The entrance to Camden's R.C. Molina Elementary School recently received a splashy upgrade: A two-panel mosaic hewn of mirror, tile, glass, beach glass, seashells and river rocks now greets visitors. Each panel stands eight-by-four feet and features over 100 clay fish tiles created by fourth graders and a special needs class.

This project is part of the infusion of environmental and community arts coming to Camden schools and parks thanks to the Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts (RCAA), a public service arm of the university dedicated to promoting the arts locally. New Jersey native (and current West Philly resident) artist Kathryn Sclavi and the students from Molina spent her two week residency creating this ambitious original work. Molina chose an aquatic mural to complement the school's new fully-equipped fish tank, installed by Camden's Adventure Aquarium. (One of the school's students wrote a winning grant proposal.)

"The students looked at different types of fish and created their own unique and colorful fish," explains Sclavi. "I create the map for them to work in, but they do the construction. Part of what I do as a community artist is design a system for many people to work on without me having to touch it. I specifically make a plan, but it's their creation."

Sclavi received a masters in art education at Tyler School of Art, concentrating on community arts practices. She produces collaborative performance and social practice-based art. Sclavi has created ten collaborative murals, but her specialty is designing art parades and pop-up gathering spaces for all age groups.

"I see the students always looking at the mosaic and saying, 'I did that part,'" says first grade teacher Luanne Masson. "I think experiences such as this help students in Camden to value their school and establishes a sense of pride, accomplishment and self-confidence."

RCCA was formed in 1997, consolidating the programs of the Stedman Gallery, the Gordon Theater and the Black Box Studio (1995). They serve the area within a 50-mile radius of Camden. The residency program sponsors an artist for seventeen days of site-specific work with a public or parochial school in North Camden. In 2013, Rutgers sponsored three public schools: Pyne Point Middle School received an installation by Greek book artist Maria Anasazi, Cooper's Poynt School now has a mandala mural by Doris Nogueira-Rogers, and then there is Sclavi's project at Molina. This year, two additional artists worked at St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral and Sacred Heart parochial schools. Jeannine Osayande brought African dance, choreography and instruction in instruments and voice to St. Joseph, while Gina Fererra spent her residency teaching ethno-musicology, folkloric polyrhythm and composition on instruments including African xylophone and percussive devices. 

Rutgers also sponsored the Camden Arts Garden in Northgate Park through a six-year eco-arts program. RCCA reclaimed the two block park, located north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge between the Cooper's Poynt and Pyne Poynt communities. Since 2007, the park has hosted community concerts, art workshops, youth festivals, a formal dedication by 65 child banner designers and the 2011 Eco-Art Garden Project -- gardener Andrea Ferich mined the skills of senior citizens at the Respond living community to design a garden plan, which was then carried out by 275 Molina students. They installed soil, sod and seeds while learning about botany and environmental science.

Carmen A. Pendleton, community and artist programs manager at RCCA, helps pair teaching artists with Camden schools. She offered a vision for future environmental arts programming in Camden: "We are going to bring plants to the schools, creating eco-walls, so that in the winter, the children can grow fresh vegetables, bring clean air into their halls, and enjoy the living art. They can apply their garden to math, science, and chemistry lessons."

Sclavi, who has worked on projects all over the Philadelphia region, stresses the importance of community and eco-arts in Camden. "When you come to Camden, off of the Ben Franklin bridge, it's right there," she says. "There is an outstanding amount of violence in the neighborhood. People are thankful for the plantings, people are positive. I've worked in or outside of every neighborhood in Philadelphia. You hear more stories in Camden. People kept coming over and talking to me. There is way less community art happening here than in Philadelphia, but there are little tiny seedlings of community art and projects going on in this city."

Rutgers also encourages students to take part in free community art classes provided at the Stedman Gallery. All supplies are provided, and students can enroll in camps, summer performances, and art education workshops. RCCA offers professional development for teachers who are open to incorporating art into their methods. The full schedule and upcoming summer programming are available here.

BONNIE MACALLISTER is a multi-media artist and journalist residing in West Philly. Her work has appeared in Tom Tom Magazine, Toronto Quarterly, Nth Position (U.K.) and Grasp (Czech Republic). Send feedback here.