"They Didn't Know We Were Seeds" - The PAL Longwood Mural by Creative Art Works

PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMER 2017

THEY DIDNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T KNOW WE WERE SEEDS BY THE BRONX ROLLERS

PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUMMER 2017 They Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Know We Were Seeds by The Bronx Rollers Unveiling Celebration Tuesday, August 8th, 1:30 PM PAL Longwood Center 991 Longwood Avenue, Bronx, NY New York, NY 10024 Yazmeen Collazo, Teaching Artist Lovie Pignata, Teaching Artist Assistant About the Mural

Creative Art Works continues its long-standing partnership with The Police Athletic League with our first summer Public Art Youth Employment program at the PAL Longwood Center. Our Youth Apprentices hope their mural will inspire young people to grow into productive members of society through academics, sports, and community involvement. The images in the mural capture the resiliency and indomitable spirit of the South Bronx community. It also highlights the commitment of PAL to Bronx youth.

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 Bronx Rollers

Rickey White

Lovie Pignata

Raquel Chetata

Sean Beauge Victor Mena EJ Richardson Yazmeen Collazo Daphne Castillo

Pierre Mirand Ethan Rivers

Armani Trotman Jesus Jimenez

Jaida Davis Jayla Carter Jade Richardson Tia Boxley Jane Macias Aslin Meza

Jayla Carter Jayla is 15-years old and lives in Harlem. She is a cheerful, congenial, caring and well-organized person. Positivity, motivation and, achievement are important to her. This is her first year as a mural Apprentice with Creative Art Works. She hopes to become a better artist in the future. She thinks the mural will motivate the community to do better. Her hobbies are doing makeup and hair, and she wants to become a cosmetologist.

Aslin Meza Aslin is 16-years-old and she has lived in Manhattan all her life with her sister and mother. She's into reading poems, playing soccer, listening to music, art, and most of all eating! Aslin knows two languages and is currently learning Japanese. In the past, she has struggled, yet she keeps fighting her battles and becoming something awesome and great.

Jane Macias Jane was born and raised in the Bronx. Because she lived in one place all her life, she never got out of her comfort zone; however, when she started college at Mount Saint Vincent in 2016, her life changed. She began opening up more, and learned how to work efficiently and effectively in small groups. As she began to open up, she realized many people are just like her: the quiet yet observant type. Jane says that working with Creative Art Works gave her the chance to practice her communication skills, which will help her to pursue a career as a child therapist. This experience has inspired her to incorporate art into her career goals. Like Fab said, "we all need a little motivation."

Armani Trotman Armani Trotman is a 21-yearold amateur artist from Harlem. Armani was excited to take part in this project, because he enjoys sketching portraits of celebrities and friends. Armani began drawing his favorite cartoon characters as a child, including Danny Phantom, and Dragon Ball Z characters. Art is a very inspirational part of his life, yet also a very freeing and stress-relieving part. He truly enjoys making art, because it allows him to tune out the world and get lost in his art. So when he found out that he was joining an art-related project that would impact a community for years, he was very elated to be part of this historic moment in history. 7

Victor Mena Victor was born in the Bronx and has moved numerous times. He has seen an abundance of art around the Bronx. Victor is funny and has a great sense of humor. Since childhood, Victor has always been interested in drawing and would draw all the time until he found the beauty in music and decided to focus on that instead. Being hired by Creative Art Works has rekindled his love for drawing, and he is trying his best to make the mural a masterpiece.

Sean Sebastian Beauge Sean has a very energetic personality (when he is not tired). He also is a creative person. The things that Sean values are family and friends. Also, he values anything in any art form. Sean was introduced to Creative Art Works through an after-school program in his school, which made him want to continue drawing.

Jaida Davis Jaida is far from an artist, however, being from the Bronx, she can't help but see art all around. Whether it is big or small, she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind, as long as it looks nice and has a message. Her ambition for the future is become an actress or a writer, but right now she is proud to be apart of Creative Art Works. She is proud to say that she helped paint a 70-foot mural that will be up for years to come and could potentially inspire people from all over. She believes that when people see this mural, they will see an eyeful of positive images reflecting kids, growth, diversity and academic achievement. They will see the transition from how the area used to be to what it is now, as well as what it may blossom into in the future.

Ethan Rivers Ethan is 18-years-old. He lives with his mother and three brothers. Education is very important to him. He will be a senior at Truman High School in the fall, and his favorite subjects are English and Science. He is shy at first, but once you get to know him, you'll see that he is an amusing, caring person with a free and warm-hearted spirit. He has loved animals longer then he can remember, so doing anything positive for animals means a lot to him. Ethan believes there is no reason why all animals shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a good home. He encourages everybody to visit a local animal shelter or pet adoption event and give a loving home to a stray animal.

