PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMER 2018
“MIGRATIONS” BY YOUNG ARTISTS
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PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMER 2018 MIGRATIONS by Young Artists Unveiling Celebration Thursday, August 9th, 3:30 PM Jacob Schiff School Campus and Playground 500 West 138th Street, New York, NY Jessie Novik, Teaching Artist Lauren Genutis, Teaching Artist Assistant Ro Garrido, Teaching Artist Assistant
About the Mural
Alexander Hamilton and John James Audobon, were both immigrants who left indelible stamps on American culture, and both spent the last years of their lives in Upper Manhattan. This multi-part mural is truly a reflection of the diversity of Hamilton Heights and the result of genuine community involvement. The design reflects input from the Jacob Schiff School Campus, the Jacob H. Schiff Playground Neighborhood Association and the Audubon Mural project. The mural combines images of migratory American birds with images of immagrant children in palyful, even fantasic, ways, and celebrates the free movement of people and ideas from all corners of the globe.
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FROM BRIAN RICKLIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The so-called Generation Z has been described as disconnected and pessimistic, but that is certainly not the case with the 150 young people I’ve had the pleasure of working with in this summer’s Public Art Youth Employment Program. Our Youth Apprentices have a sense of purpose and are hungry to do something meaningful. Inside this brochure, you will meet our future doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, accountants, scientists, social workers, and inspired artists. Most are still in high school; a few have started college. They have diverse interests that include poetry to politics, carpentry to computers, fashion to finance, and everything else one might find in our diverse city. For some, this was their first job. Many had little to no experience painting or producing a documentary short film. What they had in common was a commitment to creativity and an eagerness to rise to the challenge, making relevant and expressive public art. I am inspired by their remarkable individuality and all the genuine connections they made. I am also blown away by their perseverance. While their actions and their art speak volumes, I would like to highlight some of their own words, too. Below are a few of my favorite quotes from our summer series of “lightning interviews” (You can find complete versions on our social media outlets and blog): “A friend asked me, ‘Would you rather work hard all summer or would you rather have fun and paint?’ And I said, ‘I think painting sounds hard!’” – Kimani “I have executives, I have clients, I have people that I have to get approval from... It feels like there are high expectations.” – Marvin Kimani & Marvin, a creative job is tough – there was a lot of pressure, so congratulations on sticking with it! “I just want to create something that’s meaningful.”
– Britney
Britney, you certainly did! It’s been a privilege to be witness to yours and all the teams’ creative processes and personal growth. To all our supporters, thank you for making this possible. And to our readers and especially those in attendance today, thank you for joining in celebration of each and every apprentice and their collective art which is being revealed here today.
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Young Artists 4
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Alexis Taite Alexis is 16-years-old and grew up in East Harlem. She goes to Murray Hill Academy, and she likes hanging out with her friends. This is her first job and she likes how hands-on it is. People say Alexis’ voice sounds like Popeye’s. Alexis likes to play basketball and be outside. Family, success, and money are important to her. In the future, Alexis is going to be on TV playing for the LA Sparks.
Britney Roache Britney is an 18-year-old incoming freshman at the university at Albany. She recently graduated from Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, where she has been involved in the August Wilson Monologue competitions and countless performances while also being a part of the student council. Last summer, she joined the Statement Arts college preparatory program to expand her acting and vocal talent. She would like to thank Creative Art Works for giving her an outlet and teaching her important lessons that she will carry with her for the rest of her life.
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Anaya Damon Anaya is 17-years-old and grew up in Brooklyn. She really loves the diversity in Brooklyn and meeting people from different countries and cultures. She goes to Urban Assembly and likes the unity at her school and that no one feels left out. Anaya took this job because she wanted to learn more about art. Now whenever she sees a mural in the future, she will know about the process that went into it. Anaya is very funny and likes making people laugh. She loves to dance and wants to study dance in the future.
