In celebration of Black History Month, Baldwin students in grades K–12 are showcasing their artwork throughout February at the Joysetta & Julius Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County.
Located on Franklin Street in Hempstead, the museum highlights the history and culture of Black Americans on Long Island and nationwide. Throughout the year, the museum hosts community programs and celebrations, including Black History Month, Kwanzaa and Juneteenth events, and features exhibits focused on influential historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
Baldwin is the only school district participating in the museum’s Black History Month exhibit, now in its third consecutive year. The showcase continues to grow annually, featuring more student participants and a broad range of artistic expression, including poetry, sculpture, painting and photography.
An opening reception on Jan. 28 unveiled the artwork to students’ families, teachers and school staff, celebrating students’ contributions to Black History Month.
District officials said families and community members expressed pride and excitement at seeing students’ work displayed in a museum setting. Many attendees said the exhibit sparked meaningful conversations and strengthened community pride, according to Gabriella Franza, Baldwin’s assistant director of instructional programs.
Among the featured artists is Jameek Neely-Means, a senior in the Baldwin High School Fine & Performing Arts Academy, whose photography installation highlights fellow students.
For Neely-Means, the response was personal as well. He said his family was thrilled to see his work in a museum gallery, and his mother encouraged him to continue developing his craft and remain patient as his skills grow.
“The pictures are all of students that represent Black joy,” Neely-Means said. “They are all talented, amazing and dedicated to the school. They showcase integrity and are great at what they do. I wanted to tell their story.”
Neely-Means said the project took about six days to complete, including three days photographing students and three days editing the images. His installation connects to Black history by spotlighting students he said represent Black excellence.
“It is important that I showcase the love I have for Black culture and for my peers,” he said. “I feel appreciated and proud that I am able to showcase my hard work. I am so happy that other people get to see my pictures and the story that I created behind them.”
District administrators said the partnership with the museum provides students with an opportunity to connect their creative work with cultural history while sharing it with the wider community.
“This partnership is extremely valuable because it connects Baldwin students to the broader community and allows them to celebrate Black History Month in a meaningful, shared way,” Franza said. “Working with the museum helps students see their learning reflected beyond the classroom and recognize their role in honoring Black history and culture.”
The program supports the district’s goals for arts and cultural education by helping students develop their artistic voices while providing opportunities for public exhibition and real-world artistic experiences.
Art teachers across the district said students prepared for the exhibit through projects connecting personal identity, history and contemporary culture. At the high school level, students explored heritage and self-portraiture, while more advanced artists selected pieces reflecting their artistic growth.
Elementary school students studied influential African American artists such as Lois Mailou Jones and Jean-Michel Basquiat before creating works inspired by themes of identity and culture, while middle school students researched historical and contemporary figures and produced digital portraits using design technology.
Teachers said learning history through art helped students recognize cultural connections and the power of artistic expression. As high school art teacher Kelly Lovine explained, students learned “how art reflects shared human experiences,” helping them better understand connections across cultures.
Educators also said public exhibitions boost confidence and belonging, with students realizing, as elementary art teacher Jami Delatorre noted, “their ideas matter,” while encouraging them to see themselves as artists beyond the classroom.
“Artistic expression allows students to connect with Black history on a deeper level than reading alone,” Franza said. “Through art, students can reflect, interpret and express historical narratives in personal and meaningful ways.”
The exhibit remains on display throughout February at the Joysetta & Julius Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County. Museum hours are noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and Monday by appointment. Admission is $5. For more information, call 516-572-0730.
