2016 Global Communities Charter School Mural

PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMER 2016

CULTURAL DESIGN GLOBAL COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL, HARLEM

PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMER 2016 CULTURAL DESIGN

by Atizens Unveiling Celebration Tuesday, August 9th, 10:00 AM Global Communities Charter School 2350 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10037 Gera Lozano, Teaching Artist Erin Fritts, Teaching Artist Assistant Diana Laura Perea, Teaching Artist Assistant

About the Mural: GCCS commissioned CAW to create a mural on its faรงade that expresses its intrinsic values of diversity, unity, migration, freedom and fun. This progressive school, which recently moved to a new home in a re-purposed but unbranded commercial building, is pleased to unveil this new bold public artwork by our local Youth Apprentices which will welcome neighborhood children to its diverse and vibrant student body.

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FROM BRIAN RICKLIN DIRECTOR & CEO

Public Art is a Conversation At Creative Art Works, we know that the artistic process is a powerful tool for creating meaningful conversation and shared understanding. In light of recent events in the news at home and around the world, the need for common ground among people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and points of view is ever more present in our minds.

This summer, our Youth Apprentices met with our program partners and ventured out into our communities seeking to answer this essential question: “What message should our art express?� As they gathered stories bridging generations, languages, cultures, identity markers and social stations, they also wrestled with harder questions about American history, race relations, food scarcity, public health, law enforcement, and the nature of access and opportunity. Some of these conversations were challenging, some were uplifting: in every case they led to a deeper understanding. As our young people developed storyboards and mural designs, we also witnessed them developing the ability to passionately advocate for their ideas while simultaneously respecting the perspectives of others.

Today, we are excited to share with you the youth-generated work, which we believe embodies the spirit of our community. We hope that this public art will continue to encourage robust and fruitful conversations for many years to come.

Join the Conversation!

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Creative Art Works

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Rashad Haynes

Kyle Jones Ernest Davis

Tamasia Worthen

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Patrick Jordan

Naamiya Abdur-Raza

Kayla Garcia Akmaral Ulanova Teaching Artist Gera Lozano Teaching Artist Assistant Diana Perea

Kwanzaa Owes Dazia Laws

Celine Doyle

Teaching Artist Assistant Erin Fritts

Awa Kone Muhammad Suhail Abdul-Ghaffar Tyreik Lawson Britney Forrester

Tatia Richardson

Neilsie Edouard 5

Akmaral Ulanova Age 17 Akmaral lives in Brooklyn and attends A. Phillip Randolph Campus High School in Harlem, where she took Creative Art Works classes in Art and Anatomy, and where her artwork was recognized by the Manhattan Borough President. Originally from Kyrgyzstan, she speaks Kyrgyz, which sets her apart from most other people.

Awa Kone Age 17 Awa was born and raised in Harlem.

She attends Fredrick Douglass Academy and will be a senior this fall. She plans to attend Columbia University. This is Awa’s second summer working on a CAW mural team and she loves it! Awa also loves this organization and what it does for the youth involved, which is why she decided that for her senior year, she might join the art team at her own school. Since Awa has a lot of art exposure, her edging skills are very precise!

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Alexis Tibbs Age 17 Alexis is from East Harlem, where she attends a satellite high school.

This is Alexis’s first time participating in CAW programs. She doesn’t have a lot of art experience, but she has taken some art classes in school. She has a passion for singing, cooking, writing music, and poetry. Alexis has also attended New Alternatives for Children, which is an art therapy organization that focuses on expressing feelings through art and performance.

Celine Doyle Celine is from Brooklyn, NY, and attends Metropolitan Diploma Plus High School. This was her first year painting a mural with Creative Art Works, but she thought it was an amazing experience. She met a lot of nice people and learned a lot about how to interact better with them. She also learned the importance of being on time for work. She is inspired to be a successful Navy Seal.

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Dazia Laws Dazia lives in Harlem. Dazia is going into her last year at St. Jean Babtiste High School. She plans on going to college after she graduates.

Some colleges she is interested in applying to are Adelphi University, SUNY Canton, and Nyack College.

She would like to study criminal justice and computer science. This is her first time participating in the CAW mural program. During the CAW program, she learned different types of art. She enjoys making art more than she did before.

Kayla Garcia Age 17 Kayla lives in The Bronx. She currently goes to Landmark High School and she wants to go to Binghamton University. She doesn’t have a lot of art experience. What makes her unique is that she knows a lot of history.

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Ernest Davis Age 23 Ernest was born and raised in Harlem. He attended Manhattan Theater Lab High school. He has aspirations to be a police officer.

This CAW program was his first experience working as a professional artist. Ernest brings a calm energy to most situations, and tries his best not to let anything or anyone affect him negatively.

Kwanzaa Owes Age 17 Kwanzaa has lived in Harlem all his life. He is in his last year of high school. This is Kwanzaa’s first year at Creative Art Works. He aspires to be an animator for a living.

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Kyle Jones Age 16 Kyle Jones lives in Harlem and attends Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship High School.

This is his first CAW program, though he has mural experience though his art teacher at school.

What makes Kyle unique is his way of using art to express his thoughts.”That’s why I am so into art, it gets all my thoughts out.”

Naamiya Abdur-Razaa Age 16 Naamiya lives in Manhattan with her parents and her sister and brother. She will start 11th grade in the fall at Vanguard High School.

This is her first time participating in a CAW program. Naamiya has experience with art through school and her interest in drawing anime. She also taught herself to do Henna. Things that make Naamiya unique are her creativity, sportiness, and intelligence.

