On August 17,
BuildaBridge recruited a different kind of volunteers-Volunteers In
Service To America, or less formally known as AmeriCorps VISTA’s. This is
our third and, potentially, final year working with VISTA’s, but if this is
indeed the end of our VISTA years, we are going out with a bang as we welcome
three new VISTA’s to our Germantown home.
Charlotte Castle (shown first from right),
Volunteer Coordinator, is a 2009 graduate of the College of Wooster.
She is a painter and has used her travels to Malawi to perform
HIV/AIDS work as inspiration for her most recent series of paintings.
Development Associate, Mharlyn Merritt (shown middle) has an impressive
resume that possesses a wide variety of professional, artistic, and volunteer
experiences. In her free time, Mharlyn
writes neo-noir thrillers. Kim Jupinka (shown third from right), Project Assistant, proves to have an eye for detail as she once
worked as a Forensic Photo/Video Technician at her county sheriff’s department
within the Criminalistic Investigations Unit.
Our new VISTA’s are a diverse trio whose unique and sometimes bizarre,
life experiences make for a strong, effective team that BuildaBridge is
thrilled to welcome!
ECHO's (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) mission "is to network with community leaders in developing countries to seek hunger solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions." They currently impact groups in 180 countries.
I spent 4 weeks on their working, demonstration farm in Ft Myers, Florida to take a tropical agriculture class through the associated Au Sable Institute for Environmental Studies. Because my background is in community arts, I designed a mural project based on ECHO's worldwide goals. ECHO's interns, students, volunteers, and visitors participated on the project- a first for many of them!
The mural consisted of four oval vignettes painted on the exterior of the ECHO visitor center- visited by over 10,000 people each year. The ovals depicted four world regions where ECHO's collaboration played a part in successful farming techniques: the Americas, East Asia, and South and West Africa. We used the centuries old painting method of initial, monochromatic underpaintings on our projected images. Small versions of the compositions in watercolor guided participants in painting their sections. Final coats of color enlivened the agricultural scenes. All the piece's images were compiled from photos from ECHO's project archives and employees excitedly recognized people and places in the mural.
A high school volunteer group from Indiana joined the project during their breaks from weeding and farm maintenance duties. Later their leader reported to me several "rival" girls within their group had something to talk about after working together on the painting. They had never spoken to each other before.
ECHO's administration was pleased with the image's outcome and stated it accurately portrayed their heart and goals for the world's poorest and hungry peoples. The image greets visitors with a visual statement before they step into the visitor center. Everything at ECHO is done with care for land, and hopes for the hungry. The mural is a testament to the fruits of everyone's labor.
Stories from Artology 2009
escrito por Kathleen McLaughlin
Monday, 10 de August de 2009
FRONTPAGE_NO_TRANSLATION_AVAILABLE
Student Leaders Emerge at Artology
By Karly Kolaja, Artology Intern
Although
the first session of Artology is over, and the majority of the 6th-8th
graders have gone, a few are back at camp. For the first time, Artology
staff members have asked a handful of Artologists who showed leadership
potential in the first session, to return and help out during the
second session. These campers, now known as Student Leaders, are those
whose journals shone, who were the first out of the bus to explore
during field trips, and who possessed contagious enthusiasm which the
staff believed they could transfer to the 4th and 5th graders.
One such Student Leader, Déja, is now helping her former Group Leader,
Monica, with her new campers, the first of whom to arrive was Shawnice.
Shawnice’s older brother, Yahmir, is a Student Leader, but is working
with a different group, so on day one Monica encouraged Déja and
Shawnice to get to know each other.
As
the week progressed, Déja and Shawnice did just that. Déja taught
Shawnice how to play Mancala, sat next to her on the bus, and shared
her iPod with her on the way to Forbidden Drive. At a visit to a local
garden, Shawnice was confused by the instructions in her journal.
Having completed the same activity a few weeks earlier, Déja stayed by
her side, and explained what to do.
“You have to draw a macroscopic picture of the flower, and then a
microscopic picture of it in this circle. That means you have to draw
the whole thing, and then a detailed drawing of part of it.”
With another week to go, Déja and Shawnice have both said they’re glad
to be at Artology. Maybe it’s because they’re enjoying camp, maybe it’s
because they’ve each made a new friend. Hopefully it’s both.
Artology
encourages children and youth to get excited about science and the
environment through hands on, engaging activities like drumming, dance,
field studies and visual art. This program was made possible through
funding from Lincoln Financial Foundation, The Douty Foundation, The
Adam and Maria Sarah Seybert Institution, The Allen Hilles Fund, the
World Relief Committee of the American Baptist Churches, the Support
Community Outreach Programs of the Department of Human Services, the
School District of Philadelphia and the Second Baptist Church of
Germantown.
