Computer Art - Kites

The After School Program students at my work created computer art using the program Microsoft Paint.  Then we made a box kite frame out of dowels bound together with thin wire and taped the printed Paint art onto it to showcase the students' designs. The blue kite is a real kite. We hung them up to decorate the top of the stairs. There are some extra dowels remaining so we'll make another kite to showcase more Paint art!

Here are the other "kites" the students made. The one below made out of triangles and using Paint art in red, yellow, black, and white.

And this, Paint creations in blues, greens, and pink, attached to a dowel frame that is similar to the spokes of a wheel:

Here are the three "kites" together, along with the real blue kite in the lower right.

Jeff Larson, Crystal Allen, & Alyson Yee: Heartfelt Rationale for Art Education

The following video features Art Animation Instructor: Jeff Larson; Engineer: Crystal Allen; and high school art student: Alyson Yee's heartfelt and intellectual rationale for why we need art education in schools:


 
Should Art Be Taken Away? from DP Video on Vimeo.


It's very interesting to see the three different peoples' perspectives on why art education is important. A common theme here is that art is part of our daily lives. Art surrounds us. And Engineer Crystal Allen states that she was hired at her current position at Manaki Power specifically because she is an artist, proof that art creation leads to creative thinking and innovation - what we need in the world!

Job Coaching - ODS

Another volunteer gig with Chicago Cares at ODS: Open Door Youth Shelter is run by a non-profit organization called the Night Ministry, "a Chicago-based organization that works to provide housing, health care and human connection to members of our community struggling with poverty or homelessness."  http://www.thenightministry.org

ODS serves youth ages 14-20 who are not wards of the state and provides or refers them to various services including job training, medical care, social services, and support for pregnant teens and teen parents. The shelter is housed in this building located near the intersection of Division and Milwaukee in Chicago.

I am not sure of the history of the building but it is a very well-maintained building hosting a beautiful garden upon entering through the wrought iron fence. The interior is very professional, with incredible mosaics, and great amenities for the clients and residents. 

Job Coaching, the training I volunteered for, took place on the second floor. The volunteers and volunteer leader rode the elevator to a multipurpose common area. The group of volunteers consisted of equal parts men and women, all professionals, though I'm not sure I would call myself a professional, I work as an art teacher at a non-profit school. I do believe that teaching is an honorable profession but that unfortunately it is somewhat marginalized in this country. I understand, some people do not have kids, and I think most people feel that their property taxes and state and federal taxes which fund public schools, are already too high. (So far I've never heard of anyone volunteering to pay higher taxes.. ) I think there is a problem with reliance on property taxes to fund public schools for the fact that lower real estate prices resulting in lower property taxes mean less funding for schools in those areas. Schools should have equal funding across the board. Just my opinion.

Back to volunteering: Job Coaching at ODS began with introductions around a large table, where residents sat interspersed with volunteers, followed by forming small groups of two or three residents per volunteer. We followed with an ice breaker of finding ten things we had in common with each other and then reported back to the whole group. We continued the coaching by going back into our small groups and talking about interviewing, conflict resolution, and furthering education and training. Job Coaching was well-organized by the volunteer leader, a school psychologist, who even sent a "thank you - any suggestions" email a day later. I felt like I got a lot out of it too!

The Night Ministry additionally serves:

• Homeless and runaway youth
• Homeless adults
• Working poor adults
• Uninsured and underinsured individuals seeking medical assistance
• Individuals who lack access to or distrust of traditional systems of healthcare
• Children living in public housing who need a place to gather in safety
• The chronically lonely
• Other who have "fallen through the cracks" of our social service system

http://www.thenightministry.org/070_facts_figures/

Found Object Art Continued: Trash Art and the Art of Upcycling

Here is my Prezi "Trash Art and the Art of Upcycling" in continuing the students found object art lesson:

I will present this next time in class as well as bring in some more objects - this time some parts of games/toys that were on their way to Goodwill. They can become part of the students' sculptures.

I have to say I love using Prezi!!