Blog: South Chicago Art Center

Jan - March 2009 Blog Entries

Tuesday, March 24, 2009 ~ Getting Ready to Garden

Front view of the garden
On Thursday, March 19, we had a meeting in the garden. Community members were invited to sign up for plots in the Artists' Garden. We had a good turn out from passing out flyers and putting a notice in The Observer.

These are some pictures from last summer when the garden was thriving!

View of the rows Another view of the garden

Friday, March 20, 2009 ~ Paper Mache Heads

Natalie's class concluded with a 2-session paper mache head class.

Starting with balloons covered with masking tape, the kids added two layers of paper mache. During the second class, a layer of paint and some hair were added.

The kids were thrilled with how their heads turned out! Sierra with her head

Paper mache head

Brianna with her head

Thursday, March 12, 2009 ~ Teen Photos with Becca

A teen photo
Board member, Becca Schanberg, is volunteering her time to teach teenagers digital photography. They've been learning about angles, lighting and landscapes. Recently, she took the group to Calumet Park.

Click here to check out some of their pictures.

Sunday, March 8, 2009 ~ South Chicago teen violence

On February 20th, 2009, three teenagers were gunned down in South Chicago after school. More recently, on Friday, March 6th, another South Chicago teen was shot and killed in the neighborhood.

These murders, likely gang-related, are just one of the issues kids in this neighborhood have to deal with.

The first line of our mission statement is to provide a safe place for kids. These after-school hours are a very critical time for children. This time can represent either an opportunity to learn and grow, through quality after-school programs like ours, or an opportunity to get into trouble and risk one's health and safety.

By providing area youth with free arts programming, we are helping to keep them safe and to hopefully increase their chances of being successful in the future. Thank you to all those who suport our program.

Tribune photo

Tribune photo by Terrence Antonio James / February 20, 2009

Friday, February 27, 2009 ~ Katarina-- Then & Now

Old picture of katarina Current picture of katarina

Katarina first started coming to the Art Center in 2001. She stopped coming when her family moved away but now they have moved back. She started coming again in December 2008.

Above are pictures of Katarina in 2001 and 2009. Below are pictures of dragons that Katarina did in 2001 and 2009. She's come a long way!

old picture of dragon new picture of dragon

Friday, February 27, 2009 ~ Introducing ... Art Man

The project for Natalie's class on Wednesday was to create a superhero. Darius, age 7, created several.

We are partial to Art Man.
Art Man picture

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 ~ Thank you to Billy Hork Galleries!

Bill Hork Galleries Billy Hork Galleries recently contacted us and donated paper, posters, and catalogues. We will put this donation to good use by doing many art projects including collage!

This entry is to say thank you!

Friday, February 20, 2009 ~ Friday the 13th Field Trip

On Friday, February 13th, we went on a field trip to the Art Institute. We always love going there because of the world class art and fantastic docents. We enjoyed seeing and talking about different pieces of art.

We ended our trip with a walk through Millennium Park on our way to lunch at Giordano's.

Of course we have photographic evidence. Check it out! at the art institute

Friday, February 13, 2009 ~ Ain't no party like an Art Center party 'cuz an Art Center party don't stop (well, until 5pm)!

decorating cookies at the party

On Thursday, February 12, the Art Center had its Valentine's Day party. We decorated sugar cookies, drank frozen margaritas (non-alcoholic of course!) played musical chairs, and had a limbo AND dance competition. Good times were had by all and the next day the kids were asking when the next party would be.

We didn't take video of the limbo contest this year, but I unearthed some footage from last year. Check it out! These kids love to limbo.

Friday, February 6, 2009 ~ New logo!

Does something look different about our website? No? Well, I'll tell you anyway.

This week I have noticed a plethora of people contacting the Art Center and referring to us as the Happy Art Center. I looked at the logo on our site and noticed that it is confusing. I made a change (below is the old one and to the right is the new one).

Do you think it will help?

Old logo New banner

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 ~ Digital Self-Portraits

Roosevelt's Self Portrait Kids are learning about portraits and self-portraits in the photography class taught by Analia Rodriguez on Mondays.

Students take pictures in one class and in the beginning of the next class, the digital images are viewed on the Art Center's projector screen by the whole class.

It's very exciting for the kids to see their art on a big screen and to discuss it. Here is a sample of some of the pictures.

Friday, January 30, 2009 ~ Field Foundation Report

Cover of Field Report

The Art Center is featured in the Field Foundation's Biennial Report.

The Field Foundation was the very first foundation that ever supported the Art Center back in 2001. For those of you who don't know about the non-profit world, getting the first grant is very difficult and it shows the Field Foundation's true commitment to community-based organizations. We have lot of love for the Field Foundation!

Click here to see page 7 of the report where the Art Center is included.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 ~ Ice Skating in Hyde Park!

On Friday, January 23rd, we took a group of 16 kids ice skating. Medici on 57th graciously supplied us with a wonderful lunch. We then headed to Midway Plaisance Skating Rink. It was fun but very tiring!

Check out a video slideshow of our ice skating field trip here.

Elijah ice skating

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 ~ Natalie's Class

New classes started last week. The schedule can be found here.
Natalie teaches on Wednesdays and always comes up with creative projects, being the senior student at School of the Art Institute that she is.

Last week, she had kids make dioramas. Natalie brought in random toys that the kids used and then clipped lights on the boxes, that were used as spotlights. It was quite a show when we turned off the lights and viewed these dioramas!

More pictures here.

Jeramiah with his project

Thursday, January 15, 2009 ~ Damage to mural

We have noticed some damage to our mural. It appears someone took a sharp object (possibly even a pencil) and ran it down the mural, following the groove in the wall. It has happened on several sections of the mural.

We notified Brother Mark (the artist) but we can't do much about it until the weather gets warmer. Please send positive thoughts to our mural!

Damage to mural

Thanks to Michelle for taking the picture in the frigid weather.

Thursday, January 8, 2009 ~ Picture with founder & his statue

Picture with Bob Simon

In December, Beth attended the Americans for the Arts Knowledge Exchange, Public Art Master Planning: Developing a Plan for your Community held Dec. 5-6 in Reston and Arlington, Virginia. She attended this conference with Jackie Samuel, Director of the South Chicago New Communities Program, Graciela Robledo, Organizer of the South Chicago New Communities Program, and Yessenia Carreon from Alderman John Pope’s office. LISC supported this trip.

Part of the conference involved a presentation and tour by Robert Simon, founder of Reston. Mr. Simon took a picture with us by a statue of himself at Lake Anne Plaza. We were thrilled!

Natalie's class concluded with a 2-session paper mache head class. Starting with balloons covered with masking tape, the kids added two layers of paper mache. During the second class, a layer of paint and some hair were added. The kids were thrilled with how their heads turned out!


Katarina first started coming to the Art Center in 2001. She stopped coming when her family moved away but now they have moved back. She started coming again in December 2008. Above are pictures of Katarina in 2001 and 2009. Below are pictures of dragons that Katarina did in 2001 and 2009. She's come a long way!

New classes started last week. The schedule can be found here.	Natalie teaches on Wednesdays and always comes up with creative projects, being the senior student at School of the Art Institute that she is. Last week, she had kids make dioramas. Natalie brought in random toys that the kids used and then clipped lights on the boxes, that were used as spotlights. It was quite a show when we turned off the lights and viewed these dioramas! More pictures here.