“There I am! That’s my artwork!” exclaimed Shadle Park High School senior Wyatt Antcliff as he spotted his painting on a wall at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (MAC).
The typically quiet museum was filled with excitement and energy last week when Shadle Park students in the school’s Art and Special Education departments visited to see their art on display in the MAC’s Create Space for a Unified Art Show.
ABLE (Autism Blended Learning Environment) teacher Darby Schmidlkofer had approached art teacher Carrie Stroud in November to see if her students would be interested in collaborating to create art with special education students. Mrs. Stroud was immediately on board, and staff organized several opportunities for students with and without disabilities to work together.
They hosted art parties that paired students to create pieces together in the cafeteria. “We would just make art, shoulder to shoulder,” Mrs. Stroud said.
Other students participated in “Paint Pals,” a take on the tradition of pen pals, with partners taking turns adding to a piece of art that would go back and forth, each adding their own creativity and ideas.
Shadle Park Unified Art Show Field Trip by Spokane Schools
“Each piece reflected what mattered most to the students, allowing them to connect and get to know each other through art,” said Mrs. Schmidlkofer.
“It’s wonderful to see the friendships that it’s created,” Mrs. Stroud said with a smile.
Before the experience, the students in the two programs didn’t have many opportunities to connect.
“I see a lot of these kids all around the school. And it really is, unfortunately, like two different communities just because we don’t have a lot of classes together,” observed junior Miles Gibson. “At the end of the day, we’re all high school students, and we’re all here to learn and have fun. I’ve made a lot of new friends.”
During the field trip, the group also visited the museum’s gallery to see "Samurai, Sunrise, Sunset," an exhibit highlighting the history and artistry of the powerful warrior class that ruled Japan for nearly 700 years. They also spent time painting in the museum’s classroom before boarding Spokane Transit buses to head back to school.
The Shadle Park Unified Art Show can be enjoyed by MAC visitors throughout the month of May.
The MAC is also hosting a Teen Night, part of its Teens @ the MAC program, on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 5:30–8 p.m. Admission is free for youth with a school ID and $5 for non-student guests.
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The Spokesman-Review: Shadle Park students partner with the Museum of Arts and Culture for ‘wonderful’ new exhibit