Free Arts Minnesota Experience

Style Your Sole

2011-11-14T14:59:00.000-08:00

I’m so excited to write about a project I’ve been working on that incorporates two organizations that I love, love, love—Free Arts Minnesota and TOMS!

For the past two years I’ve been a mentor with Free Arts Minnesota, but this semester I decided to take a little break. As the weeks went by, I found myself wanting to still be involved with them. So I started dreaming up a project that I could propose to the Free Arts team. I’ve also always wanted to do a TOMS Style Your Sole party where people could come and decorate TOMS shoes. As these two, separate ideas bounced around in my head, they eventually smashed into each other and started singing that song from the end of Grease that goes, “We go together like ramma lamma lamma ka dinga da dinga dong!” And thus the Free Arts Style Your Sole project was born!
Knowing that to do a project like this would be kind of expensive, I dug into my “Money For Other People” fund and pulled out the dough to make this all happen. I then brought my proposal to the Free Arts program coordinator, Esther Callahan, who was more than excited to work with me on it. She really took my small idea and made it into the awesome project it is today. She organized a group of about 15 high school students from the Boys and Girls Club in Saint Paul to meet with us every Thursday for three weeks.

The first week (two weeks ago) we introduced the project to them by watching the TOMS documentary and writing Soul/Sole poetry . It was awesome. We had poems about everything from basketball to poems about the TOMS mission of giving shoes to children in need. This last week we had the kids sketch out their designs for their TOMS shoes on paper. That way they could work out all their creative ideas before they got their shoes. And next week they get to decorate their very own pair of TOMS! Esther is arranging for the poems and shoes to be photographed and, hopefully, framed and displayed somewhere in Saint Paul as a mini art show.

I love being involved in projects like this because the impact is so broad:
1. It gives the kids from the Boys And Girls Club a creative outlet, a chance to be around positive role models and a chance to make a difference in someone else’s life by being a part of the TOMS One For One movement.
2. It broadens the reach of Free Arts by doing the project in Saint Paul—an area that they’re currently trying to get more groups started in. The more exposure, the more interest is generated and more kids are helped.
3. It spreads the word about TOMS and the One For One movement and also provides 15 pairs of shoes for children in need.
4. It gives me warm fuzzies.
For more information about Free Arts and TOMS, check out their websites—and get involved!
FreeArtsMinnesota.org
TOMS.com

What to Be or Not to Be: That is the Question

2011-10-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl, I dreamt of becoming a famous author. (The dream never died, by the way; it lives in me to this day. Perhaps it’s true what they say: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” With time, I shall test this theory.) In my early teen years, I fancied becoming a journalist. It was a dream-come-true when, during my junior year of high school, I was assigned the role of "Features Editor" for my high school newspaper.
By the time college rolled around, my interests had changed. In spite of abusing large amounts drugs and alcohol during my adolescent years, I graduated from the university with top honors. I attribute this in large part to my impassioned writing, which was my savior when it came time for mid-term papers and final exams. Professors seemed to enjoy my essays. In those years, with so many metaphorical pats-on-the-back from teachers and academic advisors, I had vague aspirations of joining the ranks of academia.
Somewhere around the age of 23, I read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, which triggered in me the notion that art was my true calling. This discovery was poorly-timed, however: I had just accepted a full scholarship to a Master’s of Social Work program in Boston.
It only took me a few days of class to realize that the program wasn’t right for me. However, in keeping with my characteristic stubbornness, I refused to quit until something set me sailing far over the edge: that is, my father’s untimely death during winter break.
Preoccupied with the formidable task of exorcising my internal demons, I returned to my native Minneapolis for treatment. Shortly thereafter, I found employment in the aforementioned stable-but-passionless Finance position.
After a few years with the company, I became acquainted with a charitable organization called Free Arts Minnesota. It just so happened that my employer was one of their biggest corporate sponsors. I was fascinated by the Free Arts mission, “to [bring] the healing powers of artistic expression into the lives of abused, neglected and at-risk children and their families.”

I first volunteered for Free Arts as an Art Buddy who accompanied a child one-on-one through various art projects during a designated “Free Arts Day” sponsored by my employer. Invigorated by this day-long event, I dedicated myself to the cause. It wasn’t long before I’d interviewed for and accepted a position as a Volunteer Mentor, which entailed that I team up with a group of other mentors and, once weekly, spend a couple hours at a partner facility, teaching at-risk kids about art and simultaneously serving as a positive adult role model.

For the first time in my adult life, I felt as if I were truly in my element. I loved collaborating with my fellow volunteers and preparing art projects to share with the kids. Even though I still found my 9-to-5 job rather humdrum, my volunteer position with Free Arts gave me a profound sense of professional purpose.
I maintain hope that a position equally as fulfilling as volunteering, exists here in Philadephia; I simply have to find it . . . or perhaps create it.

Intern Perspective by Jessica Shultz

2011-09-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Over this past summer I had the opportunity to intern with Free Arts Minnesota. As I walked into the office for the first time I saw children’s art adorning every wall, a bench stacked with art supplies, an excited potential volunteer getting interviewed, and I knew I was in the right place. The internship provided a great balance of assigned tasks and opportunities to head up a project and run with it! I was able to dip my fingers in everything from office administration and organizing the enormous art supply closets to researching and implementing a blogging development and outreach project. Additionally, there were a number of fun events I was able to help with including a Walker Open Field Day and a ‘festival of the arts’ Free Arts Day. Monthly intern meetings were held in which we were able to have a discussion and ask questions about a topic of our choice including a resume building meeting. The Free Arts staff was friendly, supportive, and endlessly energetic and enthusiastic!