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Muhammad Suhail Abdul-Ghaffer Age 19 Muhammed has been living in Harlem for 10 months, having just moved from the Tri-City area in Southwest Florida. He graduated from Freedom High School in Tampa. While this is his first time working with CAW, he is already working professionally creating art. His plans now are to hone his craft as a self-taught artist and to start an online business. In his early life, Muhammed found that video games offered him moments of levity which helped him deal with hardships. That experience leads him to believe life is the most challenging and beautiful game that humanity will ever play.

Nielsie Edouard Age 20 Neilsie is from Brooklyn and is a junior at Nyack College, majoring in social work. Neilsie plans on attending Fordham University or Clark Atlanta University for her master’s in social work. She eventually hopes to work for The Legal Aid Society. Nielsie has participated in several CAW mural programs. Neilsie also has years in the performing arts. Dance is one of her greatest passions. “It allows me to be vulnerable to the world, whilst demonstrating my strength.�

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Patrick Jordan Age 23 Patrick lives in The Bronx and attended Borough of Manhattan Community College. While this is his first time working in a CAW program, he has previous experience painting artworks and working in a school.

Tamasia Worthen Age 20 Tamasia was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is currently living on the west side of Harlem. She graduated from Opportunity Charter School, and is now attending Newbury College majoring in fashion merchandising.

Her previous art experience consisted of fashion design and realistic sketching. What makes her unique is that all of her work has a deeper meaning and backstory that is expressed through the coloring of an image.

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Rashad Haynes Age 23 Rashad is from Staten Island and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School. He plans to go to college to study criminal justice.

This is his first CAW program. He feels that this summer will be a growing experience for him. One of Rashad’s passions is taking care of children. He has experience teaching kids through the Arches Program. Rashad plans to become an FBI agent. Rashad tries to overcome any obstacles in his way by doing his best.

Tatia Richardson Age 19 Tatia is from Harlem. She graduated from High School of Environmental Studies. Now she is debating whether she should go to college.

She attended Johnson Community Dance Center. She now has professional experience designing a mural with geometry and she has experience working with CAW’s art program.

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Tyreik Lawson Age 18 Tyreik lives in Harlem, where he was born and raised. He graduated from University Neighborhood High School, and this fall he will begin college at Borough of Manhattan Community College. This is his first time participating in CAW programming. He has previous experience working with kids as a Junior Staff member. “Graduating High School on time and not having a criminal record makes me unique.�

Gera Lozano, Teaching Artist I am passionate about the beautification of public spaces, community empowerment, and art as a healing tool. I believe public art has the power to bring forth the magic of its environment. I work by translating inspiration & investigations into artwork, and taking an archaeological & critical approach to research to reveal the distinctive characteristics of each site. This process leads to sitespecific pieces that co-inhabit in harmony with the natural elements of its surroundings.

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Britney Forrester Age 17 Britney lives in Harlem and attends Leadership and Public Service High School. She plans on going into the Navy after she graduates. This is her first summer working with CAW. Britany is still trying to figure out what makes her unique, and she hopes it happens this summer. Her only art experience comes from school art classes.

Erin Fritts, Teaching Artist Assistant Erin earned her BFA in Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she first became involved in teaching arts for social justice. She has taught with organizations such as El Puente, Painting Lounge, and DreamYard. She will be teaching metal casting workshops at Pelham Arts Center later this summer.

Erin manages her paintings and jewelry line under the name Meld & Heal and frequently participates in regional art shows, recently winning first place in multimedia painting at Caumsett State Park, NY. Erin’s work has been published in Creative Women Worldwide by A.V. Yakupova. She resides in Harlem and is certified to teach Hot Hatha yoga.

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Diana Laura Perea, Teaching Artist Assistant Diana is a Mexican-American artist based in The Bronx. She recently graduated from the City College of New York with a B.A. in Art History.

Working with DreamYard’s Bronx Art Collective, Diana has curated social justice-based student exhibitions at Sotheby’s, the Bronx Art Museum and the DreamYard Art Center.

Other community based work include murals in the South Bronx and at the DreamYard Art Center.

Diana is an advocate for creative youth development and equity in access of art learning.

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Youth Apprentices presenting their design to their clients at Global Community Charter School 19

Some of the of designs for the sneakers produced by the youth for the mural.

The shoes symbolize the diversity of the students that attend Global Community Charter School.

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About the Public Art Youth Employment Program

The Creative Art Works Public Art Youth Employment Program gives teens and young adults 14-24 years of age full-time summer jobs and part-time jobs after school to create large-scale public art and multimedia projects. Our Youth Apprentices are guided by professional teaching artists and executive staff from the initial concept development through client presentation, to the final brush stroke and public unveiling. Along the way, they gain tangible employment and life skills such as leadership, teamwork, responsibility and the power of taking initiative. They are empowered by the enduring accomplishment in their work of art and its positive impact on the community.

About Creative Art Works

Creative Art Works (CAW) improves the lives of thousands of NYC youth each year through in-school and out-of-school-time classes, community art-making events, and youth employment creating large-scale public art or multimedia projects.

Working in public schools, community centers, parks and libraries, CAW provides dynamic arts experiences for youth who otherwise lack access. Our programs build confidence, unlock a love of learning, and teach valuable technical and developmental skills while creating profound connections between our young constituents, their art and their communities.

www.creativeartworks.org

Creative Art Works is grateful to www.digitaltouchinc.com for providing discounted printing services and world-class customer service.

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This program was made possible, in part, with funding from the Summer Youth Employment Program of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, as well as

by NYC Council members Mark Levine and Melissa Mark-Viverito, and these generous supporters:

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• Diversity • Unity • Migration • Freedom • Fun

520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 201A New York, NY 10018 646.424.0392 www.creativeartworks.org

Creative Art Works is a 501(c)(3), EIN #13-3638436 Copyright © 2016 Creative Art Works. All rights reserved.