SEEING WHOLE & MAKING WHOLE: a yearlong artist residency at kulture klub In 1966 it was rumored that NASA had taken photos of Earth from space, but these images were not immediately made public. Activists, including Stewart Brand, author and editor of The Whole Earth Catalog, began to campaign for the release of these Earth images. They wore buttons that read, “Why haven’t we seen a photograph of the Whole Earth yet?”
project introductions...............................1-3
Brand and others thought that if people could see Earth in its entirety, this would shift public perceptions of everything from the environment to global connections to our collective human enterprise. And for the most part, the activists were right. Eventually NASA released its photos of Earth, which became some of the most widely reproduced images of all time. These photographs helped to inspire a new “Whole Earth” consciousness, sparking global environmental and humanitarian movements.
garden party........................................................9
notes for a people’s atlas of mpls/stp............................................4-5 see the city from space (or as close as we can get)......................6-7 art in unexpected places: the state fair......................................8
walking tour of artists in storefronts..................................9 a before i die wall for kulture klub...............................................10 youth-led audio tours of youthlink..........................................11 aerial photography exp-air-iment....................................................12-13 adjust your perceptions with rolu.............................14-15
“You can’t make it whole, it is whole.” - the whole earth catalog
youtube power school................................16
We began our residency at Kulture Klub Collaborative with big ideas and lots of questions. We didn’t know exactly what we were going to create with youth, or how we would create it. We had some general ideas of things we hoped to do and explore together, but we couldn’t be sure those ideas would be interesting to young people until we got to know them, so we left the exact plans of the project open-ended.
the art of the political poster.................................................17
We were inspired by the story of the whole Earth photographs and how these helped to shift the
learn how to give & take............................26
poetry from life, sharing our stories..................................18-20 the benefits of journaling.......................21 poetry potluck...........................................22-23 what does homeless look like?.................................24-25
project credits..........................................27-28
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perspective of a generation. An initial question we had was whether or not we could, through our conversations and activities with youth at Kulture Klub, help to reveal a similarly provocative image or spark consciousness from within - something that would help youth and others see the “whole city” from a new perspective. Those of us who live in cities are necessarily connected to one another, though at times we may not feel that connection in tangible ways. At times we might feel the opposite, a lingering sense that we’re isolated and alone - especially those people (homeless youth, for example) who’ve been marginalized by so many of the systems at work in our cities. That sense of disconnectedness can leave us feeling like our inner and outer lives are fragmented, as if we are pieces in search of a whole. After spending the better part of a year in conversation and creation with youth at Kulture Klub, the perspective that shifted most dramatically was our own. We found that almost every act of seeing leads to making. And that making leads to seeing anew. All of the experiences we helped to facilitate at and with Kulture Klub youth held opportunities for young people to not only see the city and themselves in new ways, but also to amplify their voices and stories. Why is that important? Because young people and their stories - whether they are living in shelters, on the streets, with friends, family, or in their first apartment - are part of this city, part of what makes it whole. We need to see them, and hear them. As we conclude this project, we look forward to the many ways that the young people we met at Kulture Klub will use their voices, stories and perspectives to create new images and imaginings of the city we share. Our hope is that through this publication, you will get to know a bit about them, and about the important work of organizations like Kulture Klub and YouthLink. Shanai Matteson & Colin Kloecker
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whole city catalog user’s Guide How do we see the whole city? What makes a city whole? What makes us whole? Throughout 2012 Kulture Klub Collaborative and Works Progress, an artist-led public design studio, worked together to create experiences for and with youth experiencing homelessness to reveal how cities, communities and individuals are connected and always evolving. These projects can be seen as discrete efforts to shift perspective, make connections, and explore youth perceptions and stories. Or they can be taken together as a whole, seen as a line of questioning with/in a particular community: the young people whose lives intersect at YouthLink Opportunity Center. This work is pulled together here in the form of the first Whole City Catalog, a resource guide for living creatively in the Twin Cities and for better understanding the young people who frequent Kulture Klub and the YouthLink. Some activities in the catalog are about Shifting Perspectives of the city and our place within it. Other activities introduce and make connections with Artists & Projects that we find inspiring. Almost all of the activities in this catalog present Youth Lenses & Stories. We hope you’ll use this catalog to shift your perspective, learn about some of the artists and youth in our community, and to try some new creative activities yourself. Wherever you see this icon it means a project has a Do-It-Yourself component. If you use social media, you can turn Do-it-Yourself into Do-It-Together by sharing the results of your creative expression via Twitter or Facebook. Tweet your projects to @KultureKlubMN or share them on the Kulture Klub Facebook page. Use a QR code reader on your smart phone to link directly to artists and project websites throughout the catalog as seen below: QR codes are used to store digital information like web URLs. To use them, you’ll need to download a QR code reader from your app store. With the reader installed, you can scan QR codes anywhere you see them. We’ll always list the website as well. This QR code will take you to the Kulture Klub Facebook Page. facebook.com/kultureklubcollaborative
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a people’s atlas of mpls/stp Maps can tell us a lot about a place and its people. This ongoing activity in the Youth Opportunity Center Gallery prompted youth and other visitors to make their own maps of the Twin Cities. Participants mapped their experiences, memories, hopes and dreams, creating a new People’s Atlas of Minneapolis-St. Paul through a youth lens.
