Intorducing the TAB crew!

It’s that time of year, of graduations, reflections and change. Here at TAB it’s a bittersweet time as we say goodbye to our 2012-3 interns, and welcome new colleagues.

Francis Smith is headed overseas to teach middle school. He came to Tucson to earn a Masters of Education (M.Ed) at the University of Arizona 2013. He received his Bachelor's of Arts (BA in History and Russian) from University of Notre Dame 2008. He was in the Peace Corps Service, working in  Kyrgyzstan from 2008-2010. Francis is moving on to teach Social Studies in Doha, Qatar. Francis brought with him an international perspective and keen eye for detail. He spent the year helping overhaul our grants, programs, tracking and assessment systems.

Gina Myers earned her Art Education Degree with a Museum Education specialization (University of Arizona 2013), she moved to Tacoma, WA and is now the "Gift Administration Coordinator" at Lemay-America's Car Museum. 

Victor Anthony Lopez Carmen, will soon be attending Ithaca College as a Martin Luther King Jr. Scholar under the study of Pre-Medicine. He has been involved in community service and art for quite some time, and plans to develop the necessary skills over the next few years in college that one needs to create positive changes through civic engagement. He writes; “Being involved in Tucson Art's Brigade has significantly helped me to discover my innate leadership qualities, and has taught me how to work with others while collectively participating in joyful service.”

And we are delighted to introduce you to our new associates!

Liz Werner recently began a Masters of Education program at the University of Arizona with aspirations of becoming a high school chemistry teacher.  She moved to Tucson from Olympia, Washington and is slowly but surely adapting to the stark desert beauty here.  Her undergraduate degree is in environmental chemistry, and since her undergraduate years, she has worked numerous jobs in the environmental field and served two volunteer stints in Tanzania, one with Peace Corps and one with the Tanzania Teaching Foundation.  She is a committed dabbler in the arts - predominantly in dance and studio arts.   

Tiffany ‘Jonezy’ Jones, a product of New Jersey, is brand new to the state of Arizona! She recently moved from Washington DC, where she has professionally performed and taught dance, for the past three and half years.  In total, Jonezy has been teaching for over ten years and dancing for over twenty three! She has her BFA in Dance & Choreography and a BS in Creative Advertising from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Jonezy has grown passionate about teaching dance in the public school and is now pursuing her Master’s in Secondary Education (Approved Subject Area: Dance) at the University of Arizona. She is excited to be working with Tucson Arts Brigade because she believes in the organization’s philosophy: the arts should be accessible to children everywhere!

Audrey Gusick is a new volunteer at Tucson Arts Brigade who will be working on a few different community cultural development projects this summer. She grew up in Tucson where she graduate from Sabino High School and is now an architecture student going into her third year and the University of Arizona. She enjoys running, playing soccer and has always had a love of art that inspired her to pursue a degree in architecture. She hopes to be able to use her newly acquired knowledge to promote arts based education and to further community involvement in creating a more beautiful and useful environment in order to foster interaction among members of local communities.

Pua Trice has returned for her second summer with TAB. She attended Empire High School and is going on to study Visual Arts at Pima Community College. She likes art, roller-skating, and having a good time.

 

Amphi Mural Part 2: Reaching Community Consensus

By Michael Schwartz

Amphi youth presenting their mural design to the TPAC Public Art Design review Committee

This past spring Tucson Arts Brigade facilitated a 14 week after school Mural Program at Woods Memorial Library, situated in the Amphi neighborhood in midtown Tucson. The program for middle and high school youth was requested by the local neighborhood association as a way to build capacity, reduce crime and hopefully foster new leadership. Amphi is one of the highest crime areas of our city, with 3.3% of all crimes reported (Tucson Police Department crime statistics 2011). Amphi also boasts the second highest amount of criminal tagging (criminal damage) and the highest amount of juvenile violations overall. The focal point for much of the violence is along Yavapai Road. So, to kick off a multi-year campaign to beautify the street, and build community interaction it was decided this should be the location for the first mural. 

