Glass Fundamentals, Irvin Borowsky Glass Studios, Tyler School of Art and Architecture 
Student: Abdul-Samad Cooper    Instructor: Kayla Cantu
 

About the Program

Tyler’s Creative Scholars Program is a yearlong, full scholarship art program for talented high school students attending public and charter high schools in the School District of Philadelphia. 

Students complete a yearlong, full-scholarship art intensive, which includes studio art courses, artist studio visits, and workshops with prominent cultural institutions. The program provides in-depth learning experiences that help students broaden and enhance their skills and prepare portfolios for admission to top schools of art, architecture and design. 

Students must be nominated to participate. Applications are closed for the 2024-2025 academic program year.

Curriculum

Students take two studio courses each semester and participate in portfolio reviews with Tyler’s Admissions team, collaborative workshops with institutions such as the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Fabric Workshop and Museum, Mural Arts Philadelphia and Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Taller Puertorriqueño. The program also exposes students to practicing artists through artist talks and studio visits. 

Moving Image, Tyler School of Art and Architecture
Students (left to right): Masaki Dickerson, Abdul-Samad Cooper, Laila Hernandez, Imani Fitchett-Parker, Naima Sanchez, Patrick Nestor
Instructor: Aaron Frison
 

Students use professional art tools as well as Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Premiere, Krita, AfterEffects and more. All materials and media required for the courses are provided. The program also offers college literacy workshops to support students’ success in the college admissions process and as a college student. 

Program Funding

Participants receive full tuition, materials, SEPTA passes to cover student travel, as well as breakfast and lunch. This is made possible through a generous grant from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, whose mission is to provide support for emerging visual artists and the arts. 

Students take field trips to cultural venues, such as Taller Puertorriqueño. Design workshop with Dominic Moret.

Creative Scholars Program Exhibition

At the end of the academic year, students have the opportunity to showcase their artwork in Tyler’s gallery, Temple Contemporary. Family, friends, faculty and the community are welcome to the exhibition opening. The students’ exhibition is open for two weeks.  

Current Course Offerings 

GLASS FUNDAMENTALS 

This is an introductory studio course where students will learn basic processes of glass working techniques. Glass studio operations and studio safety will be covered extensively. Glass sculpting, cold assemblage, glass finishing and teamwork will be emphasized through demonstrations. This class is very special, as it provides students a rare opportunity to work with the otherworldly material of glass. Though it may be the only time some students will interact with glass and a jumping off point for further exploration for others, all students should expect to expand their creative and hands-on skill sets in a supportive classroom community.  

ANIMATION 

Students will gain a deep grounding in the methods and principles of traditional animation, and the ability to analyze movement and convey emotion and meaning through a series of drawings. They will view short films, experiment with a variety of techniques, participate in group discussions, creating a finished work from start to finish. This process will include idea gathering, writing, storyboarding, roughs, iteration, finals, and critique. 

MOVING IMAGES 

Moving Image is a course which explores ideas and concepts within film and video. It will introduce and develop students’ technical software skills, discussions/exercises, different methods of self-expression to encourage a multidisciplinary artistic effort, enabling them to create work not defined by traditional linear narrative structures. Students will learn how to create a short film using the basic principles of professional film and editing equipment.  

DARKROOM PHOTOGRAPHY

Students learn photographic skills, including methods for in-camera digital capture and workflow optimization. Studies on relevant photographers provided research context and inspiration for image-making. They also learn to manipulate natural and artificial light, including on-camera flash and strobes. Students learn to evaluate appropriate techniques and concepts for various situations. Visiting artists and group and individual critiques supported studio development.

Students connect with practicing artists. Shawn Beeks skateboard illustrator talk, Tyler School of Art and Architecture 

How to Apply

The Creative Scholars Program is a full-scholarship program open to rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade students in Philadelphia School District Public & Charter High Schools. Students must be nominated by teachers and guidance counselors in order to be considered for the Creative Scholars Program.  

Students can apply online here. Students will be guided to create a Temple University Non-Credit account and proceed to start the online application. Students will include contact information for their chosen nominator. Nominators submit a brief statement of support for the student.  

A letter of interest from the student and three student work samples will also be required. 

Applications are closed for 2024-2025 academic year, and will reopen in spring 2025 for the 2025-2026 academic year.

For more information about the Creative Scholars Program, please contact:

Tomie Wilson 
Creative Scholars Program Specialist
tomie@temple.edu
215-777-9098 (office)
Office: Suite 110F

COVID-19 Safety
Creative Scholars Program classes are held in-person. All participants will follow Temple's health and safety requirements, which are informed by guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the City of Philadelphia.