Blog: South Chicago Art Center

June 2010 - Nov 2010 Blog Entries

Monday, Nov. 22, 2010 ~ December 4th Art Open House

invite to Art Open House

We are gearing up for the big 10th Anniversary of our Art Open House! The Art Center is transformed into a gallery and friends/supporters are invited to come down and celebrate with us. Feel free to join us on Saturday, December 4th from 1-3pm. We hope to see you there!

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010 ~ Day of the Dead Exhibit

Last week, we also took a field trip to Pilsen to visit the Day of the Dead exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Fine Art. Kids checked out the alters and had a scavenger hunt at the museum. Afterwards we ate some tacos at a nearby restaurant and burned off some energy at a playground.

Checking out the exhibit Skeletons at the museum

Angel checking out the skeletons Checking out the alter

Posing in front of an exhibit

Brothers at the playground Group in front of the

Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 ~ Garden Field Trip

At Wood Street Farm
Today there was no school so we took the kids on a field trip. First, we visited the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. This school, located at 111th & Pulaski, has a lot going on! We got a tour of their aquaponics room where fish are raised and their waste helps grow plants like basil. Then we visited their chickens (and 2 roosters), ground hogs and pigs. One classroom has a dog, cat, and 4 foot long iguana in it! Lastly, we saw a pasture with horses, cow, goats and sheep. A student who is a junior there, talked about the school and assisted with the tour. Several of our students are interested in possibly attending this high school.

For the second part of the field trip we went up to Growing Home?s Wood Street Farm at 59th & Wood. First we had a picnic lunch and then Beth, who works for Growing Home, gave us a tour of the hoop houses. Kids got to try some of the growing plants like spinach, arugula, and parsley. It was amazing to see all of the vegetables thriving in the hoop house during this time of year. Special thanks to Martha Boyd from Angelic Organics Learning Center for planning this field trip!

At Ag High School

Chickens at Ag High School Aquaponics Rooms

Sheep at Ag High School

Wood Street Farm

Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010 ~ Halloween Party

On Friday, we had our Halloween Party at the Art Center. First, Maria V. taught a class on how to make paper mache skeletons.

Next, we started off with some apps (cheese & crackers, grapes, guac, pico de gallo, salsa & chips) to get our energy up before we played hot potato and musical chairs. Throughout the party, older kids painted the faces of the younger kids. We ended the party with an exciting game of limbo! How low can you go?

Making skeletons

Eating snacks

painting faces

playing limbo

Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010 ~ Field Trip to Hyde Park

This past Friday we took a field trip to the Hyde Park neighborhood. First, we took a look in the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. Then, we visited the Oriental Institute and saw artwork, mummies, and other artifacts. After the museum, we ate some delicious pizza, from Medici on 57th, outside at a nearby park. Thanks, Medici, for donating the pizza!

Lastly, we stopped by to see a mural that artist Bernard Williams is working on at 57th Street. Long time Art Center participant and former intern Anthony Steele is helping with the mural. The group saw Bernard and Anthony in action and Anthony even stopped to pose for a picture with the group.
Anthony working on mural

Going to the chapel Mural on 57th Street

Group pic in Hyde Park

Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 ~ Maria V. + Mosaics = Fun !

Leantae and his artwork
On Fridays in the after-school program kids are having fun with mosaics.

Teacher Maria Villarreal leads the class where kids sketched out their idea on a piece of plywood, painted it, and then added the mosaic pieces. Students have worked several weeks on this project and are really enjoying it.

Girls working Our favorite intern

View of the studio

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010 ~ Adult Fundraiser in Pilsen

Yesterday was our Adult Fundraiser at the Pilsen Satellite Studio. Thank you to all of our supporters who came out to support the Center. Guests mingled, noshed on food, drank some adult drinks (happyartinis, wine, tastings from Kovol Distillery)
and viewed the artwork.

Our board of directors were instrumental in putting on this event
so a big thank you to them!

Pilsen Event Pilsen event view

Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010 ~ Artwork Available for Purchase

We have artwork for sale at our Pilsen satellite studio. If you are interested in buying any of the pieces, send an email to beth@happyartcenter.org.

Click here to view all of the artwork.

Artwork in Pilsen

Friday, Oct. 1, 2010 ~ Family Fundraiser

Decorating a cupcake
On Saturday, September 25th we held our Family Fundraiser at our satellite studio in Pilsen.

