Our blog will be updated every Friday. Check back weekly!

 

Friday, August 29, 2008 ~ New York City pictures!

The group poses for a picture in Times Square. From left to right: Cece, Gerry, Ilyris, Ashly, Michellay, Anthony (front), Allen, Crystal, Latisha, and Cynamon.

	The Kehinde Wiley show at the Studio Museum of Harlem was one of the highlites of the trip. If you have not heard of this artist, he is amazing! Check him out at his website

The group got to visit the HBO set of Last of the Ninth. David Milch, father of Art Center teacher, Ben Milch, is currently working on the show and took some time to talk with the group.   Below is another picture of the set, which takes place in the 70s.

	And of course part of the New York experience is eating out. Allen, Cynamon, and Anthony enjoy a toast with their smoothies.

 

 

 

Thursday, August 21, 2008 ~ The Interns Have Landed!

The interns are back from New York City. I haven't heard all the details but pictures will be posted soon. Below are two of the interns who went on the trip, Cece and Allen. Stay tuned...

 

 

 

Friday, August 15, 2008 ~ Garden Party!

We held our Garden Party on Thursday, August 14. Many community members came out to celebrate. We grilled, had a water balloon toss, and played frisbee. A special thanks goes out to our Summerlinks intern, Allison Ross, for putting this together and acquiring local donations of food. A good time was had by all!

 

 

 

Monday, August 11, 2008 ~ Fun with Digital Photos

Khalyn, Jade, and Janae used digital cameras during Open Studio this week. They had fun experimenting with some different kinds of pictures.

 

 

 

Friday, August 8, 2008 ~ Anthony = Art Teacher

Due to miscommunication, a teacher did not come on Monday. I asked the interns if anyone wanted to jump in and teach a class. No one volunteered so I began setting up a self-portrait class. Anthony came upstairs and said he could take over. Anthony, a participant since 2001 and now 18 years old, taught his first class. There were about 10 students in the class. He did a great job and we are very proud of him!

 

 

 

Friday, August 1, 2008 ~ Another Trip to NYC

The flights are booked! Sarah (and AmeriCorps Member, Michelle) will be taking 9 teenagers to New York City from August 16 through August 20. Everyone is very excited for this trip! They will be staying in a hotel, visiting art museums and the Statue of Liberty, among other things. If you would like to make a donation to the Art Center, to help with the field trip, we would greatly appreciate it! For many of the teenagers, this is their first trip to New York City as well as their first time on a plane. It will be a trip they will remember for the rest of their lives. Last August, Sarah took 5 teenagers. They saw the Museum of Modern Art, toured the School of Visual Arts and Platinum Studios, visited St. Patrick's Cathedral, and went out to eat. Below are two pictures from last year's trip.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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.

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.

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...

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

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

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 ~ Summer !!!

Summer is fast approaching and it's gonna be a busy one! Click here to see our summer schedule. The picture to the right was taken by Cynamon last summer during a digital photography class.

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
 

Thank you to everyone who attended our fundraiser last night. To read more about it, click here.

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.

 

 

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 ~ Coming Up Taller Semifinalist

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.