Summer camp week one!

 For the summer I go from 5 part time part time jobs ( yes five:1. private lessons,2. before school care, 3.after school care,4. subbing 6 districts and 5.working weekends at the Memorial art gallery teaching and coordinating plus 6 if you count the etsy shops) to one full time position. I am the Art day School Coordinator for the  Memorial Art gallery's Creative workshop. Last week I got to be a teacher for week one. I conducted a lesson called "BIG Paintings". We worked on three mural projects, one large poster size painting, and made several large paintings on paper.

I used a PDF file from a art teachers blog called "Art Projects For Kids" I downloaded the PDF file"Ode  to Matisse" and printed it out twice one on card stock and once on copy paper. I had 12 students in each class so this 24 piece project had just the right number of pieces. Each student got one 8x10 inch piece to paint. I let student pick there own colors then they had to talk to the other people whose pieces touched theirs to make sure to same shapes had the same colors. It forced them to talk to one another and work together.We used acrylic paints to paint these.The second copy students used at the end of the week and colored it in with oil pastels.

We looked at images of Matisse drawing, his painting, his stained glass designs and cut outs in book and on the internet.

We worked with tempera and acrylic paints. We also touched about different types and brushes different painting mediums and what they all do. We used foam brushes, foam rollers, fan brushes, mop brushes, liner brush, flay and round brushes.I demonstrated each brush and told them how to use each one and why each brush was called that. I also talked about mixing colors and getting to right amount of water on your brush proper rinsing and watching out for your neighbors while painting. After the demo I let them loose on large paper 18" x 24" paper and encouraged them to make abstract paintings with tempera. I brought in some examples of my own abstract paintings to hang up and we went to the gallery and looked at the several examples there.


Here are some examples of students work.

I  put up large paper on the bulletin board walls in the classroom and traced each students body with a pencil onto the large paper. I was trying to make students bodies over lap so the the image would like like they posed for one big class photograph.Students painted in their bodies and their clothing.We did a one day lesson on facial proportion and how to draw facial features correctly and to scale as well as hair then student s could start painting in their faces.

Here's a section of the seniors wall mural (students ages 9-13)

In addition to the murals students created their own paintings where they traced their arms. For seniors I gave the kids their "homework" of choosing their favorite belongings and making them arranged all over the floor like they just spread all their favorite things out on the floor and were grabbing for them.

Here are some examples

For juniors we did a variation of this were students traced their arms and then use layers and acrylic and gel medium to put their arms in an environment that they like grass and swimming in water.

We also experimented with using sand as texture medium.

Spring collbartive painting

 My wonderful friend Kat works at a sign shop and gives me and some other art teachers she knows scraps of vinyl adhesive or scrap or sign plastic that are too small for the printer. Just all kinds of wonderful odds and ends. This one piece of large plastic she gave us reminded me of the painting canvas. So I got out the acrylic craft paints, the plastic shopping bags I cut open for smocks, some brushes and let the kids have at it. My rules for making collaborative art works go well with kids are. No one can cover up some one else work and the images should go well together. Each child should think of what the child before them did and maybe repeat some things used in one place elsewhere.I have done many different collaborative mural projects. I love to see what happens and find it freeing to let kids work at a larger scale.

Mural updates

So Ed an I worked on the mural both days during Corn Hill arts fest. We got some lookers and some feedback. One guy yelled from across the street "You do your work girl. I love that!"

I also had the pleasure of talking with the owner from Community Child Care across the street.

I spoke to one women who told me about her daughter was was an English major and her completion of a mural project. Other groups asked questions or just told each other to look at it.

We worked primarily on touch ups and outlining the lower portions on Sat and Sunday. We did some work on the middle sections as well on Sunday.

We worked on the scaffolding this last Sunday and were not alone in the parking lot as we worked. The Flying Squirrel was hosting a punk metal show that day during the same time frame we were painting. Some people were skateboarding, others were passing out "bologna Records" made from actual Bologna. Other were inflating inflatable sharks. These was an amusing crowd and having the bands as background music as I worked was cool.It was a good motivator to me as I brushed along with the rhythm.

I finally had a chance to go look at it last night in a time that I was not working on it. I went to the Flying Squirrel for a drum and hoop event instead.