Kids had their faces painted, made several art projects, and decorated cupcakes during this fun afternoon.

Thanks to everyone for coming out to this special event.

View of space

Making art Cupcake table

painted faces viewing the art

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 ~ Chicago Artists Month

Chicago Artist Month logo

Our Satellite Studio in Pilsen is set up and we are ready for classes & open studio! We are having a free family friendly event this Saturday from 1-3pm and an adult fundraiser on October 13th. Grab some friends and come check out the space!

Click here to read more about the special events.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 ~ Social Activism

Chicago artist William Estrada taught a class this summer. Students brainstormed about positive slogans they wanted to see displayed around their neighborhood. They created several colorful posters and on the last day we walked around and put them up. We think they made a difference in the community.

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.” - Willie Nelson

Plant a Tree

Be Kind Smile and Be Polite

No More Guns!

Community Garden is what I want Smile

Make Peace Don't Litter

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 ~ 2010 Garden Party

Rachel
We threw our "End of the Summer Garden Party" on Thursday, August 26th. University of Chicago Summer Links intern, Rachel Marro, worked hard to plan it. She secured donations from local businesses like food, condiments, prizes for games, and paper products.

Art Center kids mingled with gardeners, ate a generous spread of food, and played games, including the infamous water balloon toss. It was a great way to end the summer and a good time was had by all. Thanks Rachel for all of your hard work!

Testing cookie

Garden Party view

Eating chicken Waving for the camera

Miguel cooking Eating corn!

Playing games Balloon toss

Monday, August 23, 2010 ~ Sarah in the Chicago Tribune Today!

Did you see Sarah in the Chicago Tribune today? They did a great story on our community garden, the Artists' Garden. Click here to read it.

Sarah in trib

Thursday, August 19, 2010 ~ Stained Glass Class

This summer involved a "first" for us---a stained glass class!

We had never taught it before and after seeing all the sharp tools/materials involved, decided to make the class for older kids.

Quninton Foreman taught the class and the teenagers had a great time. They made some amazing stained glass pieces that they will keep forever.
Lucy's piece

Quinton teaching Yesenia's piece

Posing with thier pieces

Cece's piece

Thursday, August 12, 2010 ~ Backyard Puppet Shows

Life doesn't get much better than watching children's puppet shows
in the backyard on a sunny summer day.
Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves that this is actually our job...

Natalie Calleros taught a sock puppet workshop last week. Students worked on their characters and story line, created their puppets, then built the stages.
On Thursday, parents came to watch the culminating show.
We made popcorn and had a lot of laughs.

Making puppets

Lizzy and her puppet Daniel and his puppet

Puppet show

Thursday, August 12, 2010 ~ Outreach this Summer

Making jewelry
We are continuing our outreach efforts this summer. We have taught in the Pullman and Washington Park as well as at a women's shelter and at the local library in South Chicago. Below are pictures of Lisa Tasner's jewelry making workshop at Washington Park, through our partnership with Chicago Youth Programs. The demand for our programs has been endless and enthusiastic.

Monday, August 2, 2010 ~ Garden Press Release

Click here to read about the great things happening at our community garden this summer!

Gathering space

Friday, July 30, 2010 ~ Candy Necklaces

Q: What's better than a candy necklace?
A: A homemade candy necklace!

Teacher Lisa Tasner made a lot of kids' dreams come true this summer when she taught a candy necklace workshop.

Students got to choose from a wide array of candies and created their own patterns. You could feel the excitement in the air during the class as kids anticipated going home and eating their necklace! No eating was allwoed during class...
Robert and his necklace

Enrique and his necklace America and her necklance

Karneshia and Robert Lizzy and her necklace

Monday, July 19, 2010 ~ Josh's Transformation

Josh before

Josh started coming to the Art Center two years ago. He participated in our Teen Apprenticeship Programs (making scenery for a play and building an arbor in the Garden). Back when we first knew him, Josh was a long-haired, laid back teenager.

He recently finished his first year of high school at Carver Military Academy and has his head shaved. Josh showed us his report card--all A's and he is ranked first in his class out of 158 students. We are so proud of him and hope he keeps up the hard work. We expect great things from him in his future!