Throughout the course of the summer I was also involved in the weekly mentorship program at Northside Community Center working with the teen group and headed up by Esther, one of the incredible staff members at Free Arts. The mentorship ended up being the highlight of the summer for me; the kids were amazingly talented and left me filled with energy after every session! It also made me even more committed to the work we did in the office in making sure the mentorship program is available for even more kids.

Though the internship is now over, I am endlessly grateful for the experiences I gained, the support of the Free Arts Staff and the other interns, and the great introduction I had to mentoring with the Northside teens. I am continuing with the weekly mentorship at a new location and am excited about the projects we have lined up for the year! I strongly encourage everyone to get involved with Free Arts whether it is a one time event volunteer opportunity, the weekly mentorship, or interning in the office—you won’t regret it and you’ll probably become a lifelong Free Arts supporter like me!

The Power of ONE

2011-08-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Kelsey Hayes, from Blake School
ran her own supply drive
collecting 40 bags of supplies
for Free Arts Minnesota.

I thought I'd tell you about an art supplies drive I performed this week with my neighborhood. All in all, I collected 40 bags of supplies and 1 monetary donation, and I think my process could be repeated across the state to benefit Free Arts even more.

I was given this list when I expressed interest in Free Arts Minnesota at a community service fair at the Blake Upper School. I first composed a letter that explained who I am, what Free Arts is, and how one could help. I photocopied this sheet on bright paper and also photocopied a list of supply needs from Free Arts Minnesota.

I then went into my local Byerly's and asked for 50 brown bags with handles for my project. I had been saving up bags for a few weeks, but I wanted to make sure I had enough. Then I stapled my flyer and the copied list to the bags and started to deliver them to my neighbors. I spoke with many of the residents of these households about Free Arts and how great of a cause it is, and gave them the bags with the papers. For those who didn't answer the door, I hung the bag on their door knob. I dropped of 81 bags, and got 40 bags of supplies in return.

I noticed that when I talked to people, they were more likely to donate. There was a very positive response from many because 1: it gave people a chance to recycle their art supplies they didn't need or use, 2: the drive was different from the usual door-to-door solicitation for money, and 3: Free Arts is a great cause.
This was a great experience for me and it got me thinking about expanding the drive to a broader level and increasing the amount of supplies that Free Arts would receive. I have a process: an explanation flyer, a list of needs, and a thank you note. I think other students can use this process and really aid Free Arts. I also believe many grocery stores such as Cub, Lunds, and Byerly's will be interested in helping out because using their bags advertised their company to each household. There may be an opportunity to take what I've done here and expand it. I collected 40 bags, but could we make it 400? 4,000?

I really enjoyed the process of helping Free Arts and hope others will join in to keep their mission of healing an ongoing one!

My Life As A Superhero By: Julia Fillingame

2011-07-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Having wrapped up the Bloomington Theater Arts Camp, a YES to Art! Program, and getting close to the end of summer mentorship, all with the same group of kids that I have been with since September, I started to reflect on my experiences. During the Theater Arts Camp, I had the opportunity to spend about twenty to thirty hours with that group of kids. That week flooded me with emotions – excitement, sadness, sense of pride, frustration, love…

Those of you who know me know that you can say “School Age 2,” and you can expect my eyes to water. Over the past year, I have seen and felt the benefits of mentorship. As much as I can hope that I have taught them something, they have learnt so many things on their own, and in turn taught me many lessons that I have been blessed to witness.

It is easy to forget sometimes that these kids are just kids and that we cannot hold them to the same expectations as adults. Likewise, it is easy to forget that those kids do experiences and live lots of “adult” challenges. Their strength sometimes masked with toughness can be exposed as soon as their fears are present through tears. You can give a child as much praise as you want, but when a child meets disappointment 90% of the time by those that matter the most – you cannot master a single statement or action that will allow a child to forget all their pain. Instead, you are challenged with the opportunity to prove this child otherwise through multiple and consistent statements and actions. It will be a battle of who breaks first. But I promise you that once you get there with your strong-will, adaptability, compassion, and laughter, when they break first and look to you as their “superhero,” then that challenge and opportunity seemed like nothing.

You cannot begin to imagine what it means to be someone’s “superhero.” If anything, it makes the weekly 2 hour pledge a seemingly effortless commitment. Those of you who are and have been where I am today understand exactly what I mean, right? Then we get to thinking, if only more people can push them and be that consistent and caring adult with a mentality about learning from others. Then so many more lives of youth can be given that glimmer of hope, even if it is temporary.

Just think how great true friends make you feel. Just think how great those that believe in you make you feel. Now think about those who need that extra friend and confidence will feel – alive, proud, and connected.

To be honest, my mixed emotions that flooded me was the epiphany of all this. I could put words and thoughts to my emotions. As I hugged a girl who would not say a word to me for the first seven months, I was able to get her to listen. As I held hands with a girl who was furious half the time, I could redirect her attention. As I sat on the school bus with a developmentally slow boy, I refocused the attention on him rather than the jokes of the other kids. As I wiped the tears from the face of a boy who grasped me in yet another disappointment that his parents were not in the audience, I was able to give him someone to perform for. On and on went these moments at BTAC, every turn seemed to be filled with another wow.

The culmination of it all made everything seem essential and priceless. The art is the means by which we have the opportunity to develop relationships and get to know these kids. And as much as art is a major passion of mine – the relationships through the fun, laughter, learning and support from one another is the ultimate reason that I do what I do and why I volunteer. There is a reason that we say there is a Free Arts Family, and those that are determined to get to where I am today, will understand and always remember this family.

