THE SPRING THAT
DISRUPTED THE FUTURE

Dear Usdan community, 

Time crept back in to dominate my consciousness for two reasons. Usdan was supposed to open its gates this Monday, June 29. Plus, spring ended and summer started with the solstice last Saturday, June 20. 

A few hours before the solstice, I recorded a voice memo while walking around the campus. You can listen to it here or read below:

Today is June 20th; it’s about 12:35pm. I think these are the last five hours of spring 2020. And, I think I moved out to Usdan on March 21st, which was the first day of spring, and today is the last day. So, I guess it has been a strange spring - the spring that time shifted and the future got disrupted. So, let’s see what summer holds. I’m curious. I think it could be exciting.

Since 1968, Usdan has been one thing: a youth summer arts day program of a great scale. In summer 2020, this beloved former version of Usdan cannot be. What else can Usdan be? 

I am jazzed about Usdan Online, particularly the range of the new courses, the freedom to explore new pedagogies, and selfishly the Watercolor Painting for Adults course in which I enrolled. Furthermore, I am exhilarated for the opportunity to think differently about how and for whom Usdan fulfills its mission: to instill in young people the desire and drive to creatively contribute to the world now and for the rest of their lives. 

How else do you propose we realize Usdan’s mission? We need your fresh and honest points of view. Let’s embrace these creative constraints to continue making Usdan the place we wish the whole world to be.

"What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for?⁣
A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw —
that it finally forces us to grow.⁣
A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us
from our ignorant slumber.⁣
A year we finally accept the need for change.⁣
Declare change. Work for change. Become the change.
A year we finally band together, instead of⁣
pushing each other further apart.⁣

2020 isn’t cancelled, but rather⁣
the most important year of them all." 

- Leslie Dwight

We cannot open our physical gates on Monday, but let’s make this the most important year of them all, beginning with you sharing what else you hope Usdan to become.

Lauren Brandt Schloss, Executive Director

USDAN ONLINE

This week, we announced the launch of Usdan's online art education program: Usdan Online. You can learn more and browse our exciting course offerings below. See U in the online studio!