I realized what things I still need to change and what things need to be finished. I am also realizing the computationally all the things people want to see it the mural are going to make it too busy. The problem is I don't want to offend anyone by not using their suggests in the painting. but it I use them all and the piece is not strong because of it what was the point?

It has proven to be a challenge for me to accept people's feedback and questions on the spot when standing in front of the mural. Most people want to know what everything is. I was told be my most recent painting teacher that A painting should speak for itself. So far this one is not. There is a conglomerate of so many different peoples visions in this project and I think that it is showing in the imagery.

I was asked last night who the people were, Why there was a fire truck and questions like "Why is that there?What is that? Why is there a tree and why is there garbage under it?" These questions are always hard to take at first and I take it personally criticizing myself as an artist. Later I realize they were well pointed and if people have to ask then I as the artist is not doing a fair enough job conveying the imagery.Trying to take so many peoples feedback into consideration and have so many people tell me what they would like to see may be taking away from the composition of the painting.

It has been awhile

I have been behind on my blogging, and my ETSY. Our internet is down at home by the time I come home from work I am too tired to get up and get on my bike to go to a computer lab at
U of R. I have been checking my emails during my lunch break which ends very soon. I Have been working full time at the art gallery. I just finished teaching a week of camp where we created our own art show and opened it up for friends, family and gallery staff to come see.

The mural is still rolling along and We should have an unveiling event in the last weekend of August. From 4-7 on Sundays.
We our currently painting on Sundays from 4-7 and all our still welcome to come partcipate. At this point in time the work at the bottom of the mural is mostly finished so the work at this time would be scaffolding work and I would like to limit this to adults.

The local children artists that came and worked on the project were a huge help and so much fun to work with. I have enjoyed thier company.

I will update with pictures once I get a chance to upload and thumbdrive pictures.

The Writing on the Wall.

We live nearby the area at which we are painting the mural. We live down the street from the Flying Squirrel. I walk the streets and think of things that could use fix up or repair. I collect things that people have left lying on the street and throw them out, recycle them, or make art out of them. There are things I love about my neighborhood and things I would like to change. I would like people who live here to have more respect for one another and each others' property. I would also like my neighbors to be friendly as I walk by. Also, as a visual minded person, I would like to see people care more about visual upkeep of the space. I see the community mural project as a first chance to make this change. I hope there will be more to follow.

I have been connecting with people who live in Corn Hill and the surrounding area by doing this mural project. I wanted this project to bring together the community, not create a divide. I want to work with and provide opportunities for people who live here to have a voice and a say in what goes on in their own community.

I see the graffiti on the walls of abandoned buildings by my house. I have seen where people have crossed out others graffiti in an attempt to outline their turf. I wanted the mural project to be a way for local people to have a chance to connect, not become further divided. I know how big the divide is from one neighborhood to another. I remember this from when I worked with youth centers in the city. I was told that kids are afraid to walk from one neighborhood to another, as they would be passing through someone else's turf. I am a recent transplant to the area so I am adjusting yet. The thing that I see is how much people are struggling here to mark the turf. I wish I could convey to people that we are all in the same boat. We are all struggling to get by, to make the rent, and to protect our homes. We are all in times of economic crisis. Hurting one another does not make this better.

I received a call on Wednesday that there was graffiti on the mural wall. My initial response was "I am not surprised.” I went to check it out and had a mixture of emotions. At first I thought "Well it is a community wall I suppose they wanted to be included. Maybe we should leave up what they had done". One thing I noted is that only areas painted by Ed or I had been marked, while the areas painted by the local children and local artists were left untouched. I might be a new face to the area but I am still part of the community. It is disrespectful to randomly mark the walls where others have worked so hard, whether that be on the mural or the recently repainted wall.

The people who purchased the Flying Squirrel have put up their own time and money to make this building a community space. A lot of time and effort has been put into renovating and repairing the building. In this project along with others who use the space we are trying to hold onto the history of the building to remember the past, acknowledge the present, and create a future there. I do not get the feeling that anyone wants to claim turf and push people out of the space. All are welcome to use the building and to paint in the mural but there should be a code of ethics, a code of trust and of honesty. I wish that whoever spray-painted the mural would appreciate that other people’s hard work and effort are going into the painting. The space has even allowed others to paint graffiti style art on the interior of the space. If you wanted to be included just ask.

