Wide Rainbow

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Wide Rainbow is a contemporary art after school program. We are a free 501c3 non-profit based in NYC that connects contemporary artists with the community.

We serve low-income neighborhoods with limited or no access to the arts or arts education. Affiliated with like-minded organizations and institutions, Wide Rainbow initiates contemporary art collaborations, creating progressive workshops and inspiring after-school activities. Partnering with contemporary artists within the community, Wide Rainbow aims to promote access to art and culture today, invigorating the creative spirit of otherwise underserved or neglected youth of New York City. Artists become teachers, mentors, and natural proponents of creative development. www.widerainbow.org

10/26/2026

Vashti Harrison ( Vashti Harrison ) is the New York Times bestselling creator of Big, which was awarded the 2024 Caldecott Medal, a Coretta Scott King Book Award Author Honor, and a Coretta Scott King Book Award Illustrator Honor, in addition to being a National Book Award finalist. A two-time recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children, Vashti lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Traci N. Todd ( traci n. todd ) is curious. She reads a lot and writes a lot and is always wondering about the connections between things. She was born to write nonfiction. The daughter of an educator and a civil rights activist, her childhood was full of story and song. She was raised to write the truth with music. Traci is the author of several award-winning books, including Nina: A Story of Nina Simone and Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes. She has also been an editor of children’s books for over 20 years.

10/26/2026

On Friday, we welcomed illustrator Vashti Harrison ( Vashti Harrison ) and returning author Traci N. Todd ( traci n. todd ) into the classroom to share their triumphant book That You Are Here is No Small Thing. Bringing with them an undeniable glow of warmth and creativity, they guided students to think about defying odds, loving themselves, and marveling at those who paved their way.

10/20/2026

Malaika Temba ( Malaika Temba b. 1996, Washington, D.C.) draws from East African marketplaces, the histories of global trade, and feminist reimaginings of craft, to confront the intersections of care and capitalism, intimacy and exploitation through her painted tapestries. Her transnational perspective equips her with a lens attuned to globalization’s entanglements, producing works that illuminate both the connective potential and inequities embedded within systems of exchange.

10/20/2026

We were honored to welcome artist Malaika Temba ( Malaika Temba ) back to help us inaugurate our Fall after-school workshop sessions at Urban Scholars Community School ( CS 463 🐨 ) in the Bronx. Using collage, students created imaginary environments - layering images and color, and making their own marks to bring their visions of space to life. ♥︎

10/12/2026

It was an honor to explore Torkwase Dyson: Seeing in Blue ( TD ) with our middle schoolers from Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement in Queensbridge ( Riis Settlement ).

Torkwase Dyson (b. 1973, Chicago) describes herself as a painter working across multiple mediums to explore the continuity between ecology, infrastructure, and architecture. Explorations of how the body unifies, balances, and arranges itself to move through natural and built environments become both expressive and discursive structures within the work.

10/12/2026

We dove into the new semester by exploring Torkwase Dyson: Seeing in Blue ( TD ) at Pace Gallery ( Pace Gallery ) with a wonderful group of young student artists from Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement in Queensbridge ( Riis Settlement ). Together, we examined Dyson’s aquatic themes, and let our emotions guide our mark-marking with an intuitive drawing workshop graciously hosted by Pace’s Sophie Brown!

09/16/2026

Year FIVE of Wide Rainbow Summer in Queens at Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement in Queensbridge ( Riis Settlement ) filled our cup. We’re so grateful to all involved in making this fantastic program possible. ♥︎

09/16/2026

Celebrating five years of Wide Rainbow Summer in Queens! Our August session was a success, with workshops based on artists Helen Frankenthaler, Marisol, Alma Thomas, and Malaika Temba. What a joy to collaborate with Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement ( Riis Settlement ) kiddos and get such joyful art making time in before the school year begun. Thank you to our wonderful WR Summer volunteers for your dedication. ♥︎

09/12/2026

Our deepest thanks to artist Malaika Temba ( Malaika Temba ), as well as the entire team at the Studio Museum in Harlem ( Studio Museum in Harlem ) who helped make this immensely special workshop happen. We are still buzzing at the warmth and creativity that was unlocked together. ♥︎

Malaika Temba (b. 1996, Washington, D.C.) draws from East African marketplaces, the histories of global trade, and feminist reimaginings of craft, to confront the intersections of care and capitalism, intimacy and exploitation through her painted tapestries. Her transnational perspective equips her with a lens attuned to globalization’s entanglements, producing works that illuminate both the connective potential and inequities embedded within systems of exchange.

09/12/2026

As Fall unfolds around us, we’re looking back at another incredible Wide Rainbow Summer in Queens. It was an honor to participate in a workshop with artist Malaika Temba ( Malaika Temba )- creating surrealist multimedia collages based around her piece “Kazi Zetu” on view in Fade at the Studio Museum in Harlem ( Studio Museum in Harlem ) with our teens from Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement in Queensbridge ( Riis Settlement ). ♥︎

Address

1180 Tinton Ave
New York, NY
10456

Website

http://www.widerainbow.org/

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