Portraits Alive!: Teen Ambassadors 2010

Beginning on Wednesday, July 28, the portraits of the National Portrait Gallery come to life with "Portraits Alive!" performances.

For the fourth summer, the National Portrait Gallery is proud to host the Teen Ambassadors, a group of Washington, D.C., high school students selected to perform as various NPG portrait sitters. The Teen Ambassadors spend several weeks in research and writing after choosing the person they wish to portray. Beginning this week, they will deliver their monologues in front of their respective chosen sitter. Individual performances are three to five minutes, and the collective experience usually lasts slightly over an hour.

"Each of these young people brings something special with them; while some of them are performers, others are writers, and this opportunity allows them to explore and develop talents that will augment their existing passions," observes Geri Provost-Lyons, NPG’s Youth and Family Coordinator and director of the Teen Ambassador program. Provost-Lyons adds, "We are fortunate in that we have so many gifted young people who commit themselves completely and professionally to present these vignettes. They truly craft excellent work."
    

The 2010 Teen Ambassadors, preparing for their "Portraits Alive!" performances. The students spend several weeks in research and writing.

L-R: Geri Provost-Lyons, director of the Teen Ambassador Program; Molly Katchpole, Smithsonian Katzenberger Art History Intern; and Erica Joyce, NPG intern.

Comments

[Iris Gross]

I can't tell you how much I love portraiture. I love drawing the face. It's exciting to see young people interesting in this genre!

[Sdbj50]

Fantastic work by all! We were very imressed by the dedication of the students and the management team of Geri, Erica and Molly!