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Access to the Arts - Prior Years 2006
2005. Transitions. A Collection of Fiber Art and Poetry. Report and pictures 2004. A Focus on Adolescents. Report The 2006 Women's Art Project. Transitions II: A Collection of Fiber Art and Poetry In the summer of 2006 THE PROGRAM embarked on its fourth collaboration with the Allentown Art Museum to produce Transitions II: A Collection of Fiber Art and Poetry. Funded by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – and in part by the Rider Pool Foundation and the Baker Foundation – a total of 16 women receiving services from the Day Reporting Program and the Women’s Residential Community Center had the opportunity to participate in the project. During the six-week residencies of Philadelphia artist Deborah Zwetsch and Allentown artist Marilyn Hazelton, the women’s efforts yielded a variety of painted banners, a collection of creative writing and poetry, hand-painted velvet scarves, pillows, ID Me frames – and, of course, the popular tie-dyed t-shirts. The residencies culminated in the exhibition reception that was held in the Allentown Art Museum’s Binney and Smith Room on Sunday, July 16th. The reception was attended by many of the artists, their families and friends, and supporters of THE PROGRAM and the arts alike.
The 2006 A.L.P.H.A. Art Project. Linoleum Tile Printing Blocks In conjunction with the Lehigh Valley Arts Council and local artist Heather Sincavage, the students of the A.L.P.H.A. Program were assigned the task of making their own personal logos. After a week of sorting through various symbols, ancient languages, pictures, and logos, the students then created a logo that related to all aspects of their lives. The students transferred their logos to linoleum tile blocks using a special tracing method. Once the logos were on the blocks, the students used carving tools to carve away the excess linoleum, leaving only the symbols behind. This was a long process; many students gave a lot of attention to detail, striving for their logos to be perfect. Once the blocks were carved, the students were then ready to print their logos. Using rolling blocks, and rollers, the students learned how to evenly distribute the paint on their blocks and the proper techniques of printing. Heather then brought in various objects to also use in the printing process. The students used exotic fruit, leaves, pinecones, cornstalks, tortillas, their fingers, etc., to really get creative and give their prints a unique style. They were able to add texture using toothbrushes and other objects. The students were then given the opportunity to pick one of the prints that they were most proud of. With the print, the students learned how to properly center and attach frame matting to give their print a bolder look. The finished results were displayed in the A.L.P.H.A. classroom at an art celebration. Unique logos made the prints a huge success. The students displayed a sense of pride when showing off and speaking about their logos and prints. They achieved the benefits of learning how to be imaginative and creative, and learned a new skill at the same time.
2005. Transitions, a Collection of Fiber Art and Poetry In the summer of 2005 THE PROGRAM embarked on its third collaboration with the Allentown Art Museum to produce Transitions: A Collection of Fiber Art and Poetry. Funded by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Rider Pool Foundation, a total of 16 women from the Day Reporting Program and the Women’s Residential Community Center had the opportunity to participate in the project. During the six-week residencies of Philadelphia artist Deborah Zwetsch and Allentown artist Marilyn Hazelton, the women’s efforts yielded a variety of painted banners, a collection of creative writing and poetry, hand-painted silk scarves, pillows, ID Me frames – and, of course, the popular tie-dyed t-shirts. The residencies culminated in an exhibition reception that was held in the Allentown Art Museum’s Binney and Smith Room on Sunday, July 24, 2005. The reception was attended by many of the artists, their families and friends, and supporters of THE PROGRAM and the arts alike. In the post-project evaluation, women participants described their experience as “I learned how to be inspired by myself” or “I will use art to express myself positively”. The residency project – and the reception that followed – were not only an opportunity to celebrate the unique talents and accomplishments of these women, but they also promoted the arts as vocations and the Allentown Art Museum as a positive community resource. The 3 photographs below were taken at the Transitions exhibition reception.
In 2004 Access to the Arts focused primarily on the adolescents in A.L.P.H.A. In collaboration with the Lehigh Valley Arts Council, the students participated in creative writing and art workshops. A highlight – and clearly their most visible project – was the creation of a simulated room made out of painted corrugated cardboard. The “faux” room – complete with a sofa, chair and pillows – was placed on display at the Allentown Public Library. With one hundred percent of the adolescents identified as at high risk of academic and/or social failure upon entry into A.L.P.H.A. in 2004, this innovative programming helped to motivate and inspire some of our community’s most disenfranchised youth. |
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This site last maintained July 15, 2008 |
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