The day that my journey leads me in an alternative direction than that amazingly strong, lively and caring group of youth, I will feel the loss of part of me. I have lost things, including loved ones before, and have learned how to overcome that pain, but even as an adult, it is hard. Now think about those kids. Remember that they may live adult lives, but they are still only kids. Now what do they feel? I cannot say enough how vital this organization is to its mentees, partner facilities, and own mentors. As paths go in different directions, we must still find individuals to continue to bring such one-of-a-kind services to those in need.

North Minneapolis Relief Efforts

2011-06-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

"Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations." ~Faith Baldwin

This quote holds true after the Sunday May 22nd 2011 tornado devastation of North Minneapolis. Many families are now displaced and are in great need of basic items like food and water. But another major needs is relief. Relief in the form of laughter and fun. Something that is severely lacking for many effected by this disaster.

With winds calmed, the sun shining and reality setting in, parents and children alike are seeking out some relaxation. Whether it be from a quick basketball game, or simply sitting outside enjoying a barbeque with family and friends, both old and new, or in the form of face paint.

Only one week after a tornado tore through North Minneapolis, over 3,000 people gathered at Farview Park for a community picnic. Sherenia Gibbs with Minneapolis Park and Recreation stated, " The whole northside needed relief, and that is why we feel this is important." How true she was.

Free Arts Minnesota met with other local nonprofits on May 26th to discuss the needs for the area and how we could help out during the picnic. It was decided that having some fun art activities for the kids would help them through this trying time. At Free Arts we know that art can help you heal through whatever trauma you may be going through. Free Arts was able to put together over 300 art kits to hand out to children at the picnic, with all donated art supplies, bags and snacks from varying wonderful people, including Rob and Donna Bronk who found us via a google search and showed up with pallets of snacks for the kids, stayed and volunteered for most of the day and came again the next day to help serve. It is truly through the goodness of strangers that we were able to be there on Saturday the 28th.

The day was filled with music, games, laughter and face paint. Free Arts Minnesota had a great group of volunteers face painting up a storm!! We had to have painted over 600 faces, hands, arms and even hair! Along with the face painting and the art kits, we brought out chalk and chalked up the park as well as created a community mural project asking the community, young and old, to share what art is to them in word or in a drawing.

I know from my own experience that the power of giving is it's own reward and all of us volunteers were greatly rewarded that day with smiles, hugs and stories of strength. Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who came out and helped brighten the lives of many in need!

From One Mentor's Perspective

2011-03-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

When I began volunteering at a site that specializes in Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD) there were things I expected: screaming, the occasional meltdown and a lot of crumpled up art. Let me tell you—the kids definitely delivered. But they also delivered some things I didn’t expect. The experience of watching a happy, calm child become an entirely different, much angrier kid in a matter of seconds was an experience that threw me for a loop. Of course anyone who’s spent any time with small children knows this happens to all kids, EBD or not but this kind of frustration, at times, is a frustration beyond a broken toy or budging in line.

We have a little girl who does art with us and she loves rainbows, Christmas trees and Wonder Woman. She is a kid who will draw you a picture of a flower just to make you smile – and it really does make your day if not your entire week. I keep her drawings in my textbooks so while at school sometimes I get the surprise of a unicorn or a smiling sunshine. This girl loves art and every day we visit the site she greets us with a giant smile on her face. She seemed so adept at social relationships and her emotional and behavioral reactions to things were so appropriate that I actually wondered why she was in this school at all. Then a week came when we walked into the building and could hear the shrieking the minute we hit the front door. The distress was palpable and I knew that voice. It was our little Christmas tree loving, rainbow drawing artist. She did come to our classroom that day (which on many occasions, when a kid is having a tough day, doesn’t happen) but she came as a different kid than I had gotten to know. She was now tear-stained and silent and she definitely didn’t want to be an artist that day. She climbed on top of the table barefoot and curled into a tight, little ball in the middle of all our crayons and markers.

We’re given a lot of good advice on how to handle it when kids are having a bad day but this girl was having no part of it. She didn’t want to try the project her own way, she didn’t want to talk about her favorite cartoons or colors or books. So I sat with her, just sat and colored. Eventually she saw me and silently took her own piece of pink paper and began to draw. By the end of our session the flowers and rainbows were back. Mentoring through Free Arts has taught me all the things you’d expect of a great volunteer experience (patience, how to work with different age groups, how healing art can be) but it’s this unexpected understanding that sticks with me most: No matter who the kid and what the emotional or behavioral issue, that issue is not who they are; it’s what they deal with. They carry a lot more than I do on shoulders that are a lot smaller than mine -- but first and foremost they are kids and they want to draw and paint and sculpt and maybe, someday grow up to be Wonder Woman.

A Mentor's Story by: Julie Sheer

2011-03-02T14:06:00.001-08:00

Relationships take work. We all know that and yet it is so easy to get distracted by the day-to-day comings and goings around us. That is why I love Free Arts so much. It is a weekly reminder that it is important to set aside everything else for an hour to focus on pure instances of building rapport and trust with others.

