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Check out our blog page updated each week.
July - Sept 2009 Blog Entries
Present| Dec - Oct 2009 |Sept - July 2009
June - Apr 2009 | March - Jan 2009
Dec - Nov 2008 | Oct 2008 | Sept 2008
Aug 2008 | July - June 2008 | May - Apr 2008
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 ~ U of C Freshmen Volunteer
Yesterday, 80% of the freshmen class from University of Chicago came down to the South Side. It was the day before classes started and students performed community service in different neighborhoods. Pictured is the group who worked in the Artists' Garden, turning it down for the winter. Thanks for your hard work, students, and best of luck during your first year of college! |
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Friday, September 25, 2009 ~ Recovery & Reinvestment Act Grant
| Recently, the Art Center received an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Direct Grant. Only twenty-four organizations in Illinois received a grant, so we feel very grateful. This $25,000 grant will be used to fund the Studio Manager position. |
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 ~ Did you listen to NPR this morning?
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This morning, NPR did an interview with Angela Hurlock, Executive Director of Claretian Associates (our neighbor). Angela discusses South Chicago particularly, affordable green housing in the neighborhood. To listen to the interview, click here and push the play button. Claretian Associates started the Art Center in 2001 as a response to a series of studies asking children from local schools what services they felt were needed in the community. In 2004, the Art Center spun off and became its own non-profit. |
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Friday, September 11, 2009 ~ First Class
Eight years ago today, the South Chicago Art Center held its first class. Sarah discusses this in a video overview of the Art Center. Got eight minutes? Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwzxgrcXRZs |
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Friday, August 28, 2009 ~ Summer Program Ends
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Our summer program has come to an end. This summer was a busy one with garden class, workshops (mosaic, silk screen, sculpture, jewelry making, etc.) and open studio.
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| Pictures from top: a block figure created in open studio, Bebe sketches in the garden, Jaidan, Bebe, and Analiese model plant growth stages, teenage intern Maria paints a board for Commercial Ave., Jade cleans off a mosaic, t-shirts printed during silk screen class, and a view of the garden from the gathering space. |
Friday, August 21, 2009 ~ Mural Event/Garden Party Is a Success!
Yesterday, August 20th, was the mural unveiling ceremony. Although scattered showers were predicted, it did not rain on us. Community leaders and members gathered to celebrate. Information on the mural can be found on the events page. |
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Above: Muralist Brother Mark Elder says some words. Below: Sarah Ward, Executive Director of the South Chicago Art Center, discusses this 3 year project. |
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Alderman John Pope, 10th Ward |
Neil Bosanko, Executive Director, South Chicago Chamber of Commerce |
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Jackie Samuel, Director, South Chicago New Communities Program |
Father Charles Shelby, Vice Chancellor of DePaul University |
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After the mural ceremony, the crowd headed to our Artists' Garden for a barbeque. Local businesses, as well as the South Chicago Chamber of Commerce, donated food for this event. Bottom picture: University of Chicago Summer Links intern, Lucy, with Art Center participants. Lucy was in charge of securing/collecting donations and planning games for this event. She did a wonderful job! |
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Friday, August 14, 2009 ~ Honey Extraction
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The bad news: Honey bee populations have been decreasing. The good news: We have been doing our part to help increase bee populations. For the last 3 years, the Art Center has had beehives, located just outside the Artists' Garden. Recently, Thea from |
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Wednesday, August 5, 2009 ~ Mural Unveiling!
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Join us for a mural celebration! We will start at the mural on 91st & Commercial and move to the Artists' Garden (8947 S. Brandon) at 4pm. See the events page for more info. |
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 ~ Lollapalooza Shirt Supports the Art Center
Isn't this limited edition Lollapalooza t-shirt cool? The t-shirt was created by volunteer Cody Hudson (who works under the name of Struggle Inc.) and 10% of each sale goes to support the Art Center! Get yours now while supplies last. |
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Tuesday, July 28, 2009 ~ Mural = Finished!
The mural is finished! Check out the newly added Skyway Bridge on top and the stenciled quotes. We hope to have an event to celebrate the completion of this mural. As soon as we have a date we will post it here. Another entry on the mural can be found here. |
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Thursday, July 23, 2009 ~ Flower Paintings on Commercial Avenue
| Teen interns painted beautiful flowers and provocative words to be put on fences that border vacant lots, on the block of commerce in South Chicago. Lots are generally riddled with trash. The hope is that the paintings improve the aesthetics of the neighborhood. This project was supported by the South Chicago Chamber of Commerce SSA#5. |
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009 ~ A Visit to the Modern Wing
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On July 10th, we took a field trip to the Art Institute. We got to visit the new Modern Wing, which is bright and beautiful. Students took a docent-lead tour and enjoyed learning and talking about the artwork they saw. Here is a picture of us on the Nichols Bridgeway that goes to Millennium Park. |
Thursday, July 16, 2009 ~ Cooking Class Thursday
| Every Thursday is cooking class at the Art Center. Lucy, our Summer Links intern from University of Chicago, leads the class. Last week, the class made pesto (see the recipe below drawn up by Lucy). Kids love harvesting from the garden, cooking, and trying new foods. Even our pickiest eaters enjoy cooking class. Click here to see some chaotic video of participants trying the pesto. |
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Thursday, July 16, 2009 ~ Just Beet It
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Check out the size of the beets, harvested from our Artists' Garden! |
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 ~ City Kids Visit a Farm
This is straight out of a movie- city kids visit a farm! In early July, our teen interns (Gerry, Alanna, Cece, Maria, Tone-Tone) and University of Chicago Summer Links intern (Lucy) boarded a bus early in the morning and headed to Caledonia, Illinois. Angelic Organics Learning Center has a farm there and the interns got a day long tour, complete with milking goats and making goat cheese. Check out the video of their visit here. |
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Tuesday, July 7, 2009 ~ A visit from Marquetta, a former intern
| Every school year, the Art Center receives an intern from the Young Women's Leadership Charter School. Today, we had a visit from Marquetta, an intern who worked with us 2 years ago. Back then she was a diligent and artistic intern, who was a little on the quiet side. Today, she is an energetic and talkative recent high school graduate, who is heading off to college in the fall. It was great to see her and catch up, on her day off from her job at the Field Museum. Marquetta was kind enough to reflect on her experience with us. |
The Best Art Center, EVER!!! By: Marquetta Ferrell, HS Grad of '09 When I was first assigned to intern at Happy Art Center through a program at my high school, I already knew it was going to be a great experience. From the beginning, when I first met Sarah Ward and Beth McGovern, these were two very dedicated women who could take the time to care for the young children who came to the center for the arts. Currently, the arts are being taken away from schools and after school programs because of lack of funding. However, Happy Art Center was founded based on an excellent mission and vision. Being a non-profit organization only helped to add to that cause. The center itself and its employees actually helped me to take the steps I needed to make in order to progress to a higher level. It may sound cliche, but because of everything they've done for me, I feel indebted to them and will definitely remember to pay them back. During my short time at the center, I learned so much about myself and about others that the knowledge still helps to this day, and even beyond that. Happy Art Center is a place made for everyone, no matter how different you may be. Is there anything else to say but 'thank you?' |
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Present| Dec - Oct 2009 |Sept - July 2009
June - Apr 2009 | March - Jan 2009
Dec - Nov 2008 | Oct 2008 | Sept 2008
Aug 2008 | July - June 2008 | May - Apr 2008