Colin Zhang Colin is 16-years-old and grew up in Grasmere, Staten Island. He goes to Brooklyn Tech and is majoring in bioscience, because he wants to be in the medical field. He likes that there are a lot of great teachers at his school and the community as a whole is pretty supportive. He likes that he gets to express his creative side in this job. He likes art, but hasn’t done it in a while since he was younger. He likes that this program is empowering youth to make a solid impression on the community. He has a quirky personality, and sometimes he can be really shy, but he is also really open and cheerful. He really likes playing soccer and doodling. 7
Denisha Wright Denisha is a 25-year-old Leo and grew up in the Bronx. She went to Lehman High School, but was ready to leave school early, because she felt ready for what was next. She wants to go back to school to study illustration. Denisha likes that this job has a free-flowing environment, and that everone has a platform to express themselves. Denisha likes that she’s working with other artists and that she can learn a little bit from everyone. She is a very intuitive person, and that helps her avoid things that are harmful. She aspires to spread her wings by traveling beyond New York.
Jada John Jada is 17-years-old and grew up in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. She goes to Brooklyn Academy High School. She likes her school, because it is small and they have a lot of internship opportunities. Jada likes that this job is handson and offers a way of expressing yourself through art. She likes that this job is creative and that there is something different to do every day. Jada is a “people person,” and very empathetic. She is a Sagittarius.
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Gasser Bagoga Gasser is 16-years-old and grew up in Harlem. His family is from Sudan and he’s visited there once with his family. He goes to Park East High School and likes art and math class. This is his first job, and he’s excited that he gets to learn about drawing and painting.
Jaheem Davis Jaheem is 16-years-old and grew up in Harlem. He goes to Kipp NYC College Prep where his favorite class is geometry. This is his first job, and he likes that he gets to practice painting. He likes to listen to music and play basketball. He doesn’t like getting a lot of attention and prefers to keep to himself.
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Jayvon Richardson Jayvon is 17-years-old and grew up in the Bronx. He goes to Metropolitan High School and is in his junior year. This is Jayvon’s first job, and he is excited to be getting paid to create art. He loved art growing up and enjoyed art classes in elementary school. He loves to draw and used to draw in his sketchbook all the time. Jayvon is smart, courageous and independent.
Lakia Munnerlyn Lakia is 16-years-old and goes to Harlem Prep High School. She moved around a lot when she was little and has lived in Brooklyn and The Bronx, and currently lives in Manhattan. She likes her school because they encourage students to pursue their dreams. This is her first job. She likes that this program doesn’t require artistic talent, but supports you in exploring your creative side, no matter what. She is a very curious, quiet person and likes to think of herself as her own personal leader.
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Jerome Johnson Jerome is 16-years-old and grew up in the Bronx. He goes to BCC Prep and likes that his school is filled with diversity and opportunities to explore different career aspects, so you have a good idea what career you want to persue even before you get to college. This is his first job, and he likes that he gets to meet new people and learn about different art forms. Jerome is peculiar, quirky and loves hoodies more than anyone else. He likes socializing, drawing and is hungry 24/7.
Larry Espinoza Larry is 16-years-old and grew up in The Bronx. He likes shopping around Fordham. He goes to Bronx Leadership Academy and likes that everyone gets along. He likes studying law and history, because he wants to become a lawyer in the future. Larry is very determined and likes to run track. He’s also an atheist.
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Malachi Riley Malachi is 17-years-old and grew up in Harlem. He goes to Democracy Prep Endurance High School and likes that they are very college driven. He likes the people he is working with. He is very unapologetic but very open to new experiences and trying new things. He needs a lot of trust, communication, and honesty. He wants a stable relationship and friendships.
Priom Mouri Priom is 19-years-old and was born in Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, but moved to Brooklyn. She goes to City College and is majoring in biotechnology. She wants to be a dentist in the future. She is excited to see the final mural and will be proud to know she was a part of the process. She enjoys reading and cooking. She likes to read fiction and romance novels. She loved painting since she was younger, and this job gives her opportunity to engage and work on these skills again.
