This post was written by WACTAC member Nakami Tongrit-Green (see bio below).

Being on WACTAC for the past 2 years has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in high school. So when Witt asked Kaitlyn (2nd year WACTAC member) and I to attend the Generation O: Conference at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, I was more than thrilled to accept the offer. Although I was excited about the trip, I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew we would be meeting teenagers from around the country who were involved in similar museum related programs but I wasn’t sure what they would be like, and what I could gain from meeting these people.

Day One in Boston was a bit tiring. As soon Kaitlyn and I arrived in Boston, Witt immediately took us around the city to look at some colleges, and kind of get a feel for the area. It was Kaitlyn and my first time in Boston and I have to admit, it’s a gorgeous city. We met Rosanna Flouty, the Teen Programs director at the ICA that night at dinner, as well as some other teen representatives and museum educators. It was nice to get a chance to meet people before the conference kicked off but I was too busy stuffing my face to really have a valuable dinner conversation with anyone. We ordered so much food that night. I had probably eaten enough for the whole weekend at that point…

Day Two consisted of a series of presentations from all the different Museums and teen programs, as well as a tour of the ICA and the Shepard Fairey exhibit, which was amazing! It was also great to hear all the different programs going on from Miami all the way up to Chicago – Museum of Contemporary Art Miami’s Women On The Rise Program, Museum of Modern Art’s Teen Council , Whitney’s Youth Insights, and Marwen.

By Day Three, it seemed like I knew everyone so well! The kids from the ICA showed us around Boston a little bit, and we had time to kick it at the hotel, which was nice. During the day, we had discussions on a variety of topics regarding Teen Programs in Museums and it was actually really beneficial to hear everyone’s opinions and ideas.

Day Four. No one wanted to leave!!

I was definitely inspired by this trip and I feel like I’m ready to kick off my final year on WACTAC! I would just like to say thanks to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and shout out to all the great people we met there! I’d also like to thank the Walker for this great experience. Look out for even more fabulous WACTAC workshops and events this year :)

Nakami Green has been singing for as far back as she can remember, starting with sing-alongs to old Aretha Franklin records in her living room. Now, at age 16, she is a member of the Harding Senior High School concert choir and has performed solo as well as with other young musicians around the twin cities. She has worked as a singer/songwriter for the past two summers in the COMPAS Artswork Apprenticeship program and has sung with the Walker West gospel choir. Nakami has competed in talent shows and was a finalist last fall in her school’s singing contest, “Harding Idol”. She still finds time to sing along to her favorite Aretha tunes, but now works mainly on original compositions. She incorporates styles from every genre into her R&B sound, which is a reflection of her diverse taste in music. Nakami Green is currently working on her demo which she hopes to release in 2010.

Education & Community Programs kicked up their heels and did the holidays right over at Bryant Lake Bowl with beer and bowling. Not to mention, some of the best brownies ever baked – a BLB specialty. A good mix of the skilled and the pathetic bowlers: there were timid approaches, a couple lofted balls, some cursing, a few serious and dedicated souls that would not be distracted by their goofier co-workers, and an amazing backwards-between-the-legs shot that ended in a strike. No joke.

Susan and Reggie start right in with the drinks!

Witt readies his “#1!” fingers as the ball heads down the lane.

Superhuman, top bowler of the night, Lara, bowls so fast the camera can’t catch it.

Let it never be said that ECP can’t properly down a beer or embarrass themselves at a bowling alley.

For the last six days a friend and I have been touring the east coast visiting museums. By far the most impressive day consisted of a trip to upstate New York’s Dia Beacon and Northeast Massachusetts’ Mass MOCA. Both of these institutions are set in monuments to the industrial age, industrial factories. Irony can be found in the fact that at one time an assembly line dedicated to the manufacturing of cardboard boxes now houses drawing grids by Sol LeWitt and recessed 20 feet deep steel cubes by Michael Heiser.

These unusual settings for such monumental works pose interesting questions. What impact do these newly formed institutions have on rural communities? Is the art being shown at these institutions relevant to the people of Beacon and North Adams? And who benefits from them – day-trippers from New York City and Boston or the dairy farmer on the outskirts of North Adams?