Representatives from the Ellen Noël Art Museum and Occidental Petroleum stopped by Dowling Elementary School Wednesday morning on a resupply mission.
It was the first time in about two years — due to the COVID-19 pandemic — that the museum and Oxy were able to visit local schools in person to bring art supplies to help fuel the museum’s Art 2 Go program that delivers enhanced art education to youngsters.
And the folks at Dowling Elementary were happy for the visit. District officials and campus Principal Julie Marshall, along with Ector County ISD Board of Trustees President Tammy Hawkins, extended a warm welcome to representatives from the museum and Oxy.
Ellen Noël Art Museum Educator Annie Stanley said the Art 2 Go mascot is a bear, so Ryan Duncan, senior process engineer, Permian Basin operations, donned the mascot costume. Dowling second-grader Yonathan Davila wore a Tiger suit to portray the Dowling mascot, a tiger named Tigger.
Oxy, a leading energy producer in the Permian Basin, was the first company to pledge a large, multi-year gift for Art 2 Go.
This was the largest donation the museum has ever received for a single program. The donation has allowed the museum to expand and maintain the program in ECISD elementary schools and to begin piloting Art 2 Go in five Midland ISD schools this year.
As part of Oxy’s commitment, the company will donate art supplies to every second grader in ECISD and in the five participating MISD schools to support these students for the remainder of the school year.
The partnership is a chance to use art as a way to enhance the educational experiences of children throughout the community.
A group of second graders received a box of Oxy crayons and every second grader in the district will get a box of 24 Crayola crayons and pencils.
“That’s from Oxy,” Stanley said.
The students said they like to learn about artists and how they grew up.
Marshall said the students really look forward to Art 2 Go.
“The teachers are learning, as well, because most of our elementary teachers do not have a background in art, so it’s good for the literature and art connection,” Marshall said. “It’s showing them how they can do cross-curricular things for kids that are hands-on that really engage them, so we really appreciate Oxy (and) the art museum ….”
Ellen Noël Executive Director Sheila Perry said ECISD third graders also receive a tour of the museum. “We do a couple of exhibitions especially for them in the fall,” she said. “We have noticed the impact … and how much the kids get out of grade three because they have exposure in grade two. Even teachers … they’re so much more confident about coming to the museum.”
Shelly Williams, senior community relations adviser, said the company is excited that they were able to expand it into Midland this year.
“And we’re looking at adding more schools (in) 2022 and 2023,” Williams said.
Williams said Oxy has partnered with the Art 2 Go program at the Ellen Noël museum since 2019.
“I think that the students of Ector County ISD are so thrilled to be able to receive these supplies,” she said. “It really gives them an opportunity to explore art education and art literacy and it creates access to art education that they wouldn’t otherwise have, so the Ellen Noël Museum does a fantastic job.”
She added that the company currently sponsors all the elementary schools in ECISD and they are also in Alpine.
Stanley said they pivoted the program during COVID by doing live Zoom classes and taped ones. There were also boxes of supplies that were taken to outlying areas.
Stanley said she has been doing Art 2 Go since about 2016.
“It started small and it’s just (grown) so big and you can see all the positive repercussions, the positive effect of kids who are getting art in second grade and then the museum the third (grade),” Stanley said.
When students go to the museum, they are always told about events, most of which are free. The students go home and tell their parents and they come back to the museum.
Aaron Hawley, ECISD director of fine arts, said the district is grateful to the community, the museum and Oxy for providing this opportunity for students.
“We’re constantly talking about how well the community supports us,” Hawley said. “This is a fantastic example of that. It’s not only the arts; it’s also the companies in town — (so) very appreciative.”