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Musfika Moshahid Musfika is 18-years-old and grew up in The Bronx. She and her family are from Sylhet, Bangladesh. She goes to City College and is studying political science. She likes that this job allows her to be creative and have fun while getting paid. She hopes to become more skilled in art through this process. She really likes music, pop culture, politics, and history.
Rafael Morales Rafael is 16-years-old and grew up in Harlem. He goes to Facing History School and likes the students, teachers and good environment there. He really likes science. This is his first job, and he wants to keep learning more about art. He likes working in a team, because his teammates provide support so everybody gets their work done faster and more efficiently. He is shy at first, but then once you get to know him he is more outgoing. He likes to play basketball and video games like Fortnite. He wants to make sure his future is how he wants it to be, not how anyone else wants it to be.
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Roberto Cruzado Roberto is 18-years-old and grew up on the Upper West Side. He goes to Academy for Sophomore Engineering, and likes that his school has access to a bunch of new technology. This is his first job and he is excited for the new experience. He likes to keep it positive and help when he can.
Stokely Scarlett Stokley is 18-years-old and grew up in Saint James, Jamaica. He goes to Bronx High School of Business and he likes how friendly and considerate the staff are. He likes how the teaching artists treat the YA’s and all the new art skills he is learning. His favorite color is blue. He is named after his dad but it is spelled differently. He lights up any room that he walks into and brings a joyful noise into the room. He is multi-talented: he can be a singer, artist, chef, athlete, or comedian if he chooses to. He loves how he’s built up his confidence over the years and how much he’s accomplished.
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Shanice Buddington Shanice is 16-years-old and grew up in The Bronx. She goes to Dewitt Clinton High School and is on the cheerleading team. Shanice likes that she can be creative in this job and that everyone is very open-minded. She has a growth mindset and is open to trying new things and learning about her capabilities. She wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up, because she loves animals and wants to care for them.
Tasia Goodner Tasia is 22-years-old and grew up in The Bronx. She is starting college at BCC in September and wants to study criminal justice. She likes mysteries, solving problems and being nosy. Tasia loves watching ID Discovery, because they show different crime shows. She likes the experience of this job and learning about paint mixing and drawing. She has a great sense of humor and loves telling jokes. Tasia’s 4-year-old autistic son is the most important thing in the world to her.
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Simone Alwanse Simone is 16-years-old and grew up in West Harlem. She goes to High School for Environmental Studies where Mr. Bagnall, Ms. Hill and Mr. Mallin are her favorite teachers. Her favorite subject is debating world issues. This is Simone’s first job. Her favorite part is getting paid and having money to spend on what she wants. Simone is a jack-of-all-trades and is not a carbon copy. She is an individual. She is also an amateur saxophonist (lie).
Aisha Konate Aisha is 18-years-old and grew up in The Bronx. She goes to Taft High School and the School of Business. This is her first job and she has enjoyed learning about painting. Aisha is the whole package: funny, nice, friendly, smart, and loyal. She wants to be a fashion model and looks online for inspiration. In the future, she wants to have her own fashion business. She cares about everyone and doesn’t want anything bad to happen to anyone.
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Ryan Bagot Ryan is 17-years-old and grew up in Upper West Harlem. She goes to Kipp NYC College Prep and her favorite class is English. Ryan is excited about this opportunity to explore her creativity and let others know who she really is. She is very outspoken and kind. Passion is something that Ryan feels very strongly about.
D’laja Martin D’laja is 17-years-old and grew up in Manhattan. She goes to Manhattan Center for Science and Mathemetics. She enjoys science because she likes to know the root of things. She likes that this job allows her to be creative and find herself through art. Her name was was inspired by an African princess and given to her because her mom wanted to show the empowerment of women.
