Matt Townley

The "Town to Town Art Project" proposed by Townley and his first-year humanities students would allow them to exhibit their knowledge and appreciation of the arts among students in communities throughout the world. The program, which the students at George Jenkins High School named in recognition of Townley, will allow high school students to purchase art (i.e., paintings, sculptures, architectural pieces), write artist biographies and develop critiques for each piece using elements discussed in class. Townley's students have already initiated the project locally and want to expand exposure on a global scale. For the local part of the project, students will volunteer to present their findings to students at a nearby elementary school and leave the pieces of art with the class. On a global scale, participants will purchase select works of art, prepare their original materials, and then ship the packages to schools overseas. Overall, Townley believes the program enhances learning by encouraging students' active participation and by leveraging students' compassion to help others recognize the value of art. Townley resides in Lakeland.