"Ascension" - Creative Art Works' 2017 PAL Harlem Mural by Creative Art Works

PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMER 2017

ASCENSION BY THE HIGH ROLLERS

PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMER 2017 Ascension by The High Rollers Unveiling Celebration Wednesday, August 9th, 2:30 PM PAL Harlem Center 441 Manhattan Avenue, New York, NY New York, NY 10026 Viktoriya Basina, Teaching Artist Toccara Davenport, Teaching Artist Assistant Diana Laura Perea, Teaching Artist Assistant About the Mural

Creative Art Works continues its long-standing partnership with the Police Athletic League (PAL) with our third summer Public Art Youth Employment program at PAL Harlem Center. Our Youth Apprentices hope their mural will inspire young people to make healthy life choices, to push themselves to excel, and to work for positive change in their community.

FROM BRIAN RICKLIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR For many of us, a summer job was our introduction to the working world. It’s a fundamental rite of passage, and a big step towards adulthood. I believe young people who land a summer job with Creative Art Works’ Public Art Youth Employment program have truly lucked out, not because our jobs are easy, but because they are challenging in unique ways. Many of our Youth Apprentices have no previous art-making experience, so they have to venture outside their comfort zones and try things they didn’t know they could do. Because they are expected to deliver a beautiful finished product in just six weeks, and satisfy multiple stakeholders, our young people must learn to work as a team, to assert their identities, to compromise, to solve problems, and to advocate for their ideas. There is a healthy dose of pressure, as well as an enormous sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing their completed artwork and its impact. While it is possible to take away lessons from any work experience, I would argue that those jobs that involve the creative process offer some unique lessons. Aside from mastering the technical skills of painting or using professional cameras and video editing software, our Youth Apprentices must learn to deal with uncertainty. The idea that there are predetermined “correct” answers is supplanted by a constantly evolving cycle of judgment calls. In this environment, you must not only come to trust yourself, you must also trust your collaborators – to listen to them openly, embrace their different perspectives, and evaluate ideas solely on their own merits. In today’s rapidly changing world, perhaps the most important habit our young people could develop is the capacity and desire to become life-long learners. Today, we are excited to share with you youth-generated work, which we believe embodies that spirit.

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The High Rollers Sean Dozier Teaching Artist Assistant 4Diana Laura Perea

Eniyah Pazmino

Jhoan Castellanos

Teaching Artist Assistant Toccara Davenport

Ryell Rainey Graham Robinson Lauren Simmons

Aaron Clifford Monrovia Ndiaye Meshach Merrills

Jalil Jones-Lewis

Cyrell Primo Teaching Artist Viktoriya Basina

Donovan Jones

Lauren Simmons Lauren is 16-years-old and lives in Harlem, NY. She attends Landmark High School. Lauren is outspoken and likes to express herself using her strong communication skills. When she graduates, she plans to attend law school and serve her community. When Lauren is not advocating for her peers, she enjoys eating, shopping, sleeping, and dancing. Her favorite part of the summer job is free drawing. She gets inspiration from her grandmother, a woman she admires for her strength. Laurenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motto is, â&#x20AC;&#x153;always go forward, never look backwards!â&#x20AC;?

Monrovia Ndiaye Monrovia is a 20-year-old aspiring artist. She enjoys drawing portraits and plans to continue growing as an artist. Monrovia enjoyed painting the details on the mural, such as the symbols in the hair, and the face blends in the portraits. Monrovia draws inspiration from her family, friends, and music. She loves listening to various genres of music. Monrovia stays grounded in faith, family, and sharing knowledge to anyone that is open to learning.

Cyrell Primo Cyrell is 18-years-old and is from Harlem, NY. She attends Long Island University (Brooklyn Campus). She is studying Pharmacy and would like to open her own nonprofit pharmacy and clinic in Harlem to help her community. She enjoys studying both cosmology and cosmetology. Cyrell considers herself a leader and advocate for her peers. Her grandmother motivates her to be successful at whatever she aspires to achieve. Cyrell’s favorite quote is, “Everybody wants happiness, nobody wants pain, but you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain.”