Kiara Floyd Kiara is from Brooklyn and currently lives in Manhattan. This is her first year as a mural Apprentice with Creative Art Works. She learned how primer works and how to work well with others. She has decided she will keep doing art after this job ends to help make the community look better.

Jesus Jimenez Jesus is 18-years-of-age. He likes to play basketball and his favorite subject is math. He decided to work with Creative Art Works this summer to gain some art experience. He likes this mural, because it represents the neighborhood of Longwood and the path to success.

Raquel Chetata Raquel is an aspiring artist who has been practicing on and off since she was five. She recently graduated middle school at Success Academy Harlem Central. She has won multiple math and computer science trophies at school competitions along with one for creative writing. She values productivity and tries (sometimes failing) to make use of her free time. Raquel currently resides in New York.

Tia Boxley Tia has been living in the Bronx for over 10 years. She will be attending university at Albany to study psychology. She enjoys art, even though she doesn't have much experience. This is her first year as a mural Apprentice with Creative Art Works, but she has painted a park wall on the Bronx Green. Being a part of this program has taught her how to look at her surroundings differently.

Jade Richardson Jade is from the west side of Harlem. She likes street art, shopping, and food. Jade joined Creative Art Works to have a better learning experience in different types of art. Jade would like to go to FIT for college and enjoys traveling with her friends.

Elnorris “EJ” Richardson Cheickh “CJ” Kante CJ believes that working with Creative Art Works has shown him skills that he didn't know he had until now. He has enjoyed painting and walking around the community and getting to talk to people to know more about them. CJ hopes this mural will show people what this community is all about.

EJ is from West Harlem. He loves basketball and has been playing since the age of two. EJ has not really been the best artist, but he joined Creative Art Works to gain more knowledge in art. Also, he wanted to join his sister, Jade, who he thinks is a great artist. Something important to EJ is finishing the mural and making sure the people in the community love it.

Pierre Marc Halens Mirand Pierre lives in Brooklyn, was born in Germany, but raised in Haiti. He is 17, and speaks Haitian Creole, French, English, and a little bit of Spanish and German. Family and home are the most precious things to Pierre. Going to the beach, watching Netflix and going to the park are his hobbies. His future career goal is to be a physical therapist. He is unsure where he wants to go to college, but he is considering Columbia and Hunter, among many others.

Rickey White Rickey is from Harlem. He is a paint mixer genius and he likes to get messy with paint a lot. Also, he likes sketching things that come to his mind and around his neighborhood. The number one thing that he does not do is give up. His motto is, "Fake it â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;til you make it!"

Daphne Castillo Daphne Castillo was born in Manhattan. She is 17. Her family is from Honduras. Her Favorite sport is volleyball. She been playing volleyball for 4 years. She believes art is a way to express herself.

Janasia Taylor Janasia is 16-years-old. She likes to play sports, like basketball, softball, football, and gymnastics. She likes to put a smile on people's faces no matter if they are mad or sad. Her main goal in life is to help people that are in need.

Ajani Sabir Ajani grew up in the Bronx. He likes to hang with his friends or sometimes chill at his house, but no matter what, he likes to enjoy himself. His values in life are money and planning ahead. He believes people should always prepare for the future while young. Other than wanting wealth and riches, he is not sure what he wants to do with his life. A couple of years ago, when he was 13 or 14, he wanted to be a boxer and even asked his mom to pay for boxing lessons, but he only stood for one week. Boxing was everything to Ajani, even though he will admit with a smile that he couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do much of it himself. Mike Tyson is his favorite boxer. He read Undisputed Truth. Now that he has forgotten boxing, he is unsure what he wants to be in life, but he still looks forward to great things. 15

Teaching Artist Yazmeen Collazo Yazmeen is a mixed media artist and muralist born and raised in The Bronx. Yazmeen graduated from SUNY Purchase College with a BA in Art, Liberal Studies, and is currently in pursuit of a master of arts in teaching for visual art education at Manhattanville College. Using spray paint, acrylic, collage, and repurposed/found materials, Yazmeen creates unique pieces featuring both representational subject matter and abstractions. She has participated in mural projects in NYC, Puerto Rico, and Ecuador, and painted live at New York Botanical Garden's Frida Kahlo exhibit.

Teaching Artist Assistant Lovie Pignata Lovie majored in sculpture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She has also studied at the Botanical Drawing program at the New York Botanical Garden and advanced figure drawing at the Art Student League of New York. Lovie instructed the first outdoor drawing classes at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx through the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy in 2014. Her public works involve the community through programming and collaboration with a variety of local groups. She uses her local environment, the Bronx, for inspiration in her work, incorporating local history, architecture, cultures and waterways, and using reflections and negative space to build form. 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.

THEY DIDN’T KNOW WE WERE SEEDS