Quote of the day

Week 5

Today at the Art Experience has become a better opportunity. As time continues to go by the people that come in each week talk more with me about their own artistic practices.

Today, I had the opportunity to talk with James. He is a local resident of the Pontiac area. He comes in weekly. He writes poetry as well as his own music. Today, he shared with us one of the songs that he wrote and played the piece on a guitar. His voice sounded through the entire building as he strummed along.

Katie and Renard also came today. Renard  continued to work on his paintings while Katie worked on multiple projects.  Additionally, a mother and her two children appeared in the studio today.  New to the environment, the mother brought her children to try something new and artistic.

Yet, even though I had the opportunity to talk with the artists today, I spent most of time working on a project for the organization. I was asked to research some possible grant ideas and opportunities.

The will provide after-school art classes to the area to ameliorate the effect of recent budget cuts which caused the district to cut their art programs. By providing this to students, they will be provided with a positive learning environment where they will have the opportunity to express themselves while exploring the arts.

Two organizations that have approached the Art Experience are the Children’s Village, Grace Centers of Hope, and one of the elementary schools.  The idea is to reach out and provide after school activities.

Art projects for the Children’s Village would be geared more towards teenagers. This organization helps to provide the “best possible services within existing resources to children and youth who come under the jurisdiction of the court and are deemed to be temporarily in need of out-of-home care, custody and treatment, delivered in a caring, safe and therapeutic setting, which also serves to protect the public.” (from website https://www.oakgov.com/village/Pages/about/about.aspx)

For Grace Centers of Hope, the Art Experience would be working with their Children’s Program. Here, they offer a preschool program where they offer a safe and nurturing educational environment. 

(http://www.gracecentersofhope.org/ChildrensProgram.aspx)

The Art Experience would focus to create a learning environment through art related activities that would demonstrate the possibility of learning how to communicate while striving to provide creativity, personal growth, and self awareness by expressing ones’ own emotions.

One thing that I have come to notice is that the artist that come to participate in the open studio are very relaxed and feel welcomed to use the materials. The atmosphere is very relaxed. Everyone has the opportunity to work on his or her own. Yet, what has become important is to provide a positive learning environment where people can be provided with growth. 

Quote of the Day

Week 4

For the past couple weeks while attending the open studio time at The Art Experience, I have had the opportunity to see how people have the chance to be a part of an art community. Open studio allows for people of all different backgrounds to come and explore different areas of art. People come to talk about what they want to create, how they should create the piece, and to talk among each other. The studio time provides people with the opportunity to explore, yet, meet new people.

While starting to participate in the open studios, I have come to meet two of the artists that regularly attend, Katie and Renard. Both these artists create some of the most fascinating artwork.

Renard is the Artist in resident at the Art Experience and comes everyday to produce work. He creates work that is more abstract based. He uses a technique where he creates the piece while using oil pastel to draw then creates a color contrast with watercolor. Renard is an artist that has autism; yet, he uses his artistic ability to share his interests. Creating art allows him to interact with others while providing him with the ability to express himself. The color he uses creates a happiness and bright look onto life. Renard always appears happy while he creates, and provides an inspiration.

Katie creates work of many different variations. The first week I meet her she was working on a painting of trees. Recently, she created a display box where on top the painting was displayed, and when you opened the box, another painting was visible. Katie also uses art in a therapeutic way to help express what she would like to say. Art allows her to explore her creativity while providing a community.

Yet, even though The Art Experience has regular attendance, there are always new people coming that are interested in exploring their interest in the arts.

Recently, a couple came on Valentines Day as date. Both used a variation of materials to produce a piece for each other. Being around, one can tell that they were uncomfortable to the foreign materials, but after a small amount of time, both were able to let go. Their fear subsided, and they allowed the idea of fun to play a part in what they were doing.

What I enjoy about the Art Experience is the fact that people from all different backgrounds come to practice art. They come to discover something new. It’s enjoyable to see the community that has been created. By allowing people to come and produce art, it creates freedom. People have the ability to focus on new ideas.

Additionally, being an artist means not only creating but distinguishing the potential in others so that the beauty of art may continue to those all around. Art addresses concerns while creating a connection while also stimulating an ongoing dialogue among people.

Week Three- The Art Experience

The organization that I will be working with to form a service-learning project is The Art Experience in Pontiac, Michigan.

The Art Experience was created in 1995 to produces a community art studio that allows for healing power of the arts. This community is made up of children, adults, artists, therapists, and many others alike. Here, all are welcomed to participate and create and experience the joy of art making the ability to share with others.

The Art Experience offers class, open studio, and specialized programs. There is a variety of supplies that is offered to create any type of art that a person can imagine. But, creating art is not the only thing that TAE has to offer. They offer participants to communicate and build relationships. They allow people to reflect, uncover their own strengths, and allow the art to form a journey of self.

Here one has the ability to discover their own identity and examine and enhance their own life by connecting with those around them.

I was able to visit the Art Expereince on Monday Feb. 4. I met with Judy Wilson who is the director of the program. During our meeting we talked about the organization and what if had to offer to the Pontiac community. I discovered by talking with Ms. Wilson that the Pontiac public schools have recently diminished their arts.

Also by talking with her we discussed all possibilities that I could help out with my discussing my own background as a studio artist and the fact that I work for the galleries on Wayne State University. During my time at TAE I will be participating at the open studio hours to discuss with people about being an artist and providing feedback to what they have created during their studio time.

Also, we have discussed about working with after school children who would be interested in working with art. During this option the children would have the ability to experience art as a way to practice interpersonal skills and respect those around them because the project would possibly be a group effort. Yet, this project is still be working out and details are not finalized.

Additionally, in 2011, one of the founders, Katie Serewicz has passed away. They have asked if I would be able to propose an exhibition of her work to a gallery in the local area. Katie has a large artistic range and also has an art therapy background. “Katie guided youth and adults, including people with developmental disabilities, mental illness or those recovering from substance abuse, to realize their own creative potential and to see themselves as artists.  In her own creative work, Katie allowed the emotional component to inform her art and encouraged those whom she taught and mentored to do the same.” (description for the organizations website) I would find this exhibition very beneficial to all artists alike because it would show her dedication and passion to what she believe the arts can do.

On Thursday of that same week, I had the opportunity to participate during the open studio event. During my time there I was able to experience a variety of interactions. From young to old, disabled to shy, people were there to communicate, create, and form a community. In one are of the one people were painting. In another a group of women were performing and artistic dance movement where their movement acknowledged the music they were listening too. Everyone there was involved in a project and talking and engaging with one another.

The experience allowed me to see the importance of how art can act as a healing device. As an artist I always forget how art can be more than just creating a piece. Art has the power to let individuals talk and create ways of connecting while providing an on going dialogue.

Art acts as an advocacy. It’s a drive that formulates a remedy to what you are doing. It’s a voice to what doesn’t have one. Art contributes to finding one’s own identity and allows for participation in expressing one’s self.

Week 2