Josh at the Art Center

Monday, July 12, 2010 ~ Cooking Class

Recipe
Cooking class is back at the Art Center! Lead by University of Chicago Summer Links intern, Rachel Marro, kids will be cooking every Thursday this summer.

Last week, collard greens were on the menu. Students read the recipe aloud, helped prepare the food, and did a taste test. The recipe was an overwhelming success with kids having seconds (and some even thirds!). One boy, Enrique, we were told, never eats vegetables and LOVED the collards. We sent the rest of the harvest of greens home with the kids, along with the recipe.

Taste test! Cooking Class

Helping prepare

Monday, July 5, 2010 ~ Stone Carving

The interns have begun! We hired 5 local teenagers to work this summer through After School Matters. Last week, local artist Roman Villarreal taught them stone carving. They worked several hours a day with tools like chisels, hammers and a dremel. It was hard work and they learned a lot.
Stone sculpture

Anthony working

sculpture class

Cece working

Thursday, June 24, 2010 ~ A Cool Garden Story

Firemen helping out
About 5 years ago, it was a very hot summer. We were struggling to keep the garden adequately watered and called on the local fire department to help. One morning they brought over their truck and spent some time cooling off the plants. It was a very interesting sight!

Check out the huge sunflowers...

Firemen watering the garden

a hot day Watering the garden

Thursday, June 17, 2010 ~ For the Birds

Kazzi made this bird in an after-school class taught by
Studio Manager, Kris.

As you can see by the fine craftsmanship, Kazzi spent several sessions on her raven. The armature was made from wire, newspaper and masking tape and covered with plaster gauze.

She intricately painted the detail on the wings with a fine brush--not bad for a 3rd grader!
Kazzi and her raven

Close-up of bird

Friday, June 11, 2010 ~ Handmade T-shirts

World Peace T-shirt
After-school classes are
winding down.
This week kids finished their t-shirts that were designed
from hand-cut stencils.

They happily modeled them.

T-shirt models

t-shirt models jumping

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 ~ It's Getting Hot in Here

The temperature is getting hot in Chicago and that means 2 things--school is almost out and things are getting under way in the garden.

We have been busy planting and watering. Last week we planted onions, peppers, cabbage, mustard greens, basil, beets, cucumbers, spinach, and tomatoes. There are nearly 30 community members caring for plots in the Artists' Garden.

Kids have been getting antsy so last week before class we spent some time drawing with sidewalk chalk.

Strawberries Bowl of strawberries

We snacked on freshly picked strawberries while we planted.

rows of cabbage Garden view

Drawing with chalk

Sidewalk chalk--always a
crowd pleaser...

Last week, we also took a field trip to Pilsen to visit the Day of the Dead exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Fine Art. Kids checked out the alters and had a scavenger hunt at the museum. Afterwards we ate some tacos at a nearby restaurant and burned off some energy at a playground.

	Today there was no school so we took the kids on a field trip. First, we visited the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. This school, located at 111th & Pulaski, has a lot going on! We got a tour of their aquaponics room where fish are raised and their waste helps grow plants like basil. Then we visited their chickens (and 2 roosters), ground hogs and pigs. One classroom has a dog, cat, and 4 foot long iguana in it! Lastly, we saw a pasture with horses, cow, goats and sheep. A student who is a junior there, talked about the school and assisted with the tour. Several of our students are interested in possibly attending this high school. For the second part of the field trip we went up to Growing Home?s Wood Street Farm at 59th & Wood. First we had a picnic lunch and then Beth, who works for Growing Home, gave us a tour of the hoop houses. Kids got to try some of the growing plants like spinach, arugula, and parsley. It was amazing to see all of the vegetables thriving in the hoop house during this time of year. Special thanks to Martha Boyd from Angelic Organics Learning Center for planning this field trip!

On Friday, we had our Halloween Party at the Art Center. First, Maria V. taught a class on how to make paper mache skeletons. Next, we started off with some apps (cheese & crackers, grapes, guac, pico de gallo, salsa & chips) to get our energy up before we played hot potato and musical chairs. Throughout the party, older kids painted the faces of the younger kids. We ended the party with an exciting game of limbo! How low can you go?