“Because we can’t know where we’re going if we don’t know where we’re from.”
Create your own map of the Twin Cities with the template below. Check out the examples from KKC Youth on the next page for ideas about what to map.
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Selections from the Atlas By KKC Youth
This project was based on Notes for a People’s Atlas, a community mapping project started by AREA Chicago in 2005 that has since expanded to more than 20 cities around the world. peoplesatlas.com
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“Look at downtown. We’re all the way at the top. This is life. This is THE life. At the top it’s just us, hear me? This is nice, man! This is very nice. This is live recording, this is not Photoshopped. I’m digging this.”
see the city from space (OR as close as we can get) “You can’t make it whole, it is whole.”
When NASA astronauts took the first photos of Earth from outer space and shared them with the public, it inspired a new perspective on the world. People saw for the first time how isolated and finite Earth is in the vast expanse of the Universe, but also how connected the people are who share such a beautiful blue planet. This changed public perceptions about the connections between people, environment and resources and sparked the modern environmental movement. Inspired by this story of the first photographs of the whole Earth, we took a field trip to the observation deck at the top of Foshay Tower, one of the most iconic buildings in Minneapolis. Using flip cameras youth documented this new bird’s eye (or as one young person remarked, a privileged) perspective on a familiar place, pointing out features of the landscape that they’d never noticed before - from the location of YouthLink amid a tangle of highways, to rooftop patios, to the way they could pick out fine details at street level. We asked them to consider how our perception of the city changes when we take a new view. What do we notice that we hadn’t noticed before? How does it makes us feel? The Foshay Tower was the first skyscraper built in the state of Minnesota and remained the tallest building in Minneapolis from 1929-1971. Anyone can visit the Foshay Museum and Observation Deck. How does the view shift your perspective on the Whole City? foshaymuseum.com
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video stills and selected quotes By KKC Youth
“Let’s see where YouthLink is... there’s YouthLink! Right over that bridge, see where that sign is?”
“We’re having a good time on the 30th floor. It’s a privilege to be here. If you got money, you get up here.”
q:
“What did your mom say when you told her where you are?” a: “She said, what are you doing on the 30th floor? Then she told me to tie my shoes.”
“Is that grass on top of the building? Some of these buildings have patios on top. I didn’t know that!”
“We got the expressway. A couple of stadiums. Cars parked on top of buildings - wait, how’d they do that?!”
“The people down there are like ants. This is crazy, dude! I like it, but I don’t. I’m scared to look down.”
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art in unexpected places: the minnesota state fair “We had to square dance with the. But it was actually fun!”
If you look hard enough, you can find art almost anywhere. The Minnesota State Fair is no exception. Youth participated in a speciallydesigned scavenger hunt to discover hidden art and other creative activities at the great Minnesota get-together, from sculptures carved in butter, to crop art made from seeds, to ecological art and design in the Eco Experience building, to art and performance from around the world (and close to home). It was a fantastic way for everybody to get to know each other a little bit better and have some fun.
