26 July 2009

How do I let go?

We are beginning the start of our last week with our summer site. And, the only question that keeps popping up in my mind is: how do I let go? This is quickly followed by a series of other questions: What will my students do? Where we will they go and hang out in the afternoons? Will they continue to explore making? Will they forget about me? Will they forget about Jessie? Did I do a good enough job?

I will miss these kids.

That's why I take so many pictures. I don't want to forget. At the very least, I will always have my photos.



VBLT's with Banner!

Last Friday, our site supervisor, Eric, showed our students how to make vegan bacon, lettuce, & tomato sandwiches. The students got all of the vegetables from the garden. And, they set the table and made it special. It was great! No complaints about the fake bacon, everyone was happy, and snack time was healthy!





Nataki creates connection.

Introducing Nataki.

Nataki is a visionary. Nataki is a painter, mother, and weaver. She is unity, strength, and creative thinking. On Thursday, July 23rd she floored us during critique with the following work. Combining monoprints, poetry, and game-playing, Nataki created connection. And, it was beautiful.







19 July 2009

Plastic Fantastic.


One room in a gallery + fans, plastic bags, a bed, and lights =
amazing!!





5 year old Joseph.























One day a new boy named Joseph came to Banner Art Club. He was 5 years old, and drew me a picture of the old man's house in the movie,
UP. And, he learned to sew quite quickly. Here is Joseph's beautiful drawing . . . And, just look at him sew!





Jessie Unterhalter.























My site partner, Jessie, was a semi-finalist in the
Sondheim awards. She is a found object installation artist. Her work is currently being featured in a group show of semi-finalists' work, at the Fox Building Galleries on MICA's campus. Enjoy!







11 July 2009

Time to get crabby!

The students at Banner Neighborhoods are creating a large fabric banner to carry in their end-of-summer-art camp celebration. This is Antoine. In these images, he will demonstrate how to take a drawn image and re-create it out of fabric, complete with sewn details. Time to get crabby: Baltimore crabby!






Link







Call & Response: Katti Sta.Ana





Call & Response Artwork #1.

MICA MACA students are expected to integrate their own art making/artwork into their work with youth during the Summer Session. This engagement may take many forms and serve various functions--but is expected to embody the essence of a "call-and-response" experience.

Call-and-response is a form of "spontaneous verbal and non-verbal interaction between speaker and listener in which all of the statements ("calls") are punctuated by expressions ("responses") from the listener.

In African cultures, call and response is a pervasive pattern of democratic participation -- in public gatherings, in the discussion of civic affairs, in religious rituals, as well as in vocal and instrumental musical expression. It is this tradition that African men and women have transmitted over the years in various forms of expression -- in religious observance, public gatherings, even in children's rhymes, and, most notably, in music: gospel, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz and jazz extensions, hip-hop, and go-go.

MACA students are expected to create artwork by any medium necessary, paralleling CRAFT, on a weekly basis to be critiqued.


C.R.A.F.T.

Contact: Cultivate trust, mutual understanding and commitment as a foundation for your creative partnership.

Research: Gather information about the people, places and issues you are working with.

Action: Produce a new work that benefits the community.

Feedback: Spark community reflection, dialogue and organizing to spread the impact.

Teaching: Pass on new community-building skills to sustain the impact.





03 July 2009

The girl may change, but the colors never will.

I use pink and orange a lot. Recently I started adding in teals and blues, some gold and yellow too. I keep wondering why I am so attracted to these colors. I looked up some of my work from ten years ago, and the same colors are dominant. More recently I found a drawing that I made for my dad when I was 5. It's a series, titled "The Kiss". Look at the colors . . .

Some things will never change.

Artscape!!


Artscape is coming!!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR ARTSCAPE: JULY 17-19, 2009. Live entertainment includes Dionne Warwick, Cake, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Robin Thicke, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Acrobats of China, Baltim
ore Symphony Orchestra ... and more. There is something on the schedule for everyone to enjoy!

Join in the fun, as MICA MA Community Arts grads and YouthWorks Interns help facilitate youth as they teach festival goers about various art making processes! Right outside, on MICA's front lawn!

What is Artscape? The largest free public arts festival in the country, Artscape features 150+ artists, fashion designers and craftspeople; visual art exhibits on and off site, including exhibitions, outdoor sculpture, art cars, photography and the Janet & Walter Sondheim Prize; incredible live concerts on three outdoor stages; a full schedule of performing arts including dance, opera, theater, fashion, film, experimental music and performances by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; family events such as hands-on projects, demonstrations, competitions, children’s entertainers and multiple street theater locations; and a delicious, international menu of food and beverages that is available throughout the festival site.

How to Make a Monoprint in 3 Easy Steps . . .


Monoprint Demonstration, starring Ken Krafchek.

Need a fun art project to keep the kids occupied this summer? This is an easy project for kids and adults; and it helps to start a conversation about contemporary art process and practice. These monoprints are ready to frame and hang, once they are dry. Great idea for gifts!

Supplies Needed:

tempered glass (at least as big as your paper)
one tube of oil paint
a brayer
masking tape
lots of paper
turpentine (for clean-up)


Step One: Roll out a square of ink in the center of the glass, using a quarter-sized dollop of paint and your brayer.


Step Two:
Gently lay a piece of paper over the inked up square and tape it down to the glass, careful not to place any weight on the paper that is directly over the inked up square.


Step Three: Using a chopstick or the non-brush side of a paint brush, draw on top of the paper that is directly over the inked up square.


Voila!!