The faces of childhood across the globe take center stage at Chandler Museum with the new showing "The Fourth Grade Project". Spearheaded by the noted artist Judy Gelles before her passing in 2020, this exhibition puts a much-needed spotlight on the thoughts and lives of fourth-grade students from various corners of the world, with a trenchant look into their hopes and fears.

These young students have had to openly share the dynamics of their living situations, their deepest wishes, and the concerns weighing on their hearts, only to reveal how markedly similar and tellingly different their lived experiences can be. Judy Gelles' interviews initially uncovered a particularly sobering fact that children tend to know very little outside their own socioeconomic and cultural silos. It's a research project turned art exhibition that's set to, potentially, shake local and international visitors alike into a refreshed awareness.

Touted to be as much a cultural study as it is a visual arts experience, the project resonates with broad themes including family disruption, violence, immigration issues, and our sprouts' encounters with media and pop culture. The accompanying portraits, presented both front and reverse, frame these students as the individuals they are, while their narratives tell the story of a broader social consciousness.

In a statement obtained by Chandler Museum, Judy Gelles emphasized the project's significance, "They are able to think critically and consider relationships to be very important. They are socially conscious, interested in helping others, and openly curious about the world." This echoes a sentiment that might just resonate with anyone to care enough to listen — which ought to be everyone. Chandler Museum has also woven in local narratives from students at Galveston Elementary School, providing an immediate community connection to the broader global perspective.

Free of charge, this eye-opening exhibition is on deck from April 23 - Aug. 11, 2024, at Chandler Museum, promising local visitors a truly transformative event. It's a learning opportunity that might just help forge a more empathetic, well-rounded understanding of childhood, community, and the diverse threads that bind the human experience. Spearheaded by Chandler Museum in collaboration with ExhibitsUSA, this is not just another artsy event — it's an educational pivot poised to make waves.