We have a young boy who started with us this autumn and, boy, did he start out with a bang! On the first night, he refused to sit in his chair, kept going into the supply closets to pull other items out, talked back to us and criticized both the project and his own art. I must have said his name one hundred times that night, as I tried to get him to focus. It was a good trial of patience and setting boundaries. His second night with us was similar, but there were little moments where I could tell that he was hearing me. I knew then that he was testing me and that this was going to be a process. We have had some nights where he has been happy to have us praise him for his good behavior, focus and finished project. There are other nights where he throws tantrums and tries to destroy what he has created. I just take a breath, stick with him, listen and try to encourage and guide him in the right direction. We were making some good progress when he had a big step backward and had to be asked to leave early. It broke my heart, but we knew it was the right thing to do so he would know that behaviors have consequences. The following week, I spoke to him at the beginning and said that we hoped he could stay the whole time that night and that he could talk to me at any point if he was feeling frustrated or upset. He was on his best behavior. Maybe because we had gotten through to him, or maybe because that was the week we decorated Valentine’s cookies! There was no doubt about the breakthrough that week though. He sat right with me the whole time. He has a habit of getting very down on himself and stopping half way through his projects to tear up his art or cover it all in black crayon or White Out. He started that again, so I very gently put my hand on his to get him to pause and reminded him about all of his great projects that he has done with us and that they were all ones that he had stuck with and finished. He did a little more and stopped again, but I kept talking him through and encouraging him. I could tell he wanted to keep going. He just needed that reassurance and support. He ended up finishing (and loving) his project. I gave him a high five and told him how much I loved his art and that I was so proud of him for sticking with it. He got the biggest grin and gave me another high five back… and that gave me the biggest grin.

I am learning so much from this child. He has reminded me to be patient. Relationships take time to build, especially with kids from these backgrounds where trust is not easily given. He has reminded me to listen. When he is saying that he can’t do art and wants to give up, he is really just asking for guidance and encouragement. He has reminded me to look at actions as just another form of reaching out. When he is acting out, he is just asking for attention. It is very easy to give up on someone who resists or pulls away. The true test is the good that you can do when you care enough to invest in someone. Relationships do take work, but it is definitely worth making that effort when you see the positive influence you can have on someone’s world.

Cooking at St Joe's

2011-01-28T13:25:00.000-08:00

It's been an amazing week here at Free Arts as we've started our "Culinary Academy for Kids" program with our longest-standing partner agency, St Joseph's Home for Children. For 3 weeks, teens in the Theresa Hall unit at St Joe's will be cooking with chefs Laura Bonicelli and Susan Powers. We are so grateful for the generous donation of Laura and Susan's time and skills and to the B&H Way Foundation for making the program possible. We are also thankful to volunteers Katie Aquado and Andy Santamaria for helping with the program.

Esther and I have loved every minute spent in the kitchen so far! The first night, we made an ambitious "breakfast for dinner" menu of personalized french omelettes, crepes, granola and a dutch baby. Laura had every kid attempt to flip their own crepe and used opportune moments to teach about quality ingredients and technique. The food was truly delicious and the kids were elated! I have never seen the kids at St Joe's so completely engaged and enthralled in an activity. They absolutely loved it!

Susan kept the kid's attention on the second night by having them make cheesy bread sticks, two soups and brownies from scratch. The kids really responded to the way that Susan engaged them in absolutely every step in the process. If the brownie batter needed to be stirred, everyone had a hand in it. Susan did an excellent job of teaching the kids basic techniques, like how to cut an onion and why to add only one egg at a time. The kids were thoroughly open-minded and delighted to try new ingredients and preparations.

Though the cooking program is a fantastic opportunity for kids to learn the art and science of cooking and walk away with real life skills to promote self-sufficiency, it also provides the youth with a sense of nurturing. Afterall, where in our lives is there more a sense of family, joy and wholesomeness than in the kitchen? As the utensils, dishes and towels filled the counters, the ingredients filled the fridge and the smells filled the hallway, St Joe's began to feel less like an institution and more like a home. I hope, if anything, the kids will walk away each night feeling nourished AND nurtured. I know I do.

Happily, from the kitchen,

Hannah Meacock Ross
Program Coordinator

Interning with Free Arts

2010-12-15T09:10:00.000-08:00

Pom-poms, tissue paper, crayons, markers, glue, acrylic paint, tempera paint, colored pencils, oil pastels, watercolor paper, decorative paper, buttons, beads, glitter, fabric, ribbon, and yarn overwhelmed me as I stood in the supply closet wondering where to begin organizing this huge tangle of supplies. As I finally settled on consolidating three bins of colored pencils into one huge tub, my mind started to think about the hands that will use these colored pencils, the hearts that will be changed, and the way I am changing lives simply by taming the mess of supplies.

Working as an intern in the Free Arts office gives me a new perspective of Free Arts Minnesota. My mentorship experience is greatly enhanced because I understand the planning, preparation, and commitment necessary to ensure that all programs are running smoothly. I am given the opportunity to learn about each site and understand the power of healing through art in many different populations. Events like Maiden Minnesota and the Free Arts Breakfast provided me with the valuable experience of seeing a fundraising event happen from start to finish. Most importantly, I understand the extent to which Free Arts touches lives, and I am motivated every day to be a part of this mission.

The five of us, Kat, Haley, Sarah, Julia and I each have different skills, interests, and abilities, but we all have a passion for the work that Free Arts does. It is exciting to work with such unique people who share a common interest. The staff at Free Arts is small, but that works to our benefit. Because of the tight-knit community, we are given continuous support. The small staff allows us interns to participate in more than just filing papers; we actively engage in the mission of Free Arts by “bringing the healing power of artistic expression into the lives of abused, neglected and at-risk children and their families.”

