ARTeacher Fellow Ashley Grisso and two of her students stopped by local Public Radio station KUAF to discuss a special classroom/community project entitled “Putting a Face on Islam.” Their interview aired on Jan. 9, 2018, ahead of the opening reception of the multicultural exhibition on Jan. 11 that will culminate the project. The exhibit comprised art inspired by interviews Fayetteville High School students conducted with Muslim residents of Northwest Arkansas, to better understand this often-overlooked segment of our community.

The event’s  Facebook page says more:

Last fall, AP World History students from Fayetteville HS interviewed and photographed members of the Muslim community in NW Arkansas. The aim was for students to better understand contemporary Muslims as a way to deepen and contextualize their study of Islam throughout world history. Students produced framed visual and written “portraits” of their interviewees, along with artist statements to communicate the historical context, purpose, and the significance of their artwork in this heated political era. …

This is the second iteration of PAFOI [Putting a Face on Islam], designed and implemented by FHS teacher Ashley Grisso, PhD. Dr. Grisso is a member of the ARTeacher Fellowship Program, which selects local secondary teachers to undergo a yearlong training on integrating the arts with curriculum. The ARTeacher Fellowship is an initiative of the University of Arkansas’s Center for Children & Youth in partnership with the Walton Arts Center and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. …