Today’s class was abuzz with excitement. Youth started showing up early, eager to move forward with our project after receiving a round of applause and unanimous approval from our local Tucson Pima Arts Council (http://tucsonpimaartscouncil.org/)  Public Art Design review Committee. Since our mural is on the exterior of a County owned building, this is the process used to obtain permission for public arts projects.

Our theme today is gesture. After looking at some slides of gesture drawings and paintings we launched right into a journal assignment where one student became the eyes, the other the hand, and we drew a simple still life. This is a really fun and simple icebreaker assignment, and fits well into a discussion about hand eye coordination, and the tension created between the hand and eye as we create art. 

Our next lesson included a series of timed gesture drawings. We talked about why this was important, especially when creating a mural, since we are using our entire body to paint. We also talked about the relationship of gesture, intuitive drawing and the principles of design. Gesture drawing can help us become tuned into our natural design sensibilities and reduces the time for self-censorship. Finally we created a sustained gesture drawing. Each week we will continue a 15 minute version of this drawing practice before resuming work on the mural.

Hand Eye Coordination Ice Breaker

Having finished our the mural design the painting has started, but a number of recommendations came in from the community. We decided that the tree with dancers and religious icons would become an indigenous tree, our Palo Verde, and the symbols would include our state flower, bird and other icons we would vote on in the next session.

 Our goal was to integrate these ideas into our design. We have been using a consensus based decision making process which provides youth an opportunity to practice their group-organizing skills. We selected two facilitators: a “scribe” and a vibes watcher/time-keeper. From here I really got to sit back. I turned my curriculum over to the facilitators while guiding the process as needed. This happens to be an exceptionally smart group of kids so for the better part of the next hour I was a participant. We played a game called 7-Up, you might know it - where we put our heads down and voted thumbs up or down, and the youth all had so much to say, scribbling notes while pinching their lips and eagerly waiting for their turn to talk.

Talking about our first gesture drawings.

The time-keeper noted we had 15 minutes left in class. The facilitators closed the meeting and read our reflection assignment, to write a one-page description of the mural including the changes we had voted on so far. The scribes agreed to assemble and edit the writings into a single mural description. 

As you can imagine, we were all excited for next week’s class! 

The final session was on May 30, 2013, and still new kids were coming to paint. Work in the neighborhood continues, with a mural unveiling, clean ups, tree plantings, gardens and lots more ideas being discussed!

** This project is made possible in part by a grant from the Tucson Pima Arts Council IV P.L.A.C.E. Initiative grant funded by The Open Society Institute, Pima County and the Friends of the Tucson Arts Brigade, Thank You! **

A version of this article also appeared on the Teaching Artist Journals' TAJ/AltSPACE

Art Under the Stars June 18th 5-10pm

Are you as excited as we are? You can download and share this flier  - see you June 18!

Amphi Action Mural Project: Part 1

            The Amphi neighborhood has the second highest amount of criminal damage violations such as graffiti and the highest amount of juvenile violations, narcotic violations, motor vehicle thefts, and offenses against families and children. Domestic violence, gangs, tagging, and drugs are all substantial issues surrounding this neighborhood and the children growing up in it. Mostly, this is a challenge for the teens and younger children who can easily be influenced from peer pressure both in and outside of school and home. Unfortunately, many of these teens end up going to a juvenile detention center that usually results in dropping out of school without getting a GED. Each child that becomes a victim to this lifestyle is a tremendous loss for the neighborhood and the Tucson Arts Brigade is taking action to reverse this growing trend.