Colored pencils are just the beginning. The options for art projects are endless, but when I leave my mentor session I take home more than a ‘neat’ new craft. I take away a feeling of accomplishment for brightening someone else’s day, a feeling of empathy for understanding life from the perspective of a child, and a broader knowledge base for me to make sense of the world. Finally, when I leave my mentor session, I feel satisfied that I am learning to help the kids in our program cope with what they are going through from both a social and an administrative standpoint. I’ve learned that both approaches are necessary to reach the kids and families we serve. One cannot exist without the other.

-Rebecca Johnson

Creating Rituals

2010-11-18T08:26:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been visiting various Free Arts groups to see how things are going. I am always impressed by the many creative project ideas people come up with for the kids. I am also impressed by how creatively groups construct their time. For example, the Northside Tuesday groups makes an effort to designate who will describe the project, show the example and get things started. They also designate someone to lead a wrap-up session. For the last 15 minutes of each session, the kids sit in a circle and share their work. It was interesting to hear how the various images on the kids' collages reminded them of safety and comfort, which were the themes of the project. One kid, whose collage was mostly composed of fancy cars, talked about how buckling up makes him feel safe. Now there's a kid who can think on his feet!

If your group hasn't already done so, think about how you can begin and end each session in a consistent way.

homemade playdough

2010-04-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Homemade Playdough Recipe: 2 parts flour (in this example 1 part = 1/4 cup) 1 part salt 1 part warm water (tinted with food coloring) Mix together until it has the desired consistency. Will keep in air tight container for no more than a week. This was a fun project in which each child got to make his/her own batch of playdough. First, I prepped for the project by placing a paper bowl, plastic spoon and a 1/4 measuring cup in front on each seat. Also on the table was a large bag of flour and a large container of salt. On a side table, I had pre-mixed warm water + food coloring in various small glass jars (each jar a different color).

When the children arrived, we instructed them to place 2 scoops of flour and 1 scoop of salt into their bowls. This was a great way to practice counting and measuring. They stirred this dry mixture well. Next, we helped the kids add 1 scoop of colored water to their bowls and they stirred again. Once the mixture became difficult to stir with a spoon, the kids used their hands to finish mixing and kneading until it got to a playdough consistency.

There is an "awkward" stage in the dough when it's too thick to stir with a spoon, but extremely sticky on the hands. We encouraged the kids to keep kneading the dough through that sticky phase, telling them that the more they mix it with their hands, the less stick it will become. Once the dough became pliable, we played! We made snakes and balls, we flattened our playdough using markers as "rolling pins," we used popsicle sticks and cookie cutters to cut shapes. We all had so much fun that we lost track of time!

all the difference

2010-04-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

As we were finishing setting up for the art project, the children filtered into the room. One of the kids came up to each of the volunteers with pictures that he had drawn for us. He loved our chalk drawing day so much and our face painting at a special event we had that he wanted to thank each of us by drawing a picture of our names in bubble letters. My heart instantly melted, as it is not very frequent that these kids think of others outside of the upsetting world they live in. To know that we have touched the heart of at least one young person makes all the difference in my life.

collective comic book

2010-04-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

The young people and volunteers in our group gathered in groups of 4. Each person was given 2 pieces of paper, a pencil, and a playing card. Concepts of comic books and simple storytelling were reviewed and the group was asked to fold their paper in half, using one sheet for a cover and the other as the pages of their comic. The playing card was used to trace 4 frames per page to create a 4 page set of story "frames". Starting in the first frame, a short direction was given to guide what would be depicted in the frame (where does the story take place, introduce character one, introduce a problem or crisis, etc.) 2 minutes was given to fill in the frame. When the time was up, the comic books were passed one person to the right within the small groups and new direction was given for the next frame. This pattern repeated until all frames were filled and each group had created 4 collective comic books! We ran out of time - but the next step would have been to read the books together and have groups work together to come up with titles and cover art for their stories.

crazy leprechauns

2010-03-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

In honor of St. Patrick's Day we decided to make leprechauns out of Pringle cans, felt, foam shamrocks, paper, etc. The kids liked being given pieces that then they could add onto their projects however they wanted to. Although my example showed how I used the materials, they were into doing it their own way which was great. Many leprechauns ended up with beards on their heads, arms everywhere, and "faces" on their chests. But that was just fine—creativity rules, not copying a pattern and that's what's important.

generatin' ideas

2010-03-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Our team has started a few of our projects with a good old fashioned brainstorming/free writing session to get ideas flowing. Encourage this process: no thought or idea is right or wrong, the kids can edit their favorite ideas later.

Here are the "rules" of the brainstorm
- define the creative challenge
- consider probing questions
- time limited (encourage to use the whole time allotted)
-"There must be absolutely no criticizing of ideas. No matter how daft, how impossible or how silly an idea is, it must be written down. Laughing is to be encouraged. Criticism is not."

We have had some good results with this process, give it a shot at one of your next mentorship meetings.

art without sight

2010-03-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

We have found that the kids get really involved with the group discussion portion of our projects. They are able to share, ask questions, generate ideas and get their creative juices flowing so to speak. This week our project involved creating art that could be experienced by someone without vision. Basically, it is “Touchable Art”, art with different textures and shapes that can be felt.

The kids asked a lot of questions and answered each other as they thought about what it would be like to experience art with out vision. I believe it helps them to connect with the piece they are working on in a more personal and individual way. One child for instance during group discussion instinctively reached for the Touchable Art example and closed her eyes to "see" the art with her fingers. Touchable art is a chance to explore and realize how tactile we really are.

inspired by history

2010-03-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

African American Heritage month inspired us to find a project related to an African American inventor Jan Matzeliger, who invented a machine to attach the sole of a shoe to the shoe. It increased manufacturing by over 300%, cutting the price of a shoe by 50% across the USA in the late 1800s. The kids had fun and the staff also made their own and we went around the room and each shared about our creature.

