First Weeks at Homeboy Industries Art Academy – Elsa Fishman BFA Sculpture 2026
Hi all! My first few weeks at Homeboy Industries started with me going to the wrong location, and subsequently being 30 minutes late on my first day. Luckily, when I finally arrived at the Homeboy Art Academy, I was welcomed by the group of “Art Gang” students, a group of 18-24 year olds, checking in that morning with a quick music circle and the daily question.
Since then, I have been quickly immersed into the welcoming and spirited environment of Homeboy Industries, being greeted by the Homies and Trainees who work there with an incredible sense of warmth. Most of my first week was introductions and getting to know the amazing space that the Art Academy has, and most importantly, getting to know the students.
Looking back on those first few days, I am blown away by the level of kindness I was shown from the staff and students. Truthfully, as someone who comes from a relatively privileged background, I have not had many opportunities to spend time with communities whose lived experiences may be greatly different than mine, including the primarily Latino and formerly incarcerated population that Homeboy serves. I was a bit nervous going into the whole experience, of potentially feeling out of place or out of my depth. However, after spending time with the students and trainees, I’ve realized that there is much more for me to learn from this community than I could have anticipated. Many people here have faced challenges that I may never fully understand, but I can face those experiences with curiosity, compassion, and respect. I believe art has the incredible ability to encourage connection and conversations, and provide space for forms of expression that may not always be easy to verbalize or understand.
Much of my time has been spent helping other teachers with their classes for the students, preparing for my classes or events, and spending time with the students. One highlight was supporting the Art Academy during its community roundtable, where local artists, businesses, and organizations came together to discuss ways in which we can support the students and their continued growth. As a facilitator for one of the small group discussions, I led discussions about potential classes, workshops, talks, field trips, and opportunities for students to engage with the broader arts community. As someone who is new to LA, it was inspiring to see the over 40 people who came together to share their time, knowledge, and resources to support the amazing Art Academy.
As I move forward, I still feel like I am somewhat out of my comfort zone, but I see that as an important part of this learning experience. One of my goals for this internship is to become a stronger educator and facilitator by developing projects that are accessible, engaging, and adaptable to different communities. Next week, I will begin teaching my Sculpture class, which will mostly consist of teaching the basics of shape and forms in three dimensional space, with final wire sculptures created by the students. I am excited to see how the students respond to 3D projects, especially as most of their work has focused on drawing and painting. I have my work cut out for me with prep for my classes, as I am completing the projects I am asking of the students myself, so I can have a better sense of the technique and examples of each step along the process. Most of this prep has been organizing the curriculum and troubleshooting materials and techniques that I think will be most conducive to the Art Academy environments.
This experience is already shaping the way I think about community engagement and arts education beyond a traditional studio setting. Going forward, I hope to continue exploring ways that art can build community and encourage self expression and understanding. I truly am blown away that I get to work somewhere that is doing such meaningful work for the LA community, and I am looking forward to the challenges, lessons, and relationships that the rest of this experience will bring.