An Evening for Educators: Out of Many, One Classroom

Intergenerational Learning Coordinator Abby Marden reflects on this year’s Evening for Educators and collaboration with DC-based artist Rozeal. (formerly known as iona rozeal brown). 

Over 100 educators across the DMV visited the Phillips this past October for our annual Evening for Educators. This free evening invites educators to the museum after hours so they may connect with peers, view and create art, and discover a variety of resources the Phillips has to offer. Educators have the chance to learn about our school tours, professional development workshops, and tools they might incorporate into their own classrooms. 

This year’s event took inspiration from our special exhibition Out of Many: Reframing an American Art Collection, celebrating the many voices, stories, and perspectives that shape classrooms. Our Phillips Educators led sample school tours and an impactful workshop on Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series that showcased strategies to inspire students across grade levels, such as writing a dialogue between two artworks or incorporating movement  by asking questions like, “What shapes do you see?” and “Can you make that shape with your body?” A crowd favorite was the use of Wikki Stix to outline an artwork reproduction, ultimately creating a tactile version for deeper engagement.  

We were thrilled to collaborate with DC-based artist Rozeal. (formerly known as iona rozeal brown), whose works are currently on view in Out of Many and the permanent collection. The artist’s work reflects inspiration from and references to Japanese ukiyo-e prints, hip-hop, voguing, Noh and Kabuki theater, West African adinkra symbols, and more. When Rozeal. shared enthusiasm for working with the audiences that our Education programs reach, we joined in that excitement. We incorporated her work into our professional development lessons, and so Evening for Educators posed a unique opportunity for educators to learn from and connect with Rozeal.

In the galleries, Costume Rendering for E.I.N., Played by Benny Ninja in, The Battle of Yestemore (2010-11), acquired in 2024, was highlighted on a sample school tour to demonstrate self-expression and the different ways of responding to art, such as sketching, acting, and writing. The Battle of Yestemore, a visual arts performance created by Rozeal. for the Performa Biennial in 2011, features this costume designed for one of the characters, E.I.N., or Everything I’m Not.