We took a standard sheet of paper and each kid did a crayon rubbing of the sole of their shoe. Then we cut them out and decorated/designed them with crayons, googly eyes, pipe cleaners and feathers to make a creature. Some made different types of animals, imaginary characters. We then glued them to a larger piece of paper and had them create the place where their creature lives.

group paint to music

2010-02-17T08:06:00.001-08:00

This week we decided to do a collaborative project with the kids. We taped sheets of paper to the table and had the kids start painting when we started some music. After the first song was done we had them all stop and rotate to the seat to their left. Then we started the music again and had the kids add to that painting. We did this until everyone had a chance to add to each painting. This project was meant to teach that there are no mistakes in art that can't be corrected and that there are no "right" and "wrong" ways to creating art. There are as many good ideas as there are people in the room. Also, to see what happens to the evolution of your picture at the end, with the contribution of others. We explained this to the kids and also set some ground rules as to how we were to be respectful to each others paintings. Despite this, we STILL had some disrepectful remarks and actons going on. But, it turned out to be a great teaching experience! It was interesting to see the strong need for ownership even though techinally there was no real ownership to creating each picture. Overall, everyone enjoyed the painting and especially to the music. P.S. We did let the music go awhile in between songs to give people time to finish what they drawing. I think the musical chairs part works better with more abstract painting then drawing acutal pictures of thing but we just let anything go!

a little extra something

2010-02-17T08:02:00.000-08:00

I called a nursing home in my neighborhood to ask if they had a large number of residents without family members, or residents whose family rarely visits. They gave me the names of 13 such residents, so I came up with the idea of making Valentines Day cards for those people, just a little something to brighten a day in the life of a nursing home resident. My father was in a nursing home for rehab, and we saw firsthand how demoralizing it was for residents who never had a visitor, and how it fed unhappiness and contributed to their physical decline. As such I thought this would be a great way to add some energy to those who need it most! The kids did a fantastic job, and wrote some very thoughtful and caring messages, I was really proud of their effort, interest, and finished products!

fun with robots

2010-02-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

I brought in a ton of random supplies so that kids could make models of robots. I bought the supplies (paper towel tubes, sticky mylar, random yarn, spongy material, straws, clothespins, wires, egg cartons, etc) at Art Scraps. We also used craft supplies from the Free Arts-stocked closet. The ideas was that they would think about how a robot could help them in their daily life and then create that robot, but most of the kids just started creating, which was fine. One of the most popular supplies were the random photo slides (purchased at Art Scraps). They were a hit! The kids taped them to the end of the tubes, cut holes in the tubes (with adult help) to create side windows, etc. The kids at first seemed unsure about the project at first, but once they got going, they seemed to really enjoy it. It's tough to find projects that will appeal as much to boys as to girls, and I thought this one was definitely boy-friendly.

no-drawing self-portrait

2010-02-17T07:33:00.000-08:00

This week our project was to create a self-portrait, we had only one guideline: no drawing. We asked the kids to select a sheet of colored paper to serve as their canvas, and laid out a table-full of materials (e.g. beads, popsicle sticks, cotton balls, yarn, magazines, glitter, etc). Some of the children jumped right to the project while others started slowly, paused for inspiration, and then entered their creative zone. They were so engrossed in their creations that most of the kids didn't want to stop. One little girl, about 6 years old, finished her first piece of art; then created a Valentine's Day card for her Mom, with the following poem: "Mom I love you LOTS and LOTS. I love you so much it could fill ten pots." One of the staff members told us that the kids were raving about how much fun they had when she was taking them back upstairs. There was an overall feeling that the kids really felt empowered because they weren't told exactly what to do.

t-shirt scarf

2010-02-01T13:22:00.000-08:00

We did this project: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=322616.0
All you need is scissors and a tshirt! It was easy, fun and the girls seemed to have a good time. They even traded portions of their tshirts with one another to make multi-colored scarves. The project was a big success.

big hit

2010-02-01T13:21:00.000-08:00

Our kids love functional art projects, so they can take them home and use them. The really love paint!! We could just put bowls, paint and brushes out and they would entertain themselves for hours by just creating new paint colors. This week, we made trinket boxes out of Popsicle/craft sticks. Some of the kids made them shorter and then spent more time decorating them in detail. Some made them taller, so they could put larger items into them. Some made just the lids and then decorated them as signs. One of our mentors is leaving us, so one child made a "good luck in Chicago" sign. Another child made our other mentor a "feel better" sign because she had to miss this week due to being sick. It was very sweet. We had paint (of course) and then sticky foam letters and shapes. Big hit! Most of them stayed engaged the entire time and they seemed very happy with how their projects turned out.

paint by music

2010-02-01T13:14:00.000-08:00

We gave the group paints, brushes and plenty of paper. We then played different types of songs (reggae, old school hip hop, motown, country, lots of (appropriate) Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas by request...) and asked the kids to paint to the music.

