South Chicago Art Center: Our Mission Statement.

Intern Blog

Our interns have created this blog. Enjoy!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Maria the New Intern

We took a small break after the summer interns finished working and have just hired Maria for the fall. She is 17 years old and a senior at Washington High School. Maria is very active in school and is planning prom for her school. Also, she is very smart and got a 33 on her ACT! She will be assisting teachers with the after-school classes.

We were able to hire her with a Youth Employment in the Arts grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Summer Links Intern Allison Ross

I'm about to begin my final year in college as an Environmental Studies major. This summer I worked in the Art Center's community garden. As much as I love a scenic landscape, I'm interested more in the landscape's impact on people. This summer, it didn't matter much how well the tomatoes grew. Even whether a child learned what a tomato plant looked like was less important to me than the resulting increased calm, confidence, and intrigue.

Below: Allison goes over a recipe with Art Center participant, Clorissa.
Allison will go down in Art Center history for her many cooking classes.

One of my favorite memories from the summer came from a visit to the backyard of one of the garden's neighbors. By the second or third time students came to the garden, they had met Miguel and had a sense that his backyard was a magical world, even a notch beyond what the garden could offer. One day, a few youth stood around his gate until he ushered us in: "What are you waiting for? Mi casa es su casa." We watched as he climbed the garage to gather fresh peaches. As we moved to the shady patio, he pointed out the grapes growing overhead. Then we noticed the week-old chicks, fathered by a rooster named Pancho Villa. We had a lot of fun that morning. We learned a lot, too-about peaches and chickens, about neighbors and friends.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Good Times in NYC

Another picture from the New York City trip has been unearthed. This is the teens, with Sarah, on a ferry that went to Governor's Island. During the ride, they saw a man-made waterfall created by world renowned Danish artist Olafur Elisasson.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Last But Not Least ~ Nicholette

	So far my job here at the Art Center has been fun and great. I get to do art and interact with kids. I can say that the Art Center is a good place to work at. The type of music I like is rap and R&B. My favorite rapper is Plies because he says things that I can relate to. I understand what he talks about in his raps. My favorite R&B singer is Pretty Ricky. I like them because they all have nice voices. They also have good songs. Nicholette is front and center in the picture to the left.

So far my job here at the Art Center has been fun and great. I get to do art and interact with kids. I can say that the Art Center is a good place to work at.

The type of music I like is rap and R&B. My favorite rapper is Plies because he says things that I can relate to. I understand what he talks about in his raps. My favorite R&B singer is Pretty Ricky. I like them because they all have nice voices. They also have good songs.

Nicholette is front and center
in the picture to the left.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Angel Sent from Heaven


My name is Angel Brown. I am 14 years old and I am now working for the South Chicago Art Center. The Art Center is a great place to sit back, relax and enjoy yourself. The things I do at the Art Center are clean up and help other kids with their artwork and of course do artwork of my own. Now you have heard all about the Art Center and hopefully you will join the Art Center. I like to swim and go out with my friends. I have a Myspace page and a tagged page that I use to chat with my friends. My favorite music artist is Rihanna.

My name is Angel Brown. I am 14 years old and I am now working for the South Chicago Art Center.

The Art Center is a great place to sit back, relax and enjoy yourself. The things I do at the Art Center are clean up and help other kids with their artwork and of course do artwork of my own. Now you have heard all about the Art Center and hopefully you will join the Art Center. I like to swim and go out with my friends. I have a Myspace page and a tagged page that I use to chat with my friends. My favorite music artist is Rihanna.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

La'Tisha, the Future Social Worker

My name is La'Tisha Walker. This time next year, I would be packing to go away to some university or college. I am excited because that will be the first step I take to become an adult and to fulfill my dream of becoming a social worker. I know it will be challenging but "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." This will also give me a chance to meet new people and become familiar with places outside of Chicago. I hope to attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) or Clark Atlanta University. Hopefully I will succeed and become the social worker that I plan to be.

My name is La'Tisha Walker.

This time next year, I would be packing to go away to some university or college. I am excited because that will be the first step I take to become an adult and to fulfill my dream of becoming a social worker. I know it will be challenging but "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." This will also give me a chance to meet new people and become familiar with places outside of Chicago. I hope to attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) or Clark Atlanta University.

