a part of the Talbot County 9-11 Day to Remember ceremony this morning. What a beautiful community event with performances by the Easton Middle School

Superintendent’s Update 9/7/23

We had a fantastic first week of school, and I want to thank all of our TCPS Students and Families for their support and enthusiasm. We are grateful to the many community organizations who provided school supplies, backpacks, and other basic necessities so that all of our students are equipped for another great year of learning.

Superintendent’s Update 8/31/23

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! I am so excited to begin my second year as your Superintendent, as we continue Transforming and Performing Each Day!

I have LOVED being back in our school buildings with all of our students and staff these last few days! A terrific group of new teachers and Instructional Assistants has joined our outstanding team of educators; our Operations Team has worked hard to make sure that our buildings are SPARKLING; and our Transportation Team is back on the road to ensure our children arrive at school safely!

Dress Code & Cell Phone Policy Updates

UPDATES TO DRESS CODE AND CELL PHONE REGULATIONS The purpose of these regulations is to provide an environment that: DRESS CODE REGULATIONS The following may not be worn at school: