Bridging The Gap

Nurdles Opening Night

2010-01-27T12:43:00.000-08:00

Opening night @ 18th St, was a great success. The PYFC community and mural class provided the exhibit with a custom canvas painting reinforcing the knowledge they have acquired through our mural painting class centered around plastics and ocean pollution. The Green Ambassadors were amazing and helped bring our project full circle in the realm of public practice and social engagement. Our installation became participatory with the gallery attendees. The bartenders were kind enough to encourage the viewers to recycle their drink cup in our exhibition space.

Yesterday we went to PYFC and modified our class to join the the PYFC anti youth violence campaign. It was so amazing to see another example of how tight and unified the PYFC/Santa Monica community is. The rally took place in SAMO city hall where there was poetry and speeches by the friends and family of Richard Juarez. The last senseless violent act in our community that could have been prevented by more public protection in the Virginia Avenue Park neighborhood. Oscar de la Torre is truly an inspirational man....many words of peace, unity and social justice were articulated in a the most eloquent way.

Putting ideas on paper

2010-01-18T11:02:00.000-08:00

We started the class by going outside and measuring the exterior wall-- the site for PYFC kids' mural. Following this activity Gabi presented a lesson about "What makes a 2D art piece work" that dealt with the challenging concepts of unity, balance, rhythm and proportion. The kids enjoyed the examples images by Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen, Kara Walker and James Rosenquist.

During our next session we spent valuable time brainstorming. Next the kids used computers at the center to research the ideas developed from our brainstorming sessions. Dave presented a review of the concepts in Gabi's lesson and drawing principles. The remainder of the class was spent incorporating the information into designs for the mural. The kids' drawings were amazing and gave evidence that they understood the difficult concepts Gabi presented and were able to use them skillfully in their drawings.

I am anxious to see what they produce this week. The excitement is building because the mural is becoming a reality.

January 6, 2010 Preparation for creation of a mural

2010-01-06T17:17:00.000-08:00

We are pleased with the enrollment in the mural class. The kids are anxious to learn how to create a mural, and have been excellent listeners with insightful questions. We have had two great speakers Roberto DelHoyo and Felipe Bascope who enriched the kids' education on mural design and execution and our topic of "single use plastic pollution and environmental justice." We had an initial brainstorming session yesterday. We plan to have more and hope to help the kids begin to make associations between the topic and the mural imagery they draw. Tomorrow, Gabi is presenting a powerpoint presentation on composition, proportion and the dynamics of creating a well defined 2D art piece.

PYFC Mural Schedule as of 12/19

2009-12-19T15:41:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we had a meeting with Johnny at PYFC. We discussed the calendar and timing of the mural classes and when they would start. We also compiled the list of kids who were interested in participating in the mural class. We plan to start calling them to remind them of the class start date on December 28, 2009. We are going to make three rounds of the calls to notify them of the class schedule. We are providing food and refreshments at the first class. Youngsters will be joining us from different areas of the southern Santa Monica/Venice communities. Please see the following calendar and course outline above.

Green Ambassadors featured at 18th St. exhibition opening

2009-12-19T15:27:00.001-08:00

Great news, we are so fortunate to have the Green Ambassadors collaborate with us. Two seniors, Rudy Sanchez, and Jordan Howard attend the Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale. These senior Green Ambassadors will collaborate with us by educating the general public regarding plastic pollution, the night of the exhibition opening. Please see the Green Ambassador web site at the link below.

http://greenambassadors.org/main/

December 11, 2009

2009-12-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

Gabi brought the DVD documentary "Style Wars", which shows tagging and wall art in New York City. Kids at the PYFC watched intermittently while working on a hip hop Christmas song. She was able to engage a few kids in a conversation about expressing their voice on a permitted surface such as our plans for the mural in contrast to spray painting on subway trains. Yolanda and Oscar were interested in emphasizing expression in lawful channels, and plan to show the documentary again.