Hopefully I will succeed and become the social worker that I plan to be.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Miss Michellay

	My name is Michellay Wells. I am 16 years old. My zodiac sign is Cancer. I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters. My favorite food is soul food. The school I attend is Perspective Calumet. I am going to be a sophomore this year. My dream is to graduate high school and attend UCLA. I will like to major in communications. I would like to be a TV show host or a radio show host. One of the people that I admire is my auntie, Kim Macklin. I admire my aunt because she is strong and she doesn't let anybody bring her down. One thing that my aunt has always taught me is: don't give up no matter how many times you make a mistake, just keep learning from your mistakes and keep moving. She will tell me "the reason they put erasers on pencils is so when you make a mistake you can erase your mistake and start over." These are the things that make me who I am today.

My name is Michellay Wells. I am 16 years old. My zodiac sign is Cancer. I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters. My favorite food is soul food. The school I attend is Perspective Calumet. I am going to be a sophomore this year. My dream is to graduate high school and attend UCLA. I will like to major in communications. I would like to be a TV show host or a radio show host.

One of the people that I admire is my auntie, Kim Macklin. I admire my aunt because she is strong and she doesn't let anybody bring her down. One thing that my aunt has always taught me is: don't give up no matter how many times you make a mistake, just keep learning from your mistakes and keep moving. She will tell me "the reason they put erasers on pencils is so when you make a mistake you can erase your mistake and start over." These are the things that make me who I am today.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Kwanza aka "Poody"

Hello my name is Kwanza and I am a student and intern here at the South Chicago Art Center. I feel the Art Center is a great place to meet people and learn new things about art. It's free and it's a place were you can go and have fun without having to worry about nobody getting hurt or in trouble. Most of the kids are around the same age so you'll fit right in with everybody. As a student intern I learn a lot of new things every day. We take classes every week on different things from silk screen (when we put images on shirts) to mosaics where we cut up tiles and make pictures.

Hello my name is Kwanza and I am a student and intern here at the South Chicago Art Center.

I feel the Art Center is a great place to meet people and learn new things about art. It's free and it's a place were you can go and have fun without having to worry about nobody getting hurt or in trouble. Most of the kids are around the same age so you'll fit right in with everybody.

As a student intern I learn a lot of new things every day. We take classes every week on different things from silk screen (when we put images on shirts) to mosaics where we cut up tiles and make pictures.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Antonio aka "Tone Tone"

	Being at the South Chicago Art Center, I learn a lot of stuff. When I got into high school I always could not stand art class for nothing. I started going to the South Chicago Art Center, now I do art all day long. Then when the summer was over I went back to school like a new person. I get all Bs in my art class. Thank you South Chicago Art Center. Tone Tone won the "Best Interaction with Children" Award this summer at the Art Center. Left: Tone Tone is pictured with Daneisha during a field trip in the winter.

Being at the South Chicago Art Center, I learn a lot of stuff. When I got into high school I always could not stand art class for nothing. I started going to the South Chicago Art Center, now I do art all day long. Then when the summer was over I went back to school like a new person. I get all Bs in my art class. Thank you South Chicago Art Center.

Tone Tone won the "Best Interaction with Children" Award this summer at the Art Center.

Left: Tone Tone is pictured with Daneisha during a field trip in the winter.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Ilyris (pronounced EE-dee-leese)

What up!?

South Chicago, that's where I am from. Sarah Ward and Beth are some of the coolest people in my life.

It seems like when I am down I can come to the Art Center, start doing art and that makes me feel better. The Art Center is that type of place that when you're in it, all your problems don't matter any more you just forget about them.

I am 17 and attend Global Vision Academy at Bowen High School. My favorite type of art to do is collage because I like to mix up different things from different magazines. When I grow up I am thinking about being a chef, lawyer, or a doctor.

Above is a potrait of Ilyris by Anthony Steele.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Allen Loves the Art Center
Like a Rockstar Loves His Guitar

I love the Art Center like a rockstar loves his guitar... I love working at the Art Center. It's a great place to be and it's also a place where you can learn new things, such as stone carving, art classes, painting, and many more good, interesting things. To me it's a place where you can make your imagination into great art. It's also a wonderful thing for kids who are really into art and painting. I feel like the Art Center is a very good thing that's in our community right now and people should stop by and check it out and join.