Mural madness

What do you get when you combine lots of children, some artists,some paint,a parking lot, rocks and a wall to paint?Well you get chaos but our was well, organized chaos.In between segments of wall painting. The kids and K-lon ran races across the parking lot and one child kept wanting to throw rocks so I suggested, Pet rocks!


I worked some on the figures on the right and wanted to get more done with the scaffolding on the top but decided to keep scaffolding out of the way and put away while the kids were working.

We still need to incorporate hoops an I would like to incorporate drums and bicycles in a way. We also need to do more for the local Corn Hill history section of the mural.We have only 2 months left and will also need to change painting and meeting times for the summer. I will most likely be painting more on weekends and less during the week.

Last Tuesdays mural session

They came out of the woodwork Last Tuesdays. Thanks to being verbal and welcoming to the community the community members have been coming out. Giving feedback and telling me parts of their history with the area A local resident of several years talked about his use of the space as the ELKS club.

Eight local kids from the apartment complex across the street came over to help us paint. The children were very polite and patient in watching me mix the paints. I asked one child jokingly as the all watched me."Is this better then watching TV." She said "yes". The children helped paint the squirrel and the purple on Emma Goldman's scarf.




K-Lon who has come by on other weeks who is also a community mural artist came back to add color to his piece.I spoke to another artist who wished to add a design to the piece as well.His family also came by and said hi! his mother was formerly involved with the ELKS club as well.
She was at the Flying Squirrel community center to help a friend with another project.





For any other community members who wish to allow their children to paint I will be putting up a post called "Mural permission slip" which will give more information about the project and information on the paint.

Last Tuesday was a wonderful day and it was great to interact with so many others from the community.

I hope to see and met more people when out working today.

This project was funded by a grant from The Arts and Cultural Council of greater Rochester and from the New York State legislature.

Mural projects begins

So, I have not yet posted the more recent sketches of the mural image. I had brought the painted sketch to the meeting and there were some changes suggested. So here is the new sketch. This one is done in pencil on paper and is not as elaborate as the other image. Some things have stayed the same.







We began outlining the image on the wall yesterday.The rain made us concerned to do to much more. We put the ladders up and the rain began. we waited the rain had stopped we knew their would be more later. we decided to just do some basic outlining to see how the paint holds up in the rain. I was not concerned about the paint when it is dry but was worried about it getting wet before the paint was dry. It dries pretty quick and I went by and checked today and it was still there.

Community mural painting starts today 4-7

So was got the wall all power washed yesterday and purchsed some supplies.

Today from 4-7 pm we will patch holes and cracks and begin outlining the image with black paint.

Neighborhood residents are invited to attend and participate in the painting process. Be sure to where clothes that you do not mind getting paint on. Acrylic paint does not come off of clothes. It will most likely be chilly so dress warm as well.

Children must attend with a adult.
Hope to see you there!

Mural research

To conduct research for the mural and the Corn Hill, Plex, SWAN and other local Rochester area history we have been using the Special collections at The University of Rochester. The librarian there have been very helpful. They know a lot about the neighborhood having lived there.

We have looked at many photographers works from the 1950s and read a collection of articles from that time period.

William Bub documented via photo events that occurred during the race riots within the neighborhood. Two boxes worth of articles from paper such as The Ganett and Times Union. Some of these articles even document what was going on here but were printed in papers from LA.

Paul Hoeffler who photographed the live Jazz scene has 11 boxes of catalogued photos in the U of R collection. He photo documented musicians at the Pythodd club. The Eastmen School of Music, The War Memorial and other locations as well. He shot many many, photos of Chuck Mangione, the trumpet player, and gives a rather personal account of his life in photos.

We also spent some time looking at photo shot by Rocky Simmons depicts some scenes of local history in the 1950's and shows images of ELKs club members.

mural update

I have been spreading the work about the Commnity mural project to be painted on the Flying Squirrel. I have made phone calls, posted flyers and had many emails.

Here are some images of my progress with the sketch.

Mural questionaire

This is the questionnaire I am using to get feedback on the flying squirrel mural that was funded by Arts and Cultural council of greater Rochester,The New York state Council on The Arts and the New York State legislature.