Graham Robinson Graham is an 18-year-old from Uptown Harlem who attends Saturday Academy and enjoys riding bikes. Graham loves learning about cars and the mechanics of automobiles. After graduation, he plans to pursue a degree in auto engineering. Also, he wants to be an entrepreneur in the auto business. His favorite part of his job with Creative Art Works is free drawing. His father encourages him to make right choices and be the best at whatever he does.

Ariana Simmons Ariana is 18-years-old and from Harlem, NY. She attends Leadership and Public Service High School. Ariana enjoys painting and creating art when given the opportunity for free drawing. Also, she enjoys reading. When she grows up, Ariana wants to be a veterinarian. Her mother encourages her to be her best. Ariana wants people to be open-minded about learning new things, and says, “don’t knock it until you try it!”

Casey Dozier Casey is 17-years-old. He is from Harlem, NY. He attends Harlem Village Academy with his brother and is looking forward to being a senior. He also enjoys working out and playing basketball. Casey is very confident in himself and knows that he can achieve whatever he puts his mind to doing. He likes listening to people’s problems; he’s a great listener. Casey enjoys being helpful and placed wherever he’s needed at the work site. He believes, “the toughest battle is given to the strongest soldiers.”

Eniyah Pazmino Eniyah is 16-years-old. She comes from Queens, NY and attends Success Academy. When she grows up, Eniyah wants to pursue law and become a judge, which will enable her to be an advocate for positive change in her community. She enjoys track and field, cooking and baking and eating afterwards. She enjoys continuing to learn how to paint. Her peers inspire her to excel; they push her to do her best in all things.

Jalil Jones-Lewis Jalil is 15-years-old and hails from Harlem, NY. He attends Environmental Studies School. He enjoys training and wants to become a boxer when he grows up. Canelo Alvarez is his inspiration. He enjoys brushing his hair, boxing, and working out. He favorite parts of his job with CAW is drawing and learning about different artists. Jalil believes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you fall down, fall forward.â&#x20AC;?

Sean Dozier Sean is 17-years-old and lives in Harlem, NY. He attends Harlem Village Academy and is looking forward to being a senior. During his leisure time, he likes going to the gym to work out specifically in boxing. Sean loves to model too! Sean loves to inspire his family and friends. Sean enjoys being a leader wherever he goes. He appreciates his peersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; uniqueness and the value that they contribute to the workspace.

Ryell Rainey Ryell is a 15-year-old from Polo Grounds. He attends Hudson High School. Basketball is his favorite activity. When he grows up, he wants to be a professional basketball player, like his role model, Kyrie Irving. His favorite part of this summer work experience has been drawing.

Aaron Clifford Aaron is 15-years-old and comes from Harlem, NY. He attends Harlem Prep High School. When he grows up, Aaron wants to become a microbiologist, study cells, and solve health challenges. He enjoys reading, writing, exploring and learning. He enjoys mixing colors and painting. His mother is his inspiration - she perseveres and helps him. He believes there’s more than one way to solve a problem. He often says, “seven plus two is nine, but so is five plus four.”

Jhoan Castellanos Jhoan is 17-years-old. He lives in Harlem, NY. He attends the Frederick Douglass Academy. When he grows up, Johan wants to be a video game developer. His hobbies include playing video games, listening to music and collecting sneakers. His mom and close friends inspire him. He enjoys leading his peers and working in teams at work. He believes life is what you make it.

Zaria Bowen Zaria is 14-years-old and lives in Harlem, NY. She attends Manhattan Early College. Her future profession is to become a pediatrician when she grows up; she loves working with children and hopes to be able to serve them in a medical capacity. She enjoys dancing; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s her way of relaxing and expressing herself in a fun way. Zaria likes being helpful and enjoys painting; painting is a relaxing activity for her.

