Older Blog Posts: South Chicago Art Center

July - April 2008 Blog Entries

Thursday, July 24, 2008 ~ Zeb's Mural Class

This week new Art Center teacher, Zebedee Rivera, taught class. Students worked on a community mural that will be installed at nearby Arnold Mireles Academy.

He started class by having students ask themselves: Who Do I Want To Be? What Do I Love? What Would I Most Like To See In This World?

This helped students flesh out images for the mural. Once students finished painting on 3 large boards, Zeb cut them out into figurative shapes. Michellay with her piece

Zeb's class

Figurative pieces

This week new Art Center teacher, Zebedee Rivera, taught class. Students worked on a community mural that will be installed at nearby Arnold Mireles Academy. He started class by having students ask themselves: Who Do I Want To Be? What Do I Love? What Would I Most Like To See In This World? This helped students flesh out images for the mural. Once students finished painting on 3 large boards, Zeb cut them out into figurative shapes.

Friday, July 18, 2008 ~ A Field Trip Y'all!

Today was our first field trip of the summer. We went to the Art Institute and received a guided tour. Students learned about portraits, still-lives, and minimalism. Our docents, Alicja & Kyle, did a great job of getting students to talk and think about art.

Afterwards we ordered pizza and ate it in Millennium Park while we listened to the live orchestra. A quick game of frisbee followed before we caught the train back to
South Chicago.

During the guided tour at the Art Institute

group picture at the art institute

What a good looking crew!

Friday, July 11, 2008 ~ A Beautiful Sign for the Garden

This week, Maria Villarreal taught a mosaic workshop. Students came up with the design and worked over 4 days cutting tile and gluing. The mosaic is a sign that will be put in the Artists' Garden. Below are pictures of students grouting the mosaic.

Thursday, July 10, 2008 ~ What's smells good?

In today’s garden class, Allison taught a cooking class. Students picked zucchini from the Garden, chopped it up, and sautéed it.

It was delicious!

Even the kids who were a little leery of the zucchini gave it a try and liked it.
Zuccini from the garden

Preparing the zuccini Getting ready to eat the zuccini

In today’s garden class, Allison taught a cooking class. Students picked zucchini from the Garden, chopped it up, and sautéed it. It was delicious! Even the kids who were a little leery of the zucchini gave it a try and liked it.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 ~ The interns have started!

Pictured below are 4 of the 14 interns who started working at the Art Center on Monday. They are Latisha, Anthony, Allison (Summerlinks intern from the University of Chicago), and Michellay. An intern blog will begin soon...

Interns pose outside the Art Center

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 ~ And you thought Rodan was good!

Roman Villarreal recently finished a sculpture class with teenagers.
Below are some pictures.

Roman with teens stone piece

sculpture piece

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 ~ Summer !!!

Summer is fast approaching and it's gonna be a busy one!

Our summer schedule is posted.

The picture to the right was taken by Cynamon last summer during a digital photography class.
cynamon's digital image

Friday, June 6, 2008 ~ Wish list added

Click here to view our newly added Wish List.
More items will be added as we think of them, so check back frequently.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 ~ Did you see Roman in the newspaper?

Art Center teacher, Roman Villarreal, was recently interviewed for an article in the Sun-Times. He talks about art & life and even mentions his wonderful wife, Maria, who is also an Art Center teacher. Way to go Roman!

The beautiful photograph was taken by Scott Stewert.

Friday, May 30, 2008 ~Congrats Lizeth!

Congratulations to Art Center participant, Lizeth.
She received an award at school for having perfect attendance.

Thursday, May 22, 2008 ~ Fundraiser

Teens at the event

Thank you to everyone
who attended our fundraiser last night in Pilsen!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 ~ Could this cute face be bad? Yes.

Every Wednesday morning, three classes from Our Lady Guadalupe School come over to the Art Center to have art class. These first, second, and third grade classes are taught by local teaching artist, Maria Villarreal.

Last Wednesday Ms. Martello's third grade class was disruptive (talking without raising hands, not being focused, talking loudly, etc.). Students were very sorry for their bad behavior and wrote apology letters. Click here to read a few.

Friday, May 16, 2008 ~ Berkowitz Award Footage

Video footage of the award ceremony for the 2008 Susan Berkowitz Award at Francis W. Parker School is now up on YouTube. YouTube only allows 10-minute increments so it is four parts. Click here for part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4. Video still of Sarah's speech

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 ~ Coming Up Taller Semifinalist

logo for text The South Chicago Art Center has been chosen for recognition as a 2008 Coming Up Taller Semifinalist by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
If selected, we will receive a plaque and a $10,000 award at a ceremony in the fall/winter. In a letter to the Art Center it states, "Your program's selection as one of the 50 semifinalists distinguishes it as one of the top arts- and humanities-based programs in the country serving youth beyond the school hours."
The jury expects to notify this year's award recipients by the end of June.

Monday, May 12, 2008 ~ Fancy Invite to Event

Want to see our fancy invite for the event on Wednesday, May 21, 2008?
Click here. Spots are still available!

Friday, May 9, 2008 ~ Mural Class at the Art Center

Every Friday students from DePaul University will be working on a mural at the Art Center. They are currently working inside on the layout and design of the mural but will soon be working outside on the actual wall. The mural will go on Family Dollar on the corner of 91st and Commercial. This mural project is lead by Brother Mark Elder, a DePaul professor and mural artist and supported with a STAR grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Friday, May 2, 2008 ~ 2008 Berkowitz Award Winner: Sarah Ward

This year's Berkowitz Award recipient is a woman who has devoted her life to helping underserved children through the medium of creating art. Sarah Ward, founder and director of the South Chicago Art Center, has won the hearts of many through her tireless work as an art teacher in the schools and in her free, after-school art program, where children may find a safe place to grow not only as artists, but also as strong individuals.
Read more here

Thursday, May 1, 2008 ~ A donation from the north sent with love

A few weeks ago we received a large donation of art supplies. The 5th Grade Art Club at Johnsburg Junior High School in Johnsburg, Illinois had made a concerted effort to collect supplies specifically for the South Chicago Art Center! We received 8 boxes full of new and slightly used art supplies.

We appreciate their dedication and kindness. As a thank you, several Art Center kids created this trophy for the Art Club. Thanks again to Mrs. Reith and the 5th Grade Art Club!

Thursday, May 1, 2008 ~ An interview with Sarah on chicagoartistsresource.org

Sarah was recently interviewed by the Chicago Artists Resource website for an Arts Professional Story. Click here to check it out.

Friday, April 25, 2008 ~ Get Your Stone On! With a grant from Metropolitan Family Services, the South Chicago Art Center conducted a stone carving class after-school at Bowen High School."Get Your Stone On" was lead by local artist, Roman Villarreal. About a dozen students worked twice a week for six weeks to learn the art of stone carving.
	Using chisels and drills, students worked on 30 lb. slabs of alabaster to create animals, figures, and other creations of their own design.
The class culminated in a display of the work in the lobby of Bowen High School on April 16. Visitors were quite impressed with the stone carving skill of the youth! Antonio (right), age 18, is an intern at the South Chicago Art Center and assisted Roman with the class.