Some paintings were really literal, like a painting of what one kid thought each of the bands might look like, or rastafarian colors when we listened to reggae. Some were more abstract, like mixes of colors and brush strokes that matched the rhythm of the music.

something i've noticed

2010-01-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

Through my mentorship time thus far, I have learned that if you give the children a project that catches their attention right off, and if it is something they create and can take home, the rest is all excitement and awe at what they have accomplished. We made Sugar Cube Igloos recently and talked about a what winter means to different people and a different kinds of homes. The kids really loved this project. My advice: have fun yourself and let the kids tag along!

project idea: original shirts using bleach pens

2010-01-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

Materials Needed:
Plain colored t-shirts(dark colors work best, esp.red and green)
Bleach pens(clorox works really well)
White chalk
Cardboard (or something thick to stop the bleach from bleeding thru the shirt)
Plastic bags
A sink

Insert the cardboard in the shirt,then use the the chalk to draw your design on the shirt. The chalk will wash off, so use it to experiment with the design. Shake the bleach pen and use it to draw your design on the shirt. Be careful because it is permanent and will stain your clothes! When you have finished the design, let it dry for at least 10 minutes - the longer you can let it dry the better it will turn out. While you are waiting... we had a bubble gum blowing contest with some super bubble but you could also play a game. Rinse the shirts in the sink until all of the bleach is out, and voila! a unique t-shirt to take home and wear! Place the shirts into plastic bags for the kids to take away. Instruct them to let the shirts dry before they put them on.

a great (albeit sticky) week

2010-01-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

This week we had 8 children, 3 moms and 2 other women work with the project. The five women helped the children and also made cookie houses of their own. I made model houses out of various boxes so that the children could use graham crackers, candies and frosting to put together their art work. A few nibbles occurred from time to time. We worked for about 1 1/2 hours on the project, making a very sticky, frosty mess, but the joy of creation and the sweetness of the treats were beyond value.

Cooperation and enthusiasm abounded, we three helpers kept quite busy opening new boxes of graham crackers and candy and assisting with helpful advice on how to build these special creations. To see the concentration on their faces and the pride they took in their work was a joy to behold. Three of the mothers worked with their children and two other women worked together making houses of their own. They all seem to enjoy the evening and their own creations The only sad part is those who have never been involved in this kind of art creation before. Whatever their skill level, however, they jump right in and have a great time with crumbling crackers and sticky frosting.

I may be over-exaggerating, but when all of them are absorbed in their creations, there is an atmosphere of sparkling delight throughout the room. The concentration of the artists is palpable. It was a sticky, messy cleanup but we all chipped in and cleared away the detritus so the dining room was back to normal. The children took their new houses to their rooms or else left them on display in the kitchen. We all said goodbye, wished one another the best of holidays and went home exhausted but smiling.

shaving cream and food coloring

2009-12-11T09:02:00.000-08:00

Here is a fun project idea: Fill a cake pan full of shaving cream and smooth out (like frosting a cake) squeeze droplets of food coloring at random on the shaving cream With a tooth pick, swirl the droplets outward and then lay a piece of heavy stationary paper on top of the shaving cream. After the paper has been placed on the shaving cream, gently pat it down, peel the paper off and scrape away the shaving cream. The end product is a uniquely dyed piece of art with one-of-a-kind designs.

Our kids were really excited to do this project, even one little guy who usually never participates commented, "Even I'm excited to do this!" haha :) Another little girl said she had done this project before so I asked her to explain the instructions to the group. She did a great job and everyone listened. One thing I would change for next time is to bring loads and loads and loads of paper towels. This project got MESSY fast. Also, the food coloring stains clothes and skin (though it will wash out with lots of scrubbing). If I ever do this again the kids (and vounteers) will be wearing aprons and latex gloves.

art does heal

2009-12-11T09:01:00.002-08:00

I was so happy to see everyone have such a good time. At first, not everyone understood how the project would work, but I showed the group sample tiles and art supplies and we all started working. The other volunteers and I needed to help everyone get started and to learn the best methods for the project. Even so, everyone was having a good time and everyone loved the work and the way the projects turned out. I tried to compliment as much as possible and I felt that the children and the women were really quite pleased with their work. It was difficult to imagine that such simple materials could turn out so well as art. Tonight I could really see why the Free Arts motto is "Art heals". It made me feel better too.

all that shimmers...

2009-12-11T09:01:00.001-08:00

Don't break out the glitter. Disaster.

having the kids lead

2009-12-11T09:00:00.001-08:00

After our last session we asked Sara, one of the older kids in our group, if there were any projects she'd like to do for the next Free Arts. She got really excited and suggested that we make holiday place mats. She told us exactly what we would need and how they would look. When we had Free Arts this week, we decided to ask her if she wanted to lead the project. She was fantastic - she gave a demo, helped out everyone who needed help, gave great advice and was overall an amazing teacher. We were all really impressed, and the kids responded really well to her.

open arms

2009-12-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

We brought 10 of the Open Arms bags with us for the kids to decorate. We also had supplies to make paper bag puppets (construction paper, bags, pipe cleaners, markers, etc.) and a couple of different examples of how the kids could turn the bags into playtime pets. All of the younger children chose the puppets and a few helped with the Open Arms bags after they were done with their animals. The older kids chose to decorate the Open Arms bags instead of making puppets (except for one). It was fun to watch the younger kids create their pets and then play with them after they were finished. It was also nice to see the older kids wanting to make the delivery bags look nice for others. Today’s project also started a conversation amongst the kids about food banks and what they do for people in need.

the simple connection we share.

2009-11-19T14:05:00.000-08:00

Oh, what a touching experience! As a Free Arts Mentor, I have to share this story:

You may or may not know I am scheduled to spend the month of December in Argentina. So when I was at Free Arts today, the staff member for the 3-year-old kids in our group told the children I would be gone for a while. As soon as little Lisa heard this, she immediately got up, walked over to me, and without saying a word, gave me a great big hug, refusing to let go. A second later Micki did the same, then Madeline, and finally Ramon, until I was swarmed by these four beautiful little kids!