Dan Gala Dan is a 17-year-old from Harlem, NY. He is a senior at Frederick Douglass Academy II. He wants to attend college and is exploring a few options for a major. His hobbies include playing basketball, video games, and hanging out with friends. His mom inspires him. Dan is patient with painting details and will help wherever he is needed.

Meshach Merrills Meshach is 19-years-old and comes from Harlem, NY. He enjoys writing poetry, drawing, playing basketball, and creating instrumentals. He attends SUNY Sullivan in Eastside, NY. His concentration is Liberal Arts and Humanity. He is still navigating what heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to pursue professionally, but has a passion for theater and accounting. He enjoys learning the different techniques of art and appreciates the different ways of executing art using various mediums. Meshach especially loves the portrait design of the mural. He is inspired to be creative and a role model by his father and mentors.

Aaron Suleman Aaron is 16-years-old and lives in Harlem, NY. He attends Eagle Academy, where his favorite subject is math. He enjoys playing a variety of sports and video games; they relax him. When he grows up, Aaron wants to be an entrepreneur and own his own club. He wants to be able to help his family by accomplishing his personal goals to be a successful businessman. His favorite role model is Kobe Bryant, because he inspires him to keep working to accomplish his dreams.

Raliek Mitchiner Raliek is 17-years-old and comes from Harlem, NY. He is a junior at Harlem Village Academy. Raliek enjoys making his peers laugh; he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meet a stranger anywhere he goes. He understands the importance of fitness and enjoys going to the gym for his daily workout. When he grows up, he wants to be a professional boxer; his inspiration is Sugar Ray Robinson. Raliek enjoys drawing and is skilled at drawing characters. Raliek enjoys working in groups and learning art techniques. Raliek is a motivator; he likes encouraging people to makes good choices.

Donovan Jones Donovan is 18-years-old and comes from Harlem, NY. He attends James Baldwin High School and his favorite subject is math. He enjoys watching movies and playing video games. He has an interest in being a barber and opening his own barbershop in his neighborhood. Donovan enjoyed learning how to scale up design drawings and transfer them onto the mural. Donovan is a natural born leader who knows how to take charge when the situation requires him to do.

Teaching Artist Viktoriya Basina Viktoriya was born in Moscow and moved to the US at the age of 12. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, she moved back to Moscow, where she studied painting for six years, and received another Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree. Viktoriya works with painting, mosaics, vitreous enamel, and glass. Over the years, she maintained a studio practice in Moscow, exhibited her work locally and internationally, and worked on numerous commercial and nonprofit art projects in Russia, Mexico, and Austria. She also worked as a Teaching Artist with children and young adults from the Russian orphanage system. In 2017, Viktoriya moved to New York.

Teaching Artist Assistant Toccara Davenport Toccara is an artist and educator from Atlanta, GA. She graduated from Bennett College in Greensboro, NC. She has over 12 years experience teaching Math, Science, and Visual Arts to primary and secondary students. Toccara has had the privilege of working with Creative Art Works for four summers. Her greatest joy is working with children and continuing to evolve socially and spiritually. She enjoys drawing, designing clothes, graphic design, and screen-printing. Her interests include dancing, singing, and cooking. She is inspired by social interactions with people from various backgrounds. Toccara aspires to keep learning, working with youth, and using her gifts to bring joy to everyone she encounters.

Teaching Artist Assistant Diana Laura Perea 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 (BAC), Diana has curated social justice based student exhibitions at Sotheby’s, the Bronx Art Museum and the DreamYard Art Center. Other community-based works include murals in the South Bronx and at the DreamYard Art Center. Her most recent works are, “The Blue Winged Warbler,” on 165th Street and 3rd Avenue, and “Bronx Tracks,” located at Railroad Park. Diana is a passionate supporter of creative youth development and aspires to get her Master of Art Education or Social Practice, or possibly both. 17

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 31-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 © 2017 Creative Art Works. All rights reserved.

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 2017 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, State Street, Structure Tone, and by individual donors.

ASCENSION BY THE

HIGH ROLLERS