            The Tucson Arts Brigade’s (TAB) has been invited to help this neighborhood by creating a mural at the Woods Library, which is in the heart of the neighborhood. This library is located at 3455 N. First Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719. The surrounding streets of the Amphi neighborhood range between First Avenue, Fort Lowell Road, Oracle Road and Roger Road. This is a vast area in the Tucson community. Cultural development projects such as these are none in the Amphi neighborhood. There are abandoned properties, junked cars and unkempt yards and homes making living environments quite hazardous, especially for young children. Many of the streets are very desolate with many dirt lots, no paved sidewalks, and walls surrounding homes and businesses are filled with graffiti. The TAB wishes to have the children and teens participate in this mural to help them get involved and help build healthy, safe, compassionate and vibrant neighborhoods, increase literacy, reducing violence and beautify the places they live and work.

            A group of 25 youth ages 9-21 are being be led through an 12-week course. Students are tasked with the complete process of designing, creating and installing a work of public art. The students are learning about the history of murals, the emerging and exciting field of community cultural development as well as the fundamental elements of art and principles of design. TAB teaches the students about the project first and what they intend to accomplish both for the mural itself and what it is meant to represent in the community. All of these kids are incredibly creative and have minds that are always open to discover something new. TAB likes to try to use those characteristics to have the students do something positive in their lives. Symbols of hope, love and strength are instilled in each unique mural TAB paints.

Painting on the Amphi Action mural started in May, 2013

            These murals change the lives of the students that participate in the projects and to the rest of the people living in the neighborhood. The Tucson Arts Brigade hopes that everyone feels a sense of ownership to and pride in this mural and that it becomes a destination and source of inspiration for years to come. We are looking for your support to help this plan can become a reality in the very near future. Any little donation can help make a difference in a young student’s life!

Community partner organizations include; Amphi Neighborhood Association, Pima County Public Library, Amphi Community Action Group, Good Neighbor Ventures, United Way, C-Corp Mentoring Program and Trees for Tucson.

Thank you TPAC PLACE IV on behalf of the Open Society Institute for support of the Amphi Action Mural Project and this after school program for youth ages 8 - 21 

This project meets Thursdays 5:30- 7, Feb 21 – May 30 at Woods Library 3455 N First Ave., Tucson, AZ 

To enroll or for more information about this and other programs email ArtsBrigadeMAP@gmail.com

RAISING A STAR FOR ARTS EDUCATION

  “Art Under the Stars” is a Tucson Arts Brigade (TAB) fundraising event to honor and celebrate TAB’s highest donors, brightest star students, and stellar arts education programs on Tuesday, June 18^th, 5-10pm, at La Cocina in Old Town Artisans, 201 N. Court Avenue.  Enjoy food, cash bar, entertainment, raffles, and participate in the silent auction of TAB's Traveling Arts Show featuring over 40 professional and emerging artists.  Pre-sale tickets are $20 and $25 at the door.

This event features classical music by Palladio String Quartet, Afro-Cuban by Baba Kosan & Friends, folk funk and cosmic Americana by Stuart Oliver & The Desert Angels, bluegrass by The Greg Morton Band, pop punk rock by The HypnoGogs, and other local musicians.  The Traveling Art Show Silent Auction features local “Shooting Star” professional artists including Mary Theresa Dietz,Victor Navarro, and Robert Renfrow to “Rising Star” emerging artists, as well as students from Art Awakenings, a program of PSA Behavioral Health Agency.  Jodi Netzer, performing artist and TAB’s Director of Outreach & Marketing as well as the Director of The Water Festival, will be the MC.  In addition to bidding on the wide diversity of art from the silent auction, patrons can purchase raffle tickets and contribute cash, checks or credit card donations.  The highest donor of the evening will receive a special gift.

The “Art Under the Stars” fundraising event is an opportunity to learn about TAB’s programs and successes while investing money into arts education and how we re-envision our neighborhoods. Tucson Arts Brigade runs a lean organization with 90% of donations going directly towards programs and services rather than administration.  Your contributions make a huge impact.