In a matter of seconds, having known each other for just a few short weeks, and without the need for words, these sweet souls reminded me of the simple connection we share with them, and the appreciation they have for our brief hour in their lives each week!

just one of those nights.

2009-11-19T14:03:00.000-08:00

This week was somewhat challenging. Several children are due to be discharged very soon. We were missing one volunteer (planned) and a second one (unplanned). Traffic resulted in 2 volunteers arriving late so the project began with only one volunteer present and that volunteer had just read the project review a few minutes before the group (because the project leader became ill at the last minute and sent an alternative project that could be done in her absence. Several of the children were anxious and did not participate, but wandered the art room, pulling out supplies, etc. The staff members did not seem as "present" to the children's behaviors as they have on other evenings. All in all, it went OK for the number of contributing factors (missing volunteers, imminent discharge, minimal planning of the project, etc.)

not the best week.

2009-11-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

The project we did wasn't as successful as I hoped it would be. While a few of the kids got involved and enjoyed the project, most of them didn't follow through to the end; some even left 15 minutes early. I think they may have had trouble because the project may have been too difficult for them or it was too hard for them to concentrate at this time of night. I'm not sure but I suspect that they were frustrated at the difficulty of the project. When I came up with the project my instinct was that it could go either way and it did.

Despite the project success, the interaction between the volunteers and the kids was really good. One of the volunteers had a great interaction with one of the girls who did enjoy the project. It was great to see them laughing and being goofy. One of the kids I was sitting with was being sulky but we interacted and he did stay the whole session which I thought was a positive sign.

our sculpture project of sorts.

2009-11-17T12:39:00.000-08:00

The kids really got into this project! I was so impressed by the variety of their constructions! Kids got into deciding which kind of bird they were making ~ we had owls, eagles, pigeons, chickadees, etc. Even one kid who hung out in the background ("wasn't going make one"), ended up inching in and taking over a bird started by a volunteer - without any prompting! They were super engaged and stayed with it the whole session! And, they were even starting to think about how to decorate them next week! It was a great success! We all left very fired-up!

taking pride in art.

2009-11-17T12:33:00.000-08:00

The kids we have been working with really love seeing their work displayed. When they finish their projects they run around the room and show everyone what they have made. This week, the kids also got to pick where they wanted their project hung which they really seemed to enjoy. Our project this week involved cutting out leaf shapes. Some kids were not too comfortable with cutting their own shapes, so we would draw the leaf for them and they could cut around it. It seemed to help them enjoy the project more and feel better about what they were making. They also liked the one-on-one attention that came with the drawing and cutting process.

waiting for free arts all summer long.

2009-10-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

One of the kids that came to our first night, was a girl named Mara that had been at our site last year. We were told that she was sooo excited about having Free Arts to look forward to every week that she started to compile presents for us. When she walked into the art room, her face lit up the room! She had a little box filled with soap samples and jolly ranchers and lotion samples. It was so sweet. She was so very polite and kept thanking us and telling us how great it was to see us again and how much she had been looking forward to this all summer. For this to be her highlight is a great feeling, yet a sad one.

art is for all people.

2009-10-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

Last week there was no meeting because of lack of children. This week there was only one girl age 8 who could really participate. The 18 month old girl did some work and the 6 month old sat in a jumper chair and held paper scraps while offering his (somewhat difficult to understand) opinions. There were 2 moms and one other woman who also came to help with the project. Everyone seemed to have a very good time. I arrived fairly early so I would be able to prepare a few more leaves for the project, but all the people were there already, so we began the project about 20 minutes early. The woman who had no children was in the room after eating and I invited her to come into our project. She seemed sad and lonely and was embarrassed to do art work because she said that she had no skill. I persuaded her to sit down and join us. Since we had only one child, it was nice to have the 3 women working with us also. The single woman turned out to have a wonderful time.

For the project, I picked a few leaves up outside and traced around them and cut out paper copies. I tried to use several different fall colors and I cut out a large number of leaves. I made a few paper hats and put the leaves on them so the children and women could have a sample to work with. There is a good supply of materials in a small room at the shelter so we had plenty of autumn colored paper for the project. We used glue, tape, stickers and leaves for the project. Everyone had a good time and it went well. The project lasted an hour and 20 minutes and we could have gone on longer.

The 8 year old girl worked diligently and made two hats. She was a sweet girl and worked very hard. One mother was an artist and she showed me her artwork folder of beautiful Native American designs. She really needed to talk about her work so I listened to her while she explained her various projects. Another mother made a crown and wrote "Queen" on it. The single woman that I persuaded to join us worked laboriously and made a crown for herself with various stickers and the title "Goddess". I was very proud of her and complimented her on her work. I don't want to brag, but I think it was a positive and helpful experience for her, especially after saying she was unable to do any artwork. As everyone at Free Arts knows, art is for all people. I was proud of them all. We had chatted and visited and had a great time. I was happy to be back at work at the shelter. I had been concerned that my little project wouldn't be very interesting, but the evening went very well, with artwork, chatting and visiting. I felt that the atmosphere was filled with good spirits and a good time was had by all.

looking forward to next week

2009-10-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

Not only did everyone participate, but most stayed to work for the whole 60-minute period and seemed to have fun doing so. Their contributions to our banner were fantastic. They made full use of the materials I provided and worked quite independently, which resulted in a diverse variety of final images. Also, interactions between kids and volunteers were very comfortable and friendly. I'm looking forward to spending more time with them next week.