Blog: South Chicago Art Center

Oct - Dec 2009 Blog Entries

Monday, December 21, 2009 ~ In-School Classes End (until next year!)

Last week our School SmARTs in-school program came to an end for the season. We hired 4 teachers to teach 13 classes in 5 different local schools. Teachers incorporate what students are learning into the art projects. Below are pictures of teacher Maria Villarreal leading classes at Immaculate Conception.
Teaching in-school class

Puppets Headbands

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 ~ Art Opening !

We held our 9th Annual Art Opening this past Saturday. We want to thank everyone who attended and also those who contributed to our fundraiser.

View of crowd

We had quite the food spread for the event thanks to board member, Kristen Jacobson (pictured below front). She made cookies, brownies, salad, dips, sandwiches and fruit--all were delicious!!!

Above left: Magnets for sale! Above right: 2 of our 3 interns--"Tone-Tone" and Alanna

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 ~ Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Love, the Art Center

Turkey project

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 ~ Robot Bride Created During Open Studio

Kids with a robot project

Some unique artwork is created during open studio. This robot wedding figure was created by Maria (above left) with the help of Leantae (yellow shirt).
She came up with the idea herself!
Roosevelt and America assisted with some finishing touches (above right).

The Robot Figure

Thursday, November 19, 2009 ~ View the silent auction items!

The silent auction items are up!
Want to see a preview and perhaps make an early bid? Click here.
We also have photo cards again this year! Check them out here.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 ~ What are you doing December 5th?

Are you coming to our 9th Annual Art Opening
on Saturday, December 5th?

That's great!

We'll see you there!

Friday, November 13, 2009 ~ Former Intern Lands Full-Time Job

Gerry
Gerry Salazar grew up in South Chicago. Sarah had Gerry's brother, Salvador, in her first class at the Art Center and met Gerry soon after.

Gerry has worked at the Art Center several times as an intern. He recently got a full-time job at Jane Addams Resource Corporation in the Education & Human Development Program as the Program Assistant/LISC Americorps Member. Gerry is making the trek up to the northside and gaining some good job experience.

We are so happy for him and love to see former Art Center participants succeed!

Thursday, November 5, 2009 ~ Representin' in their Art Center shirts

Girls in their Art Center shirts

This week in the after-school program, three girls showed up in their Art Center shirts and posed for a pic! I think this is the first time Jasmin (on the right) wasn't smiling in a picture...

Friday, October 30, 2009 ~ Neighborhood Snaps

Tuesdays are digital photography class with artist-teacher Anthony Rea.

The kids have enjoyed using the digital cameras to capture their view of the neighborhood. They are working on collages of their images.
close up of Miracle

The skyway bridge

Leantae's view

salt piles

sky light

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 ~ New Studio Manager!

Kris Casey is very excited to be the new Studio Manager at the Art Center. She comes to the Art Center from Prints Unlimited Gallery where she was the Gallery Assistant for 3 years. Kris is responsible for assisting with in-school and after-school classes, planning field trips, managing the studio, and administrative work.

She received a BFA in Fine Arts from Columbia College Chicago. Kris is a painter and shows her work throughout the city.

This position is supported by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
We plan to continue this position into the future.

Kris, Studio Manager

Thursday, October 15, 2009 ~ Nick Runs the Marathon

Nick Juravich was a Summer Links intern at the Art Center back in the summer of 2005. He was a fantastic worker and has kept in touch with us. A few months ago he contacted us to let us know that he would be running in the Chicago Marathon and asked that we decorate his jersey. We were happy to and he proudly wore it last Sunday.

It was decorated with faces of Art Center kids and on the back was a larger picture of Nick with the kids. Nick finished with a person best time of 2:49:15. We are so happy for him and are grateful that he elicited donations for the Art Center during his preparation for the marathon. Thanks Nick!

More photos of Nick running can be found here. (We plan to order some but in the meantime, and in our excitement, we are posting proofs). To see another entry on Nick, click here.

Nick in his jersey

Nick at the marathon Nick at the finish line

Friday, October 9, 2009 ~ After-School Program is Booming!

It's been a full house lately in the after-school classes. Starting at 2:30, kids begin flocking to the Art Center. Here's a sample of the group that comes daily:

After-school group

Enrique with his puppet Tween girls with ther projects

With Halloween right around the corner, kids are getting into the spirit by making scary projects (see mummy projects below). Our Halloween party is planned for Thursday the 29th. Kids have brought up carving pumpkins at the party. If anyone knows of any place near Chicago that has reasonably priced pumpkins, let us know!

America with her Halloween project Leantae with his Halloween project

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 ~ Senior Sewing Class

Local artist/teacher Maria Villarreal is teaching a sewing class to seniors at Bowen High School. In this class, supported by a grant from Metropolitan Family Services, participants are making holiday aprons and vests.

The seniors enjoy getting together, learning sewing, and sharing stories.
Students in aprons

Students laughing

We held our 9th Annual Art Opening this past Saturday. We want to thank everyone who attended and also those who contributed to our fundraiser.


	We had quite the food spread for the event thanks to board member, Kristen Jacobson (pictured below front). She made cookies, brownies, salad, dips, sandwiches and fruit--all were delicious!!!


Above left: Magnets for sale! Above right: 2 of our 3 interns--"Tone-Tone" and Alanna

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving everyone! Love, the Art Center

Tuesdays are digital photography class with artist-teacher Anthony Rea. The kids have enjoyed using the digital cameras to capture their view of the neighborhood. They are working on collages of their images.

Nick Juravich was a Summer Links intern at the Art Center back in the summer of 2005. He was a fantastic worker and has kept in touch with us.	A few months ago he contacted us to let us know that he would be running in the Chicago Marathon and asked that we decorate his jersey. We were happy to and he proudly wore it last Sunday. It was decorated with faces of Art Center kids and on the back was a larger picture of Nick with the kids. Nick finished with a person best time of 2:49:15. We are so happy for him and are grateful that he elicited donations for the Art Center during his preparation for the marathon. Thanks Nick! More photos of Nick running can be found here. (We plan to order some but in the meantime, and in our excitement, we are posting proofs). To see another entry on Nick, click here.

It's been a full house lately in the after-school classes. Starting at 2:30, kids begin flocking to the Art Center. Here's a sample of the group that comes daily:


With Halloween right around the corner, kids are getting into the spirit by making scary projects (see mummy projects below). Our Halloween party is planned for Thursday the 29th. Kids have brought up carving pumpkins at the party. If anyone knows of any place near Chicago that has reasonably priced pumpkins, let us know!

Local artist/teacher Maria Villarreal is teaching a sewing class to seniors at Bowen High School. In this class, supported by a grant from Metropolitan Family Services, participants are making holiday aprons and vests. The seniors enjoy getting together, learning sewing, and sharing stories.