Alma Thomas: Teacher, Artist, Trailblazer (Part 2) 

A powerpoint slide showing Alma Thomas's artwork and the title of the educational program
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Join a rich conversation with aerospace engineer Janelle Wellons and horticulturist Abra Lee, as they reflect on artist Alma Thomas’s legacy as a STEAM trailblazer. Wellons shares insights on how visual images and inquiry can unlock the mysteries of the cosmos, while Lee unearths the histories of Black gardeners. Together, these reflections provide an in-depth understanding of Thomas’s cultural impact and the ways in which her work continues to inspire adults and students alike.

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      On Tuesday, October 18, the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) hosted the second of two free webinars for educators celebrating the creative brilliance of renowned painter Alma Thomas, who was born in the heart of the Jim Crow south and came of age in Washington DC, where she witnessed the social change of the 1960s and was inspired by the Space Age. Join aerospace engineer Janelle Wellons and horticulturist Abra Lee, as they reflect on artist Alma Thomas’s legacy as a STEAM trailblazer. Wellons shares insights on how visual images and inquiry can unlock the mysteries of the cosmos, while Lee unearths the histories of Black gardeners. Together, these reflections provide an in-depth understanding of Thomas’s cultural impact and the ways in which her work continues to inspire adults and students alike. The program concludes with a Q&A and a preview of new teacher-tested lesson plans

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