The amazing story of Tucson Arts Brigade began in 1996. Since then TAB has offered community arts programs that deal with the issues many schools and neighborhoods have identified. Tucson Arts Brigade specializes in “arts intervention” and “community cultural development” – using creative means to enhance quality of life issues. Problems such as tagging, bullying, low test scores and neighborhood revitalization are TAB’s primary targets. The organization’s services and highly effective programs are in great demand, having over 90 project requests during the last two years.  TAB is still in need of major funding to fulfill all of these project requests. “Art Under the Stars” is an opportunity to learn about Tucson Arts Brigade’s mission, its staff, and to meet the needs of community.

83.4% of the youth in Tucson Arts Brigade’s program are low income or below the poverty line and many are at risk of becoming homeless.  Youth in TAB’s programs come from throughout Tucson, but a majority of them live in the neighborhoods that have requested our services, including Amphi, Miracle Manor, Barrio Centro, Midvale, Julia Keen, Meyers, Alvernon Heights, Roberts, Naylor and Corbett.

100% of the older youth (16 – 22) who went through Tucson Arts Brigade programs were prepared and have entered the workforce and/or higher education.

Tucson Arts Brigade programs include: The Mural Arts Program as part of TAB’s “Beautify and Unify” campaign, the Dance Theater Program offering workshops and performances involving both professional artists and beginners, and the Teaching Artist Lecture Series featuring established artists who present their art.  TAB’s environmental component emphasizes the use of sustainable design practices, water stewardship, and creative solutions through The Water Festival.

TAB’s programs teach the elements of art, principles of design, art history in relation to worldly contexts, and workforce preparedness – decision-making skills, team building, financial literacy, and building self-confidence while learning how to interview and speak in public, prepare portfolios, and connect with opportunities and services to reach their goals.  

ONE OF MANY SUCCESS STORIES: 

Juan was 15 years old when he joined Tucson Arts Brigade’s program in 2010. His mother had called worried that he would keep getting into trouble. He was on probation for tagging and other small crimes. TAB provided guidance and transformed his allusive habits into a creative outlet of community-engaged mural-making and defining his life and career goals, which were to find a stable place to live, get his G.E.D. and find a job. TAB helped Juan develop his creative sensibilities and accomplish all three goals, as well as identifying scholarship money to attend higher education in the arts.

“TAB really opened my eyes to getting things done. I used to be lazy, it's like having a job, having something on your schedule to do.  It impacted me to keep moving - perseverance right? My story's changed a lot because I used to be not really caring and just doing what everyone else was doing. I was on probation, TAB helped me a lot with that and getting my community service hours in and staying concentrated on something. Without TAB I would probably be at my friend's house or Juvi or Rondstat Center or I dunno, I wouldn't have a straight head on though, probably more scars though.” ~Juan

TAB’s Director, Teaching Artist, and Muralist Michael B. Schwartz says, “We know that virtually everyone wants to support arts education in our schools and communities and that everyone loves and support what we do. Currently TAB is able to respond to only a fraction of requests. Now we are coming to you to say ‘Let's respond to all of the needs.’”

For more information about Tucson Arts Brigade and their list of services, and to reserve tickets to “Art Under the Stars”, go to www.TucsonArtsBrigade.org or call 520-623-2119.

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TUCSON ARTS BRIGADE (TAB) is a 501(c)(3) service-based community arts and education organization, specializing in building cultural capital, offering creative intergenerational and cross-cultural opportunities for civic engagement. TAB facilitates dialogue and employs arts-based solutions to complex community issues, including tagging, bullying, crime, health, empowering youth & elders, beautification, and community development.

Together We Thrive Mural Update

The Weaver, with details of Empire Market and Coronado Hotel

On January 8^th, 2011, the city of Tucson came under the national spotlight as millions of people learned about a shooting that had taken place. The attack left multiple people wounded, six dead, and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in critical condition. Giffords had been shot in the head, and the political nature of the shooting drew in huge national media coverage. President Obama traveled to Tucson to mourn the six lives that were lost in the shooting, and to address the attack on Congresswoman Giffords. He encouraged community healing and delivered a speech centered upon the theme “Together We Thrive”.

