Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. brought a fine art therapy class to about 60 students in the 5th grade at PS 60 in Woodhaven on March 13, 2026. The two sessions were taught by instructor Gennaro Kravitz, a gifted local artist who is skilled in using basic shapes and inexpensive art tools to create joyous, yet simple designs.

"When I was younger, I wanted to be a cartoonist,” Addabbo said. “I love to draw. It’s not always artwork but it’s therapy. It’s also a way of releasing stress and not thinking about an upcoming test and how you studied so hard. You can calm yourself down, so you do a little drawing. It’s a good way of having a little peace. I hope you enjoy it.”

Kravitz gave each student sheets of cardstock paper and a box of crayons (to keep) which were provided by the Co-Cathedral of St, Joseph – St. Teresa of Avila, located in Brooklyn, where Kravitz is the resident artist and art instructor. He is VIRTUS-certified by the Diocese of Brooklyn as a youth instructor. Kravitz’s artistic style is modeled after the 1970s "Pattern and Decoration" (P&D) movement. 

He began the class by telling the students that they would be using the art supplies to first draw an Amphora, a 6-foot-tall vase or a vessel made of granite that was used 5,000 years ago to carry things like grain, spices, wheat and wine. Today, he explained that smaller versions of amphoras are what we use as common vases for flowers.

As Kravitz drew on a dry erase board with markers and the students drew along, he instructed them, “there is no incorrect way of doing this. There are no rules to it.” He explained to them that they would be using the four basic shapes – circle, square, triangle and rectangle and the letters of the alphabet to create the amphoras, but they can also be used to draw landscapes, trees, flowers and even people. He also explained how Warli Hieroglyphics used basic shapes to create drawings of people.

During the two 45-minute classes, the students were encouraged to explore their own creative intuitions. Kravitz encouraged drawing and coloring to relax and unwind after a busy day of school classes, homework and chores and as a great alternative to using cell phones and other electronic devices for recreation. 

He also suggested drawing pictures to create their own custom greeting cards for family members. “What would you do with this drawing when you’re done?” he asked. “You could put it on the fridge with a magnet, or you could frame it and give it to someone as a gift. So when you go visit your Aunt Sadie in Jersey City instead of buying her a scarf that she is not going to wear, you give her this framed piece of artwork and she hangs it on her wall and she sees it every day and is delighted you gave her this gift, and maybe in return she does that same thing and gives it to you. You have a piece of artwork of Aunt Sadie’s on your wall and Aunt Sadie has a piece of your artwork on her wall. It’s something that’s still here. You made it. It still exists.”

Senator Addabbo would like to thank PS 60 and its Interim Acting Principal, Lisa Kelly for supporting and hosting the program.

“It’s so important to engage young people in the arts and challenge their creativity,” Addabbo said. “It has numerous benefits and serves as a reminder to take a break from electronic devices and nurture the mind and spirit.”