state fair By Latimah
The State Fair was a wonderful place to work. Despite the heat LOL. I filled out an application online for the State Fair, and waited two weeks and they called me back. The first position they called me for they needed someone with experience. So I didn’t get the position. Three weeks later they called me back for the position in the Coliseum and I got hired. Oh I was so happy. Then I was working with KKC and in the first meeting we had I remember us talking about going to the State Fair. SO that made me even more excited about working at the State Fair. Working at the State Fair and getting to participate in something positive with KKC. How can that be wrong? It was just a matter of how would I do that and work from 7 in the morning to 7 in the evening? The State Fair was a very difficult job. I had to clean the dorm rooms in the barns. Then the men and women had to take turns changing the trash every hour around the Coliseum. So we had about an hour of down time. So it was very laid back. Other than it being difficult it was fun meeting new people and seeing all the different people. Then KKC came to the State Fair. It was Jeff (BOSS MAN), Sue (BOSS LADY), Corey, Jewel, Key, Colin (I love him he so awesome) and Shanice. I was trying to work and participate with KKC at the same time. It was so disorganized, but I made it happen. We ate turkey legs, the best food at the State Fair. Cheese curds, the big bucket of fries, and the famous chocolate chip cookies. While we were eating the cookies we heard the Cupid Shuffle, so we went to go dance on the stage. Then, after the that, they turned the tables on us and said we had to do their dance now! I was like, what?! Why?! We had to square dance with them. But it was actually fun! I loved to see the beautiful art we seen like the butter princesses, the different music, etc. My whole experience was one of the best in my life. I got to eat different kinds of foods every day. Some I loved, some I didn’t like at all, like the Australian potatoes. But over all I loved the State Fair, and would not mind working there in the future. I loved it.
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garden party “I love cooking for other people.”
One of the projects that KKC Youth are most proud of is the garden that they created in 2011 at Archdale Apartments, home to youth ages 16-21. This garden gave youth an opportunity to learn about growing and preparing food, and it created a green place to gather. We organized a backyard bar-b-que and movie night for youth in the garden at the Archdale Apartments on a balmy summer night. It was great to tour the garden, talk about movies and to try some delicious bar-b-que chicken, prepared (with love) by Tayvon, a regular at Kulture Klub programs.
bar-b-que By Tayvon
I learned how to cook chicken from my grandfather. He would bar-b-que everything. All you have to do to make delicious bar-b-que is clean the chicken, season it with spices you like, then put it on the grill. Now the fun part: lots of smoke! You just have to watch it and keep flipping to make sure all the blood is gone and it looks nice and dark. Now it’s time to eat! I have a big love for bar-b-que, because I love being outdoors and the smokey taste.
walking TOUR of ARTISTS IN STOREFRONTS Early in the Whole City project we took a walk with youth in order to introduce them to an artistled community effort in the Whittier neighborhood of South Minneapolis. Together, we toured the Artists in Storefronts project and had a chance to meet with organizer Joan Vorderbruggen.
“Let’s take more walks together!”
We ended the tour at an installation of artist Candy Chang’s Before I Die project, an interactive chalkboard wall that asks people to share the things that are most important to them. In addition to deciding to make their own Before I Die wall, youth expressed an interest in walking together as a way to build community, a great idea for future KKC programs!
Artists in Storefronts works with neighborhood organizations, artists and local businesses to promote creativity, revitalize local economies and provide everyone with open access to art by turning abandoned spaces into walkable urban exhibits. artistsinstorefronts.com
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a Before I Die wall for kulture klub Inspired by Candy Chang’s Before I Die project, which we experienced on our walking tour of Artists in Storefronts, we decided to build a Before I Die wall inside the Youth Opportunity Center Gallery. Ingredients for the wall included chalkboard paint, stencils, spray paint, some elbow grease, and the ever-changing responses written there by visitors to the gallery. Youth have been filling the wall with their aspirations, dreams and promises all year long.
“Before I die I want to see my son accomplish his goals... and eat at the Cheesecake Factory.”
What’s important to you? Fill in what you want to do in life before you die.
Before I Die is a global public art project that invites people to share their hopes and dreams in public space. Originally created on an abandoned house in New Orleans, the project is about remembering what is important to you and creating public spaces that better reflect what matters to us as a community and as individuals. beforeidie.cc
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youth-led Audio tourS of YOUTHLINK “The first step is walking through the front door...”
When we began the Whole City project we found ourselves in need of a guided tour of the sprawling YouthLink Opportunity Center. Who better to introduce YouthLink than the young people who visit and utilize its resources? Using audio recorders and special headphones, youth created short audio tours of YouthLink and Kulture Klub, explaining in their own words what’s important to them, and what things they would change if they could. These tours were made available to visitors in the Youth Opportunity Center Gallery. We drew the inspiration (and technology) for this series of audio tours from the Audio Adventure Shanty, part of the Art Shanty Projects, an art festival that takes place every other year on a frozen lake. Thank you to Brady Clark for his help with this activity!
transcript: audio tour of youthlink opportunity center By Tayvon
The first step is walking through the front door and into the Welcome Center. In the Welcome Center you check-in. If you have any questions there are usually two people at the front desk that can answer your questions. Behind there you have Mental Health, and basically, those are people that if you’re having problems you can talk to them, ask them questions. And then as we pass that room we enter the kitchen, where food is put together for dinner, which happens every day. And then you enter the drop in center. Now this is where most of the people drop in and hangout. The drop in center is open from 3 to 8PM and there’s a bunch of case managers you can talk to. If you have any questions, they’ll answer them. Then we have the case manager office. If there’s nobody in drop in, you can go in there and you’ll usually find staff to talk to. Then we get to the downstairs where you have bathrooms where you can take showers. There’s a washer and a dryer to wash your clothes. Then you have the Kulture Klub Recording Studio. Then you see the Out Group Room, where GLBTQ is hosted every Monday. Then you enter the Community Room. The Community Room is used for lots of different things, based on the day. Then you have Kulture Klub Collaborative. In there is all the art supplies you could possibly need. Jeff and Sue and Ethan are the Kulture Klub Staff. Then you have the GED Room, where you can get tutoring no matter what grade you’re in and there’s computers to use for your homework. There’s always someone there if you need help with anything. This is the end of my audio tour of YouthLink Opportunity Center.
Empowering youth to shape their futures by providing a safe, supportive, respectful and responsive community of excellence. YouthLink is the place where the END of homelessness and the END of poverty begin for youth served. youthlinkmn.org
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Aerial photography exp-air-iment In this aerial photography workshop, artist and maker Kristin Murray taught youth how to use balloons and lightweight cameras to take eye-catching photos from the air. With balloon-mounted cameras youth took images of YouthLink Opportunity Center from above providing a new perspective and a chance to experiment.
“From above you can really see how YouthLink is surrounded by highways.”
The aerial photography “exp-air-iment” project was developed by artist Kristen Murray. Balloon Aerial Photography allows you to take amazing pictures of the earth below by hoisting a digital camera into the air with helium-filled balloons tethered by string. Visit the site below to learn more and see many more photos. sites.google.com/site/mnskyview/home
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adjust your perceptions with rolu “When does something become something else?”
ROLU is a design studio based in Minneapolis. Last summer they were artists-in-residence at the Walker Art Center’s Open Field, where they developed a series of public activities in collaboration with artists from around the world. We met ROLU and learned about Matt Olson’s personal story, which inspired many youth, who found more common ground with Matt than they’d expected. Youth tried a long-distance drawing activity developed for young people by Mexico-born, Germany-based artist Rodrigo Hernandez. The sketches here are the result of that activity, which used a series of open-ended prompts to provoke original thoughts and drawings. ROLU, ROSENLOF/LUCAS, RO/LU is a design and art studio located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that’s focused on exploring the relationship between life, our surroundings and the objects and ideas that fill those spaces. ro-lu.com
Add your drawings to this sheet based on Rodrigo’s prompts: What is the moon? Who is talking? To whom? Mum. A siren. Where is my recurrent dream of me flying over the football field?
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YouTube power School Music and music videos are one creative medium we use to form our personal identities. Youth made a collaborative Power Playlist of some of the songs and music videos that they find powerful and important. After sharing their individual choices, we had a conversation about how power means different things to different people, and talked about how one person’s feeling of power can come at the expense of others - making them feel powerless or uncomfortable. What makes you feel powerful?
“I chose Single Ladies by Beyonce, because it shows women that they don’t have to be in a relationship to be happy, they can be single and be okay.”
selections from: Kulture Klub’s Power Playlist By KKC Youth
“Earth Song” by Michael Jackson
“I picked this song because he’s talking about war, and everything. And he’s talking about life, what goes on.” “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyonce
“I chose this video because of it’s choreography. It shows women empowerment. Women are mostly portrayed to be sexy, like eye candy. And even though this video has that, they’re showed to be dominant, and powerful - it shows that without women the world wouldn’t keep going.” “K-SWISS CEO” by Kenny Powers
“He’s talking about how companies have power over us when they try to sell us things, so it’s kind of a parody of that.” Make your own Power Playlist that illustrate your thoughts about power and use it to talk about power with your friends or family.
The project was based on a larger effort by art collective Red 76 called YouTube School for Social Politics, which asks people to create curated playlists of videos found on YouTube as a way to share their thoughts on social and political topics. red76.com
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the art of the political poster “I’d seen that Barack Obama poster before. I want to make something like that. Something people will remember.”
Handmade posters continue to play a role in the public expression of political ideas and aspirations. In this three-part project youth were introduced to the art of the political poster, and given the tools to create their own posters about causes that they care about. First, we all learned about the history of political posters and propaganda, looking at artist-designed images past and present. Youth designed their own posters using examples and imagery from the past. Next, Living Proof print collective taught us how to screen print in a visit to their studio. Finally, youth at drop-in were invited to try their hand at screen printing using poster artwork designed by other youth. Screen printing is an inexpensive way to get your artwork or your message out in public. Visit screenprintingonthecheap.com for entry-level resources and tips for getting started.
Living Proof engages creative exploration, arts education and collaboration through individual projects and partnerships with community groups. Living Proof welcomes chaos, adapting on a project-by-project basis to meet the needs of our community. wehavelivingproof.wordpress.com
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poetry from life, sharing our stories Arkansas-based poet and former youth outreach worker Katherine Kelly Nichol led a poetry writing workshop for youth. Katie talked to youth about her work leading writing workshops for students as part of Arkansas Writers in the Schools program, and as Poet-in-Residence with the Prison Stories Project. Youth read examples of different styles of poetry and used simple prompts to generate imagery from their life stories.
“Smile. Sit down. White ladies pull their purses closer like I’m gonna steal them. Move to the back. Get on the bus. Wait.”
Write a memory backwards. Start at the end and write your way to the beginning using as much detail as you can remember. The quote above is a KKC Youth example.
Misunderstood
UNTITLED
they don’t understand i’m misunderstood they looking at me like another nigga commin from the hood like mabe can i or mabe should but they judge me from my bad like i cant be good to think about man i really shouldn’t give a dam they judge me from my color but it doesn’t make me who i am i’m misunderstood so they don’t understand plus taxes our ass like they uncle sam rappin is my life said that when i was 16 i’m tryin to fly with angles but i cant cuz i got clipped wings i’m alone in this world it seems that i am missing but shut ya mouths and use y’all ears are y’all listening? that’s why i rap i’m all about my pesos enough to live decent that’s what the games choose keep livin out my dreams and let the lames go you cant find the combination cuz i’m the safe code!
i guess its good riddance to new cloths and new tennis same crib we just livin wit new tenants we tryna live the future the present we stand still i see grey rite now but i hope my future is pastel im past well let me think... well yea hell yea ima product of well fair
By Peoplez
By Batman
the boy who cried for help By Henry
Help me please I’m hurting Help me please I’m shattered with a heart filled with burning flames as if life do not matter Help me be something for society is built to let me know I will be nothing Help me find me Help me find truth Help me be you new and true true to the life of independent I don’t have it if I did I wouldn’t spend it if you have it you wont lend it Help me help you help us homeless and hopeless but Help me help you have hope cause somewhere there’s a boy Crying for help
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ebt... eat better temporarily but starve later either make it in the rap game or make it to star player trap and hustle is all i kno if thats wat it takes to feed us if white christ cant save us im dependin on blacc jesus resilience in my blood thats y i’m still here cause hell yea ima product of well fair From the mother land to another land 400 years we still suffer we made damn near this whole damn country and they give us credit for peanut butter damn look wat they gave me saggin pants and a short vocab and they mad cause ima gangster but this how they made me but i remain strong and vigilant wit my bronze skin and coarse hair cause hell yea ima product of well fair
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fazed by life By Maria
(Orphanage Phase) Taking a drag from my cigarette after buying it from its designated shop Allowing the smoke to fulfill the empty space of who I am as a person The cherry has hit the point of a disgusting taste of filter For which I flick without a care as if it did not faze me that I inhaled apart of the addiction
Never have I forgotten my prized collection Scissors, knives, box cutters, and razor blades An inanimate object you say Never the less always has been a friend with nonjudgment, understanding, to make me feel real
(Adoption Phase) Walking into the art store I stare with amazement of the beauty of each supply Glancing at permanent markers of sharpies and bics Undecided of which one to get My thoughts of try something new as I reach for the bics
(Homeless Phase) Popping my head phones in to listen to music bounce back and forth in my head As if the artist was standing beside me saying things that I want to hear I turn up the volume To silence the unwanted noises Non-sense arguments, yellers, disrespect, unease clutter of people for which surrounds me To continue my daily task as music motivates more then it may distract me
(Treatment Phase) Sitting at the bus stop Looking at the time wither my watch or phone Wondering how long it will take to get there Having a little free time to enjoy a ride around town No destination at the moment But if it fits me I shall pull the yellow cord and depart
(Home Phase) Night time rolls over A journal and pen awaits As I doodle and scribble everywhere From a view it seems disorganized and careless But when it’s time for bed, I then close the journal Restless still, my thoughts tell me you made it through
(Prostitution Phase) Passing the obstacle as a reward of payment Seems of success when filled with shame At night I lay out the outfit for the next assignment As if I had a choice to pick out what I like Still I decide to pick black The color blends with the mood But the dress blends with the activity
(Survival Phase) As almost 21 this month Healed cuts amongst the arms, still beautiful to the personality I laugh with a smile of content of who I am
(Suicide Phase) Getting up and grudging my tiredness I manage to do the same routine Collecting my favorites Music, writing utensils, notebooks Keeping my mind off task of thinking of the unknown
As I light my cigarette once more Paper in one hand A bic in another I sit at the park near my bus stop Wearing black to blend for mysterious identity I prepare myself with music in my ear The night has finally fallen As I write out the story of my life to you
untitled By Deaundre
they can be mad and try to take my dignity for ransom but don’t get mad cause i’m tall dark and handsome theres a stigma to dark pigment well check it i’m just workin with the skin i was given cause i was made with hand crafted precision my skin depicts the plight of my heratige and yet they try to make dark skin an embarrassment bronze king so i guess media is a heratic now everybody wants to be a lite brite but i’m cool wit bein dark wit nappy hair and a nice height so don’t go tryna take my dignity for ransom feelin insecure cause ur not tall dark and handsome
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one hundred By Young Skywalker
1 In the city where I’m from we just shooting first Ask no questions we just put your body in the dirt Every day I wake up and I’m asking why Asking why they had to gone and take his life R.I.P Jamal the realest gon fight You helped me survive With struggles in sight I aint never had to ask you was always there Took a life from a general which aint fair Right now I’m livin but I never know When them choppas come out they may just let em blow Ending life is one thing they be striving for So I lift my head and pray that my life is long Since now you’re gone I’ll have to be strong Memories of chillin with u how I hold on But one thing I know is that I gotchu kid You the realest Kat I know and that ever lived verse
chorus
The realest ever living The realest in the building Got keep it one hundred so that they can feel it This is how it be when we in the hood Everybody rolling round acting like this shit is good When really it is bad we got people dying Now they mommas at the wake and she really crying That’s why I ask the lord and it’s something deep Please don’t let em take my life when I go to sleep 2 There is one question answer unknown Why they took his life or what they did it for Any answer u got yeah I want to know If you need the money u should know Imma get the doe Hustlin aint my style but I’m not opposed If I gotta get the money get it on the low That’s how it’s done in the hood but it’s not right It’s just another reason everybody’s losin lives That aint how it gotta be we can work together Then all people in land will be stackin cheddar Makin money is the name to the game now We got people fightin over this spare change wow I think it’s strange how money came to rule the world It’s got everybody fighting like their boys and girls This shit aint elementary it is real life People be walkin around on the streets with they pockets right They should spread the wealth and help they neighbors live Your neighbor might be broke and probably can’t feed their kids but if we work together then we’ll all strive there wont be nobody out here fighting for their life verse
repeat chorus
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the benefits of journaling “The biggest lie I tell myself is ‘I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it.’”
Spoken word artist and life coach Sheronda Orridge and her daughter Akeeylah led youth in a journaling workshop. Youth learned about the benefits of a regular journaling practice, like stress reduction, healing, and knowing yourself and your truth better - in other words, becoming more whole. We spent the afternoon with Sheronda responding to journaling prompts and writing what was on our minds. It was the day after President Barack Obama was reelected, and many of the youth were interested in talking about their frustration with politics, or the happiness they felt. We journaled to process our thoughts, and Sheronda introduced us to Poetry Gumbo, a collaborative poetry writing technique that would inspire later activities.
“I’m a great person & have many gifts to offer the world, like...” Each line written by a different KKC Youth or Staff
I’m strong. I’m well-rounded. I’m determined. I like to learn new things. I was raised by a single black father. When people come to me with problems, I have a way of putting them on the right track. I love to dance. I am a good friend. I voted. I’ve raised myself strong and independent. I’m kind hearted. If I can help someone, I will. I believe god put me here to do good. The final writing prompt that Sheronda left us with was “I am a great person and have many gifts to offer the world, like...” Use this prompt to begin your own journal, or to add to one you already have started.
20 of the 100 benefits of journaling By Sheronda Orridge
Reduces the scatter in your life Increases Focus Releases pent-up thoughts and emotions Bridges inner thinking with outer events Disentangles thoughts and ideas
Builds self-confidence and self-knowledge Reveals your greater potential Aids in connecting causes to effects Helps you identify your values Helps solves the mysteries of life
Heals relationships Dignifies all events Strengthens your sense of self Soothes troubled memories Is honest, trusting and non-judgemental
Awakens the inner voice Interprets your symbols and dreams Teaches you how to write stories Captures family and personal stories Directs intention and discernment
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poetry potluck Building on the journaling workshop and the Poetry Gumbo activity introduced by Sheronda Orridge, we created a collaborative writing activity that used phrases collected from youth. We called this new remix activity Poetry Potluck. In the YouthLink Opportunity Center, staff and youth were invited to use words and phrases from anonymous youth journal entries as pieces in new compositions. The authenticity of the ideas came from the first round of youth journals, so it was easy for other youth to use those words as a jumping-off point for their own selfexpression.
“This was fun. It was nice to read other peoples thoughts. I think those things too, sometimes. I was happy with the poem I made using their words.”
This was one of the most fun activities we tried all year, and would make a great exercise for any group trying to understand one another’s experiences. Here’s how: 1. Have your group free-write using the prompts on pages 18 and 21 (or any prompts). 2. Take the journal entries and cut them up into memorable words and phrases. 3. Put all of those words and phrases into a bowl, hat, or pile them on the table. 4. Spread a large sheet of paper out on a table or use individual paper plates as a surface to compose poems from the words and phrases of others. Tape or glue them in place. 5. Share your new creations!
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Whole City Catalog, Vol. 1
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What does homeless look like? “People think they know what homeless looks like, but when I was on the street, no one could tell I was homeless just by looking at me.”
In an early meeting of the Kulture Klub youth advisory group, a few young people in the group started talking about perceptions: specifically, how they thought strangers perceived them when they were homeless. They wanted to create a short film on the topic of what homeless looks like. We didn’t have time in the Whole City project to create a documentary, but we were able to use their idea as the starting point for a short video portrait project. Youth were invited to stand for video portraits at KKC. As they stood, we asked them to think about two questions: When people look at me, what do they see? What don’t they see? The resulting portraits show young people who are or have experienced homelessness. As they considered these two questions about perception, youth were asked to create a gesture that they thought conveyed either something unseen, or what they believe others perceive about them.
What do people see? “I think people see me as a leader, but being myself is hard because people tend not to like the drive and the way I act being I am from the hood, but I am white and I am stereotyped as someone to be proper. I want to let anyone who feels like they should change how they act or the way they carry themselves to shoot for the stars, don’t change the person you are to please anyone. Be yourself and you will find happiness in everything you do. People don’t see a lot of the pain in my past, but that’s only because I don’t let my past define me but only help shape me into what I want to become.” - Anonymous “When people look at me they see a strong, outgoing, vocal, independent, selfless, giving, loving, intelligent/intellectual, ambitious young man. I have always been seen like this, which is why people also see me as a leader sometimes. Other people can see my full potential as I’ve been growing up. When people look at me, they don’t see my inner struggles or what I came from. They also don’t see how far I’ve come.” - Christopher “When people look at me they see a young mom. That’s it. Nothing deeper. The fact is I’m a young mom who is very dedicated to my children, not a typical young mother. I work 3 jobs, I live off of hardly any sleep. I don’t go out and have fun. I don’t get to dress up or have nice things because of my dedication to my children. They do not see the struggle. The internal struggle of being young and feeling like I have the right to have fun, and knowing that I have a bigger responsibility that comes first. People think that I’m a “typical” young mom. I am not. I am young, but I grew-up fast and got my shit together for my kids. I have and continue to sacrifice for them. I know more than a lot of parents that waited and hate when people try to make me feel dumb simply because I’m young. People don’t see me for me. They see me for who they want me to be. They see me as whatever is convenient for them to me into a category, but I am much more than that.” - Allison When people look at you, what do they see? What don’t they see?
What does homeless look like? A short video portrait of youth at the YouthLink Opportunity Center in December 2012. vimeo.com/58344973
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Whole City Catalog, Vol. 1
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learn how to give & take “What do you know? What do you want to know?�
Give & Take is an event that asks participants to share what they know and want to know in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Short presentations by KKC Youth, YouthLink Staff and visiting artists were the basis for an evening of teaching, learning, and community connections. In the weeks leading up to this event, youth volunteered to give presentations about a topic of their choosing, and Works Progress helped them to create an engaging presentation. For some, it was their first time speaking in a public venue about their topic. Others were experienced performers, and shared their gifts. What if you could wear a nametag that told everybody you met over the course of a day one thing that you knew and were willing to share and one thing that you were curious about? How would it change your day? What kind of connections could you make?
Give & Take was started in 2009 as a community art event. The event helps connect individuals, and over time, creates more connected communities. Anyone can use Give & Take to turn their gathering into an invitation to share personal stories, passions and curiosity. give-take.com
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project credits Whole City is a project of Works Progress and Kulture Klub Collaborative along with participating youth and artists. The project took place in and around the Youth Opportunity Center Gallery in Minneapolis, Minnesota over the course of 9 months in 2012-13 and included a variety of activities created for and with KKC Youth. Kulture Klub Collaborative engages art and artistic practice to provide enriching multidisciplinary opportunities for youth experiencing homelessness and artists to grow individually and to transform community. kultureklub.org
Works Progress is a public art and design studio led by artists Colin Kloecker and Shanai Matteson in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We create collaborative projects that inspire, inform and connect; catalyzing relationships across creative and cultural boundaries; and providing new platforms for public engagement. worksprogress.org
Thank you to the following for inspiration, advice and engagement! Daniel Tucker, Joan Vorderbruggen, Kristen Murray, Candy Chang, Matt Olson, Rodrigo Hernandez, Sam Gould, Andrew Gramm, Jacque Kutvirt, Sheronda Orridge, Akeeylah Watkins, Jena Brune, Seitu Jones, Adjoa Sutota, Katherine Kelly Nichol, Amoke Kubat, Chris Keller and Brady Clark. And thank you to everybody at Kulture Klub Collaborative, especially the KKC Youth Advisory Council, the KKC Board of Directors and KKC Staff Ethan Turcotte, Sue Pohl and Jeff Hnilicka.
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“During the Whole City project I participated in creating the Before I Die wall, the People’s Atlas of the Twin Cities, Audio Tours of YouthLink and the What Does Homeless Look Like? project. I truly enjoyed the Before I die and What Does Homeless Look Like? projects. Before I Die evoked a lot of thought for me. I’ve never had a “bucket list” and it made me think of all the things I want to do in my life. There is so much that I want to do and this project helped me organize my thoughts and work towards my goals. I didn’t finish the What Does Homeless Look Like? project, but I liked the idea a lot! People are not always what you see. And you’re not always what people think you are. It’s nice to have a chance to show people that you are more than meets the eye.” Allison, KKC Youth Advisory Council
“Working with Works Progress was fun and I feel like I learned so much at the same time as having fun. It was like we were looking at the art world in a whole different way. Visual art, audio, performances - I love art and I love working with people. I feel like we got plenty of time to get to know Colin and Shanai at the same time as working with lots of different artists in the community.” Tayvon, KKC Youth Advisory Council
This activity was made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature from the State’s arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. Kulture Klub Collaborative is generously supported by the McKnight Foundation, the Target Foundation, and United Arts Fund - a program of COMPAS. The work of Kulture Klub Collaborative is made possible by the financial support and partnership of the YouthLink at the Youth Opportunity Center. The Youth Opportunity Center Gallery is supported by YouthLink and the Youth Opportunity Center Capital Campaign Donors: Hennepin County McKnight Foundation 3M Foundation Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation
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Target Foundation World Childhood Foundation Carlson Family Foundation General Mills Foundation
Whole City Catalog, Vol. 1