To be decided!

Tucson Arts Brigade (TAB) sought to embody this theme, and to use it as the foundation for a mural commemorating the lives lost in this tragedy and all of the people who were affected by it. The mural would be located in the heart of the 4^th Avenue district, where TAB had originally planned to restore their 1997 mural entitled “Share the Bounty”. Instead, the Together We Thrive mural project on 4^th Avenue began.

"Participants are currently discussing what should go in the remaining six blank spots on the mural."

 

As the planning process started, the project gradually transformed. The theme of thriving together as a community was still at the heart of this muralendeavor, but it began to expand beyond just the shooting that took place. Members of the Tucson community engaged in a dialogue about the future of this mural and, much to the surprise of TAB, a different focus took shape.

Detail of Weavers Tapestry

The theme of “Together We Thrive”, at its core, is about more than community during crisis. It’s about community in daily life, the community that continually shapes us. Though the vision for the “Together We Thrive” mural was born out of tragedy, it now seeks to celebrate Tucson’s history of thriving together as a community in the 4^th Avenue district. 

The base of the mural is the original 1997 “Share the Bounty” mural project. TAB is working to reconstruct and modify the original mural, building the “Together We Thrive” mural by transforming and adding to the existing components. The 4^th Avenue merchants and residents shared their input for the project with TAB and together they formed the new focus for the mural. The goal for this mural project is that it will celebrate the history and community of the 4^th Avenue district, while integrating pieces of the original “Share the Bounty” mural. It’s a blend of the old with the new, a rich and colorful progression celebrating Tucson community.

 

Power to the People Detail

There are two main pieces of this mural project, located in Haggerty Plaza located at 316 N 4th Ave.. The first piece of the mural has been completed, but the second piece is still in progress. TAB would greatly appreciate your support in moving forward with the second half of this mural project.

If you would like to get involved in the Together We Thrive mural project, please email info@tucsonartsbrigade.org or call (520) 623-2119 or visit our website at www.tucsonartsbrigade.org

Piney Hollow, and the Native Seeds Gardener Detail

 Whats Next?

you are formally invited to join us to participate in a…

Long Time Residents

~ Story Sharing ~

 TUESDAY  

January 8^th

^6pm-8pm

^@

The Historic Y

 ^{738 N. 5th Ave. Suite # 101-c}

If you grew up, worked or lived around 4^th Ave., or are interested in Tucson stories, we invite you to join us for an evening of story telling and art making. This information will be used in the design of a mural in Michael Haggerty Plaza (316 N 4^th Ave)

 For More Information or to RSVP, call the Tucson Arts Brigade at (520)-623-2119

 

Annual 911 Day of Arts Service

By Victor Lopez

On September 9^th, 2012, the members of Tucson Arts Brigade along with local volunteers gathered together at the 29^th Street Overpass adjacent to the Jim and Vicky Click Boys and Girls Club for the annual Day of Arts Service, in remembrance of 9/11. 

Between 1pm and 5pm, light landscaping, repainting, and an overall cleanup were done in the area surrounding the overpass. At the end of the day, participants gathered together to share their personal experience on 9/11. The different experiences and viewpoint’s on 9/11 were quite intriguing. 

A majority of the adult volunteers spoke of family members that were closely involved, the experience of those family members, and what emotions they went through when they found out about the attack. The youth volunteers generally spoke about the effects of 9/11 that are apparent today from a younger generation’s perspective. 

One issue that the entirety of the group made very clear is that, we need to not only recognize global tragedies, but everyday problems such as the homelessness in our cities all the way to tagging and gang violence. We all need to do our part and put in the work to become a thriving cooperative community. 

Victor Lopez is a Tucson Arts Brigade intern and is currently a senior at Amphi High School, Vice President of the school mural club, and helping TAB employ Community Cultural Development strategies in the Amphi Neighborhood.