Denisha Wright is a visual artist from the Bronx, New York. She was encouraged by one of her teachers while attending Lehman High School to take her interest in art to a higher level and felt called to apply to the Fashion Institute of Technology. After studying Fine Arts and acquiring an AAS in 2013, Wright explored other pursuits before her start with Creative Art Works(CAW) as an intern by 2018. She gained skills developing images as proposals to be approved by different clients and helped complete group murals at Hamilton Grange Middle School, FDR High School and Shake Shack in Harlem. In 2019, she was awarded as the youth honoree for CAW and was soon working directly with the youth at their schools and housing between Harlem and the Bronx as a teaching artist assistant. Denisha’s most recent project with Community Word Project this summer was her first experience teaching high school students on the other side of art development. Alongside a writer and two other teaching artists, she helped the youth brainstorm and expand on their own ideas, which touched on how they’ve been affected by the pandemic coupled with approaching adulthood.
TAP Work:
“My experience with TAP was a series of career development exercises combined with wellness techniques that will extend into my teaching practice. Connecting with my fellow participants has enhanced my interpersonal skills and we helped tighten up each others’ approach towards our intended audience more openly and confidently. Exploring the different facets and directions with facilitators and smaller groups has shown me one can only limit themselves in the classroom.”
Most Memorable TAP Moment:
“Our “trees, weeds and seeds” segment during our weekly workshops was the most memorable moment for me. It was a small group in the breakout room but we took the time to thoroughly evaluate our teaching styles while reinventing them and appreciating moments we thought were weaknesses. Seeing how the feedback from our students is just as complementary as what they learn from us was a big personal breakthrough.”
“If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.”
