Program leader self-portraits

We are in week 2 of our summer 2011 public art project, “What do you stand for?” The youth at Boushall and Henderson middle schools have begun to paint their large format self-portraits! A total of 30 youth, 15 from each school,will work for a few weeks, once a week, to complete 4′x8′ self-portraits on plywood depicting their personality, dreams and beliefs. These unique works of art will have a public unveiling at October First Fridays, travel as an exhibition for 8 months and then be installed across the city through 2012! And it looks as though Virginia Currents MAY do a piece on the project and ART 180 too!

Above, check out the program leader self-portraits completed a few weeks ago that were used at the schools to recruit youth to the program. Top (left to right): Lizzie Gray, Rob Gibsun, Jess Norris. Bottom (left to right): Stanley Rayfield, Julia Scott, Hamilton Glass.

We owe a huge THANKS to the following: Home Depot on West Broad for donating plywood, Siewers Lumber & Millwork for donating and discounting plywood and all of our volunteers (and wonderful intern Katherine!) who have hauled the boards to and fro and readied them with multiple coats of primer and paint! We could not do this without all of your help and support!

Take a moment and respond here: What do YOU stand for? or What do you think of this project?

Month #11

Almost the last month of the year! Have you gotten all your resolutions done?

nov2010

St. Andrew’s film-making teaser…

“Drawing and painting are one of the most direct and immediate ways that an artist can make the things that they see and imagine materialize. In our program at Henderson Middle School, the participants draw and paint from direct observation of the world around them, and use the same skills to create imaginary worlds and things. Our final project will be an art show of finished paintings of things they see and worlds they imagine.”

Photos by Zachary Jones.

“I walked in and saw approximately 10 artistically engaged students. I was warmly greeted and recognized by the program leaders – Mya and Vreni. I was also introduced to the group. I pronounced them “positive people participating” as they worked on their individual projects.

“I sat with a couple of students and asked their names, ages and grades. I was pleased at the range in age from elementary school to middle school. One student proudly proclaimed she would be going to the IB program next year. I also asked what they liked about ART 180. Answers I recall were “I LOVE IT !” and “It’s a place I can come and enjoy art.”

One student said “some days I don’t think I want to come, and then when I get here I’m glad I did.”

I also heard encouragement from the leaders for the students to “respect one another” in the way they conversed and interacted.

I was very excited to be there to see the birth of the “stick clappers”… wonderful individually created sticks of music the young people created.

The “jam session” at the Musical Planet at the end of the program was the best! Lots of participation, excitement and harmonious noise (smile).

Keep up the good work ART 180 !!”

Kyunga Connery, a VCU art education student, visited this program another day and shared these observations:

“So I went to the Boys & Girls club a couple of weeks ago to do my first day of volunteer work. It was a very interesting experience. I was just there to take pictures, and I didn’t know how much I’d actually be interacting with the students since I’d be on the sidelines. They were very eager to talk with me and be in my pictures, though. The classroom environment was also surprising to me, though I didn’t really know what to expect. For the most part, the kids were engaged and seemed to have a great rapport with each other and with the instructors. They get to experience a lot of unusual lessons in this type of environment, which I think is great. This time, they were making small musical instruments from gourds. It was so cool! And I was a little bummed that I didn’t get up the nerve to ask if I could make on as well … when I wasn’t taking pictures. The whole time I was there, I couldn’t stop smiling. This was such an exciting environment for teachers and students alike!”

Be sure to check out these young artists performing the instruments they created at the Big Show May 26!

Thank you to the ever-supportive columnist, Michael Paul Williams, at The Richmond Times Dispatch for this video and article on how our Intercultural Program’s mural project with George Wythe and Huguenot needs a home!

Watch the video above and read the full article here.

Keep posted to see what happens next! Our Program Coordinator, Betsy Kelly, has been working non-stop  to make this happen and though nothing is confirmed yet, there is one perfectly, promising lead (fingers crossed)!!!

Zarea's seed pod (Southwood Boys & Girls Club)

Spring is here, and with it the youth in our program at the Southwood Boys & Girls Club are learning the art of gardening. Guided by Sean Sheppard and Tim Adkins (of Backyard Farmer), and veteran ART 180 program leader Kerry Anderson, the young artists are learning the techniques of sustainable agriculture. As they tote compost, seed collard greens and broccoli, and design the layout of their fruit and vegetable garden, these young people are creating a living, breathing work of art in their community!

Natalie Steck, a volunteer from VCU’s Art Education program working to document ART 180 programs, observed the young artists at Henderson last week.

“All of the girls were mainly working quietly but there were also bursts of singing and laughing. It was hard to quietly document, I wanted to be a part of the art making so bad.”

Hand-stitched pin cushions (Henderson Middle School). Photo by Natalie Steck.

]]> http://art180.org/blog/2010/03/15/henderson-middle-school-girls-textile-art-program/feed/ 0 http://art180.org/blog/2010/03/08/school-of-rock/ http://art180.org/blog/2010/03/08/school-of-rock/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:39:43 +0000 ART 180 http://art180.org/blog/?p=731 Our new spring program at Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club allows youth to express themselves through Rock n’ Roll. Under the guidance of Talia Miller and Nate Rappole, the young artists will form bands and perform at The Big Show on May 26.

Tyrone on the mic. (Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club)

Open Studio, 1.14.2010

what we do

ELKHARDT MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS

Elkhardt Middle School was there.

Elkhardt girls did several mixed media projects

Elkhardt Girls describe their culture through texture.

Texture collage from Elkhardt girls

ELKHARDT MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS

The Elkhardt boys learned about puppetry

They also created alter ego hand-and-rod puppets.

One funny character!

BOUSHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL

Boushall students how to us digital photography to express themselves.

The Boushall photographers focused on several different ideas, including 'purpose' and 'surrender'

Boushall artists worked together and use photography to send a message and express their emotions.

One of the artists from Boushall Middle School with some of her work.

Photography based on 'purpose'

SOUTHWOOD BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

Southwood Boys & Girls Club worked on sculpting planters and studying the idea of community. This semester they will create a community garden to utilize their pea pots and planters.

This planter has brighter colors than the one shown above. The artists explained that they wanted this one to by uplifting, while the other is calm and mellow.

Southwood artist Lateria Keene

What Lateria has to say....

One Southwood artist's feelings about their project

Southwood created pea pots to be used in the community garden they're building this semester

Southwood student Nelestra Bell

What Nelestra has to say...

Section of the scupture called 'Purple Thunder'