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Tiffany Guzman Tiffany is 18-years-old and grew up in The Bronx. She wants to be a doctor, specifically a neurosurgeon, in the future. She was never good at science and math but thinks they are important. She really likes English and enjoys reading. Through this first job experience, Tiffany has been learning about how to work as part of a team and take initiative. She believes the best part of this experience will be putting her name on the finished mural. Tifanny does not feel the need to conform to other people’s opinions and is 100% herself.
Zachary Johnson Zach is 17-years-old and grew up in upstate New York. He goes to A. Phillip Randolph High School and is in his junior year. His favorite subject in school is science. Zach likes that this job allows him to learn how to paint and learn new skills. He took this job because he wants to learn how to work with other people. Zach has a great sense of humor and makes good jokes.
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Teaching Artist Jessie Novik Based out of Brooklyn, Jessie is a permit holding Art Therapist, Teaching Artist, and Muralist with a master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Pratt Institute. She earned her BFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2009 where she concentrated in painting and sculpture. Drawn toward fantastical realism, Jessie loves to paint landscapes and figures based on observation and travel, filtered through her rich imagination. Painting murals with young people is one of Jessie’s favorite things to do, because she used to dream of painting murals as a child. Besides making art and fostering creative development in others, Jessie has a third degree black belt in karate and teaches self-defense. Jessie is passionate about teaching practical skills and feels strongly that both art and martial arts uphold an infinite capacity for healing.
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Teaching Artist Assistant Lauren Genutis Lauren has been working with youth since 2006 and has taught with Creative Art Works since 2015. Lauren specializes in sculptural fabrication and has helped produce costume relief sculptures and props for music videos such as Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood.” She was also part of the model making & building team responsible for fabricating Manhattan island at the new Times Square attraction, Gulliver’s Gate. Lauren’s most recent project consisted of sculpting four life to large-scale ghostly figures for Daniel Arsham’s latest show in Moscow. This is her third mural program with CAW.
Teaching Artist Assistant Ro Garrido Ro was born in Lima, Peru and raised in Queens, New York. She is a self-taught, multidisciplinary artist who works with collage, mixed media, archives, and installation. Her work predominantly grapples with themes of memory and intimacy and further explores migration, history, violence, trauma, and their effect. Ro’s work has been featured at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art, Goddard College, Flux Factory, and The Laundromat Project. She has a BA in individualized studies with a focus on visual art and mental health from Goddard College.
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Creative Art Works hires Youth Apprentices directly and as a worksite manager with the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development Summer Youth Employment Program. Programs are implemented in partnership with Catholic Charities of New York Alianza Division, Children’s Aid Society, Inwood Community Services, and Police Athletic League. CAW’s 2018 Public Art Youth Employment Program is made possible, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council. Direct support is provided by Brookfield, Crowell & Moring Foundation, RBC Foundation USA, Sherwin Williams, Structure Tone, and by individual donors.
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About the Public Art Youth Employment Program
Public Art Youth Employment Programs give teens and young adults full-time summer jobs and part-time jobs after school to create large-scale public art and multimedia projects. Youth Apprentices are guided by professional teaching artists from the initial concept development through client presentation, to the final edit and public unveiling or premier. 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) is a 32-year-old nonprofit that empowers young people through the visual and multimedia arts. Our programs equip children, teens, and young adults with essential tools and skills; connect them with community, academic success, and career opportunities; and inspire them to reach for new possibilities. Working in under-served neighborhoods of New York City, in public schools, community centers, parks, and libraries, CAW provides dynamic art-making 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. Students are never charged for participation in our programs. www.creativeartworks.org Creative Art Works is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, EIN #13-3638436 Copyright Š 2017 Creative Art Works. All rights reserved.
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MIGRATIONS
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Creative Art Works is a 501(c)(3), EIN #13-3638436 Copyright © 2018 Creative Art Works. All rights reserved. 24