I love the Art Center like a rockstar loves his guitar... I love working at the Art Center. It's a great place to be and it's also a place where you can learn new things, such as stone carving, art classes, painting, and many more good, interesting things. To me it's a place where you can make your imagination into great art. It's also a wonderful thing for kids who are really into art and painting. I feel like the Art Center is a very good thing that's in our community right now and people should stop by and check it out and join.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Photographer Ceci

	Cecilia "Ceci" Mijares is 17 and a summer intern. Passing By I love this photo that I took because I wanted to take a picture of a car so badly but I wanted a nice background to go with it. When I saw the car passing by and the house standing in front of me, I knew that was going to be a good picture so I couldn't miss it. Sepia Tracks I love how the train tracks lay there. So I took the picture with the Sepia filter which looks like a beautiful old picture and I love how "still life" the picture came out to be.

Cecilia "Ceci" Mijares is 17 and a summer intern.

Passing By
I love this photo that I took because I wanted to take a picture of a car so badly but I wanted a nice background to go with it. When I saw the car passing by and the house standing in front of me, I knew that was going to be a good picture so I couldn't miss it.

Sepia Tracks
I love how the train tracks lay there. So I took the picture with the Sepia filter which looks like a beautiful old picture and I love how "still life" the picture came out to be.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

All About Ashly

Hello, my name is Ashly Hernandez. I don't want to list all the things about me but I will tell you I am 16 and a good swimmer. I am one of two captains for the girls swim team at George Washington High School. Swimming has always been fun for me so I try my hardest during practice and during meets. Since I am their free style person that is where most of my practice goes. This year, however, I am working on my butterfly so hopefully I'll be able to do it decently. Here is one of my latest drawings (right).

Hello, my name is Ashly Hernandez. I don't want to list all the things about me but I will tell you I am 16 and a good swimmer. I am one of two captains for the girls swim team at George Washington High School. Swimming has always been fun for me so I try my hardest during practice and during meets. Since I am their free style person that is where most of my practice goes. This year, however, I am working on my butterfly so hopefully I'll be able to do it decently.

Here is one of my latest drawings (right).

Also, Sarah spotted Ashly's doppelganger in Seventeen magazine.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Digital Photos from Field Trip


These are two pictures taken by Cynamon today during our field trip to the Art Institute. Cynamon, age 17, has been coming to the Art Center since 2002 and is currently working for us as a summer intern. The first digital image is all skill and the second...... is a happy accident. We also saw actress, Julia Stiles, at the Art Institute but we did not get a picture of her.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Anthony's Got Talent

Anthony holding his self-portrait

Anthony, an Art Center participant since 2001, is now 18 years old. He is working at the Center as an AmeriCorps member for the summer. Anthony has been assisting Brother Mark on the mural project, helping out with classes but also creates artwork to inspire others.

This is his recent masterpiece -- a self-portrait!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Gerry

	Hi my name is Gerry, age 21, and I’m the first intern at the South Chicago Art Center to start this Summer-Blog update. Working between the Community Garden, planting and harvesting vegetables, and the Art Center, the summer looks promising. As an intern, I’m hoping to get the experience and patience needed to one day become a teacher. This summer, I’m looking forward to assisting teachers and teaching at the South Chicago Library Branch. In my free time, I enjoy going to concerts, like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in September, watching foreign films and yes, reading books. I’m currently working on a series of paintings that focus on iconic religious figures and the spiritual connection between people and religion, using different forms of techniques I’ve learned. On a personal level, I will be celebrating my 22nd birthday this weekend, I'm not expecting any presents…

Hi my name is Gerry, age 21, and I’m the first intern at the South Chicago Art Center to start this Summer-Blog update.

Working between the Community Garden, planting and harvesting vegetables, and the Art Center, the summer looks promising. As an intern, I’m hoping to get the experience and patience needed to one day become a teacher. This summer, I’m looking forward to assisting teachers and teaching at the South Chicago Library Branch.

In my free time, I enjoy going to concerts, like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in September, watching foreign films and yes, reading books. I’m currently working on a series of paintings that focus on iconic religious figures and the spiritual connection between people and religion, using different forms of techniques I’ve learned. On a personal level, I will be celebrating my 22nd birthday this weekend, I'm not expecting any presents…