You can print this form and fill out your paper copy at the Flying Squirrel on Troupe and Clarissa. or email it to me at sculptresslink@yahoo.com. Please I would like all results by April 15, 2010.

Mural Questionnaire

Please answer the following list of questions. Feel free to write additional commentary in the margins or on the back, with a citation to the question being addressed. Provide a sketch of imagery you wish to be included, if you so desire, on the back or on a separate sheet of paper.

For depictions of the local history, what would you rather see? Cite examples below.

A. Historical figures

B. Relevant places and events in the area

C. A combination of both

Examples:

For images that represent the Flying Squirrel, what would you rather see?

A. Personified squirrels

B. Silhouetted people

C. A combination of both

In each of the following subjects, what representation would you prefer to see in the mural? Fill in the letter that most applies and comment on your choice or provide an example.

A. Symbols

B. Figures

C. Events

D. None

Please answer the following list of questions. Feel free to write additional commentary in the margins or on the back, with a citation to the question being addressed. Provide a sketch of imagery you wish to be included, if you so desire, on the back or on a separate sheet of paper.

For depictions of the local history, what would you rather see? Cite examples below.
A. Historical figures
B. Relevant places and events in the area
C. A combination of both

Examples:



For images that represent the Flying Squirrel, what would you rather see?
A. Personified squirrels
B. Silhouetted people
C. A combination of both





In each of the following subjects, what representation would you prefer to see in the mural? Fill in the letter that most applies and comment on your choice or provide an example.
A. Symbols
B. Figures
C. Events
D. None
Letter Comments
Diversity and equality _____
Peace and nonviolence _____
Cooperation and community _____
Participation in government _____
Open, unbiased, and uncensored media _____
Sustainable, environmentally-conscious living _____
Workplace democracy _____
Knowledge sharing _____



What role should text play in the mural? Circle all that apply.
A. None
B. Identify people and places
C. As poetry
D. Other ______________________________________

For the following three questions, circle all answers that apply, cite others that may have been omitted, and write any comments you may have.

What places of significance in the community do you wish to see on the mural?

St. Mary’s Hospital (first hospital in Rochester)
Bull’s Head Tavern (first business and historic travelers post in the west)
St. Monica’s Church (historic architecture)
Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (first African American church in Rochester)
Lunsford Park, or Caledonia Square (circle in Corn Hill with historic architecture)
St. Joseph’s Church Gazebo (now in Lunsford Park)
William Reynold’s Seed Nursery (started the Flower city)
Corinthian Hall (lecture hall of the 1800s)
Clarissa Street as “Rochester’s Broadway” (entertainment district)
Greek revival architecture
Clarissa, or Ford, Street Bridge
Corning Hill Landing Bridge (Troupe-Howell) Bridge
Race Riots of 1964
Speech of Malcom X at Corn Hill Methodist Church in 1965
Others: ____________________________
____________________________
Comments:



What people of significance in the community do you wish to see on the mural?

Nathaniel Rochester
Benjamin Campbell (early flour miller and Troup Street resident)
William Reynolds (seed salesman and Athenaeum founder)
Susan B. Anthony
Frederick Douglass
Emma Goldman
Malcom X
Others: ____________________________
____________________________
Comments:



Name (optional): __________________________________
Email Address (optional): ____________________________

Would you like to be added to a mailing list to receive updates on the progress of the mural and information about future meetings and work parties?

Mural musings

So we have begun the meetings to discuss what to put into the Flying Squirrels mural.Only a few people have been in attendance so far. We have discussed ideas of the imagery we would like the mural to have and discussed what imagery we would like to include to convey our ideas.Mostly we want to mural to represent the history of the area and the building is in and the values of the group as a collective.We are trying to stay away from specific logos for groups that use the space.



We created a mind map last weekend to collaborate our thoughts and ideas and posted it in the community space to allow other to add to it.



We will begin a mock mural on paper soon.
We are currently meeting every other Thursday at 7:00 at the Flying Squirrel. For more info go to

http://flyingsquirrel.rocus.org/ or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flying-Squirrels/132529023090#!/profile.php?ref=sgm&id=100000140036866

This project is funded by a grant from the Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, the New York State council on the Arts, and the New York State legislature.