Approximately 10 to 15 kids have signed up for the mural class and hip hop song we are facilitating.

Still recruiting!!

2009-12-10T17:42:00.000-08:00

Dave went to PYFC on Thurs 12/10 and met with Jose. He is a senior at Olympic High School and loves to draw abstracted lettering. Gabi is going to PYFC on Fri 12/11 to connect with youngsters and present the historical graffiti film "Style Wars".

PYFC Mural Proposal Accepted

2009-12-10T17:35:00.000-08:00

We presented our proposal to teach a mural painting class which includes a collaborative final mural project within the public realm focused on environmental justice and single use plastics. The mural location is near (Pico&Lincoln). We also plan to create a hip hop song that informs its listeners based on the same theme as the mural. We have posted flyers and sign up sheets at PYFC and Santa Monica H.S. The open enrollment will come to a close on Dec. 18th. We will then contact the interested youngsters and inform them of our first introductory meeting where we will present to them the calendar and curriculum.

11/20

2009-11-20T17:13:00.000-08:00

Crossroads-Learning Experience: Even with hard work and sincere effort, collaborative work within communities does not always come to fruition. Unfortunately, the Crossroads component of our project has ended.

PYFC-We are currently promoting our mural class. We created a flyer that will hopefully attract a large group of youngsters.

11/6 PYFC

2009-11-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

Gabi and Erik 11/6

2009-11-08T15:27:00.000-08:00

Friday 11/6-8 PYFC

2009-11-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

Friday evening Gabi and I went to PYFC to meet with Johnny(Coordinator) & youngsters. We were very sad to learn that earlier this week on Tues, a member of the PYFC community had been murdered at another youth based community center also located in Santa Monica. We joined the PYFC community and helped create posters advertising a fundraiser that was held on Sunday the 8th in the form of a car wash. David volunteered for an hour supporting the fundraiser....an amazing outcome! We also have an appointment scheduled on Tues 11/10 to present our project proposal.

Algalita Marine Research Foundation presenting @ Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences NOVEMBER 24th

2009-11-01T13:14:00.000-08:00

I have been corresponding with Crossroads School of Art and Sciences to work out the logistics of the having an assembly given by Algalita on campus. The assembly is scheduled for November 24, 2009. We are also working with the Middle School to facilitate an art project on campus. We will keep you in informed.

http://www.algalita.org/

photo courtesy of: John Cancalosi (photo library)

Friday Oct 30th PYFC

2009-11-01T13:11:00.001-08:00

Friday Oct 30th PYFC

2009-11-01T13:10:00.001-08:00

Friday Oct 30th PYFC

2009-11-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

Mini Lesson on Typeface design with Erik. A strategy to prepare him for the "VPC 2009 Youth Resource Fair art contest on Nov. 7th.

PYFC Dia de los Muertos Altar

2009-11-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

Icebreaker with PYFC

2009-11-01T12:48:00.000-08:00

Gabrielle & Dave's initial meeting with the youngsters of Pico Youth and Family Center. The kids signed their names and drew a symbol as a "get to know you" strategy, then placed skull candy as an offering to their Dia de los Muertos altar. The candy was created by the 1st year Otis Public Practice grad students .

Mission Statement

2009-11-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

Gabrielle Levine and David Russell will attempt to facilitate a dialogue between two local community based organizations paired with two youth based organizations. Algalita Marine Research Foundation will present a program to Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences, and Surfrider Foundation will present a program to the Pico Youth and Family Center. An exhibition at the 18^th Street Art Center will serve as a communication forum where youths from each group can utilize their creative voice to express their environmental concerns about plastic pollution in the community at large. The future generation of Santa Monica will create art projects that demonstrate their understanding of the environmental repercussions of single use plastics in our ocean. The visual presentation of ocean pollution, comprised of plastic objects and documentation materials displayed in the gallery, will visually influence its viewers to incorporate sustainability into their daily lives.

2009-11-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

The Beginning...

2009-10-25T18:13:00.000-07:00