Caw 2016 PAL Mural by Creative Art Works

PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMER 2016

Â PAL HARLEM CENTER

PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMER 2016 PAL HARLEM CENTER MURAL by Creation of Difference Unveiling Celebration Wednesday, August 10th, 10:00 AM PAL Harlem Center 441 Manhattan Avenue New York, NY 10026 Kristy McCarthy, Teaching Artist Jenna Kilman, Teaching Artist Assistant About the Mural

Our third mural for PAL will be unveiled on the north-facing wall of the PAL Harlem Center. This dynamic youth-created art conveys PAL and CAW’s shared vision of transformative youth development within the context of the neighborhood’s powerful history and hopes for the future of the Harlem community. www.creativeartworks.org.

FROM BRIAN RICKLIN, EXECUTIVE 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: â&#x20AC;&#x153;What message should our art express?â&#x20AC;? 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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Michael Spencer Joshua McKay Dan Gala

Napolean Bond Weldon Stokes Markell Clarke Graham Robinson Jenna Kilman, Shamtha Anderson Teaching Artist Assistant

Kristy McCarthy, Teaching Artist Mariel Marte

Jhoan Castellanos

Sean Dozier Eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;niyah Pazmino

Casey Dozier

Dan Gala Dan was born in Manhattan and currently lives in Harlem. He likes to sketch and trace historical figures as well as paint. He has learned how to do shading. This is his first year as a mural apprentice with Creative Art Works.

Graham Robinson Graham is a 17-year-old illustrator born and raised in the upper west side of Harlem. He has a passion for art. He loves to sketch images that pop up in his mind and add creative details to them. He has enjoyed drawing collaboratively with other mural apprentices and learning how to use Photoshop. Graham believes murals can be a powerful and expressive symbol and has enjoyed working with his peers on this mural.

Sean Dozier Sean was born and raised in Harlem, is a boxer and developing artist. This is his first year as a mural apprentice with Creative Art Works. He has now learned how to use Photoshop, create colors, and develop a mural. He hopes to become a better artist in the future.

E’niyah Pazmino E’niyah is an aspiring photographer and this is her second year as a mural apprentice with Creative Art Works. One thing she appreciates about art is that it can give meaning to things that didn’t have meaning before. She believes murals brighten up the community. E’niyah also hopes that this year’s mural can impact the environment to make it better.

Casey Dozier Casey lives on 152nd and 8th avenue. He likes the concept of inspiring people and giving a message through art. He believes that murals are important because they express powerful messages to many different people.

Jhoan Castellanos Jhoan lives in Harlem and has had a passion for art since he was 5 years old. This is his second year as a mural apprentice with Creative Art Works. He believes that murals are a form of poetry and bring character to their environment. Contributing to a big project with people of different perspectives has been a meaningful experience for him.

Weldon Stokes Weldon was born and raised in West Harlem. He has been passionate about Basketball since the age of 5. This is his second year as a mural apprentice with Creative Artworks. He has learned how to draw faces, paint, and mix colors. He likes Creative Art Works because he enjoys being creative.

Markell Clarke Markell lives in a city called Highbridge. He has art experience in graffiti and painting. He likes that art helps him to express himself. Creative art Works mural project has helped him concentrate and express how he lives to others.

Mariel Marte Mariel has been drawing since age sixteen. She was born in the Dominican Republic and has been living in New York City for six months. She likes art because it helps her express her feelings and because colors make her feel free. Her summer with Creative Art Works has helped her practice sketching and speaking English.

Joshua McKay Joshua lives at 112th between 7th and 8th. This is his first year as a Youth Apprentice with Creative Art Works. He has learned about primary, secondary, and tertiary colors as well as how the illusion of the color of black can be created without ever using it. Josh hopes to continue learning art skills going forward.

Napolean Bond Napolean was born and raised in Harlem. He likes to draw faces and has learned how to use Photoshop. He enjoyed the concept and image development stage of this mural project. Napolean hopes to continue painting.

Shamtha Anderson Shamtha, boyyyyyy is she creative! Her swift mind and smooth rhythm are what sets her apart from the crowd. She has a background in visual merchandising and she enjoys the relaxing and therapeutic effects of art. Shamtha has been part of PAL for six years, but this is her first summer as a Youth Apprentice with Creative Art Works.

Michael Spencer Michael was born and raised in Harlem. This is his first year as an apprentice with Creative Art Works. He believes that making art from your thoughts is amazing. During this program, he has enjoyed learning how to grid, use a view finder, and use Photoshop. He hopes to continue with art throughout his life.

Jenna Kilman Jenna received a Bachelors in Poetry, a M.A. in Art Therapy and is currently accruing her M.Ed in Art Education at City College of New York. This is her first year as a teaching artist assistant with Creative Art Works. She has been a teaching artist with youth in the City Art Lab at CCNY, an arts-based after-school program in Los Angeles, and others throughout Hartford, CT. As an art therapist, she has spent the last four years running an art studio and developing creative programming for mentally ill adults in the Rockaways. She is a mixed media artist and painter with a tireless passion for encouraging art and creative expression in the lives of others. 12

Kristy McCarthy, Teaching Artist Kristy was born and raised in Wisconsin. She is a self-taught painter, muralist, community organizer, and the founder of the Harlem Art Collective. She spent the past four years organizing public art projects in Central and South America and her current neighborhood of East Harlem. She utilizes art to build community, raise awareness about social justice issues, and as personal meditation. Painting under the name D. Gale, her artwork explores interpersonal relationships, humanityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationship with nature, and concepts of love, exploitation, and interconnectedness. Follow her on instagram @dgaleart.

Process and the evolution of a design

Billy “Mr. Apollo” Mitchell, Tour Guide of The Apollo Theater, gives the Youth Apprentices a tour of Harlem’s famous cultural landmark

Inside the Apollo Theater 14

Fredrick J. Watts, Executive Director of PAL talks to the Youth Apprentices about the themes of their mural and their relevance to current events

Priming the wall 14

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

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:

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

“Murals are a form of poetry. They bring character to the environment.” - Jhoan Castellanos