This past Friday we took a field trip to the Hyde Park neighborhood. First, we took a look in the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. Then, we visited the Oriental Institute and saw artwork, mummies, and other artifacts. After the museum, we ate some delicious pizza, from Medici on 57th, outside at a nearby park. Thanks, Medici, for donating the pizza! Lastly, we stopped by to see a mural that artist Bernard Williams is working on at 57th Street. Long time Art Center participant and former intern Anthony Steele is helping with the mural. The group saw Bernard and Anthony in action and Anthony even stopped to pose for a picture with the group.

	On Fridays in the after-school program kids are having fun with mosaics. Teacher Maria Villarreal leads the class where kids sketched out their idea on a piece of plywood, painted it, and then added the mosaic pieces. Students have worked several weeks on this project and are really enjoying it.

	On Saturday, September 25th we held our Family Fundraiser at our satellite studio in Pilsen. Kids had their faces painted, made several art projects, and decorated cupcakes during this fun afternoon. Thanks to everyone for coming out to this special event.

Chicago artist William Estrada taught a class this summer. Students brainstormed about positive slogans they wanted to see displayed around their neighborhood. They created several colorful posters and on the last day we walked around and put them up. We think they made a difference in the community. “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.” - Willie Nelson

	We threw our "End of the Summer Garden Party" on Thursday, August 26th. University of Chicago Summer Links intern, Rachel Marro, worked hard to plan it. She secured donations from local businesses like food, condiments, prizes for games, and paper products. Art Center kids mingled with gardeners, ate a generous spread of food, and played games, including the infamous water balloon toss. It was a great way to end the summer and a good time was had by all. Thanks Rachel for all of your hard work!

This summer involved a "first" for us---a stained glass class! We had never taught it before and after seeing all the sharp tools/materials involved, decided to make the class for older kids. Quninton Foreman taught the class and the teenagers had a great time. They made some amazing stained glass pieces that they will keep forever.

Life doesn't get much better than watching children's puppet shows in the backyard on a sunny summer day. Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves that this is actually our job... Natalie Calleros taught a sock puppet workshop last week. Students worked on their characters and story line, created their puppets, then built the stages. On Thursday, parents came to watch the culminating show. We made popcorn and had a lot of laughs.

	We are continuing our outreach efforts this summer. We have taught in the Pullman and Washington Park as well as at a women's shelter and at the local library in South Chicago. Below are pictures of Lisa Tasner's jewelry making workshop at Washington Park, through our partnership with Chicago Youth Programs. The demand for our programs has been endless and enthusiastic.

Q: What's better than a candy necklace? A: A homemade candy necklace! Teacher Lisa Tasner made a lot of kids' dreams come true this summer when she taught a candy necklace workshop. Students got to choose from a wide array of candies and created their own patterns. You could feel the excitement in the air during the class as kids anticipated going home and eating their necklace! No eating was allwoed during class...


Josh started coming to the Art Center two years ago. He participated in our Teen Apprenticeship Programs (making scenery for a play and building an arbor in the Garden). Back when we first knew him, Josh was a long-haired, laid back teenager. He recently finished his first year of high school at Carver Military Academy and has his head shaved. Josh showed us his report card--all A's and he is ranked first in his class out of 158 students. We are so proud of him and hope he keeps up the hard work. We expect great things from him in his future!

The interns have begun! We hired 5 local teenagers to work this summer through After School Matters. Last week, local artist Roman Villarreal taught them stone carving. They worked several hours a day with tools like chisels, hammers and a dremel. It was hard work and they learned a lot.

Kazzi made this bird in an after-school class taught by Studio Manager, Kris. As you can see by the fine craftsmanship, Kazzi spent several sessions on her raven. The armature was made from wire, newspaper and masking tape and covered with plaster gauze. She intricately painted the detail on the wings with a fine brush--not bad for a 3rd grader!

	After-school classes are winding down. This week kids finished their t-shirts that were designed from hand-cut stencils. They happily modeled them.

The temperature is getting hot in Chicago and that means 2 things--school is almost out and things are getting under way in the garden. We have been busy planting and watering. Last week we planted onions, peppers, cabbage, mustard greens, basil, beets, cucumbers, spinach, and tomatoes. There are nearly 30 community members caring for plots in the Artists' Garden. Kids have been getting antsy so last week before class we spent some time drawing with sidewalk chalk.

	We snacked on freshly picked strawberries while we planted.



Sidewalk chalk--always a crowd pleaser...