To learn more about Artology, contact Artology Director, Charlene Melhorn, at 215-842-0720 or
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Intern Spotlight: Karly Kolaja
escrito por Charlotte Castle
Monday, 10 de August de 2009
FRONTPAGE_NO_TRANSLATION_AVAILABLE
This
summer, BuildaBridge was lucky enough to have hosted budding photojournalist
Karly Kolaja as an intern with Artology 2009. As the camp’s official
documentarian, Karly shot scores of gorgeous photos capturing students’
“ah-hah” moments in Philadelphia’s
park system. If you’ve read any stories about Artology in our newsletters or on
our website, that was Karly, too!
As a rising
junior at Washington
College on the Eastern
Shore of Maryland, Karly is working toward a degree in her own self-created,
interdisciplinary major: “The Power of Visual Rhetoric.” The daughter of a
cinematographer, Karly also has a keen interest in issues of social
justice.Her dream is to start her own
nonprofit that fuses social work with art—and we hope that what she learned at
BuildaBridge this summer will help her in that quest. We are deeply grateful to
Karly for her contribution to Artology, and to BuildaBridge in general!
We Were. One Day You Will Have Been.
escrito por Kathleen McLaughlin
Monday, 10 de August de 2009
FRONTPAGE_NO_TRANSLATION_AVAILABLE
By Rob Wetherington, Artist on Call
As we approached the capitol building in Helena, Montana I couldn’t help but notice how the building popped out against the huge and expansive sky. From a certain angle it appears that we were approaching a building floating in the heavens. Well, most of the time we’ve spent here in Montana has felt like a walk in the clouds. The air has been crisp and the views have been stunning. I’ve studied reservations in history class along with the idea of manifest destiny, but now it all feels real. I don’t know if you knew this, but there really are amber waves of grain and purple mountains majesty –no wonder a song was written about them. The flip side of this involves an understanding of why this place has been considered sacred and holy among American Indians and why settlers showed up to steal it.
I don’t know if you’re like me, but I’m going to go ahead and assume you have an idea of what I’m talking about. When I found out there was a trip to Montana I said, “Yeah, dude, I’m down.” It wasn’t until yesterday when I was in the Holter Gallery viewing maps in the artwork of Corwin “Corky” Clairmont in Helena, MT that I realized where the heck I was. We’re close to Idaho, you know, the one with potatoes that has a border resembling a face… we’re real close to the other side of the face. And, if we went further north we could get to Washington and Oregon fairly easily. Now you know where we are.
We landed in Billings, Montana some time on Monday. I know we’re two hours behind Eastern Standard Time, but it’s been kind of trippy getting used to waking up, walking, meeting, talking, riding, and sleeping. Most mornings have been fairly surreal while my internal clock has been adjusting. Maybe when I get back to Philly I’ll be able to wake up before 9am because of this newfound skill. I’m not sure what I’d do with my two extra hours, but I’m pretty sure it’d open my schedule up for more naps.
There has been a lot of riding here in the Big Sky Country. Things that are “close” tend to be about an hour or more away. Right now I’m jamming to Jimmy Ruffin and writing this update while Dr. Corbitt drives and Rebekah Wilcox coordinates another something or another. I’m amazed by the amount of work that has gone into getting a ragtag bunch of ragamuffins into Montana. Once arriving in Billings, MT on Monday we were met by a great guy named Berris Samples. He opened his
home to us after giving tour of Little Bighorn National Park. You know, the place where General Custard made his last stand against a group of American Indian tribes, which happens to have been the largest group of Indians in one place at one time. He lost. Come on, you remember the story!
Looking out at the expansive battlefield and at the markers where the soldiers fell I thought to myself, “What about the Indian warriors. Where did they fall?” Near the Native American Memorial at the park there were two markers commemorating Cheyenne warriors. The juxtaposition between these markers and the bright white ones for U.S. soldiers sum up a lot of the conflict between the two groups.
Picture with me one of the most beautiful sights on earth. Fields running on forever made up of gold and green rolling hills. In the background are mountains all around and for a moment you wonder if there is anyway they could be as soft as they appear. As you take in this magnificent scenery white markers pepper the ground showing where U.S. soldiers fell in battle. White markers that visually scream, “Look at me and remember I existed.”
As you walk around and make your way to the American Indian Memorial you catch something shiny out the corner of your eye. Down to the right next to the path are two brown granite markers. Two brown markers acknowledging the spot two warriors fell in the battle of Little Bighorn. Believe me when I say they don’t scream. Instead, they seem to whisper, “We were. One day you will have been.”
Back in the van we discussed the visual significance of the round Native American memorial and the oblique U.S. monument. We could get into the meaning of these two symbols, but instead let’s acknowledge that they are opposites. One monument reaching out of the earth demanding recognition while the other blends into the landscape. They represent two cultures that clashed and will continue to clash until bridges of understanding are built. The collaboration between BuildaBridge and the Salish Kootenai Tribal council is encouraging. There is no way we can correct the wrongs of the past, but we can be a part of ensuring a positive partnership in the future. There is hope for something that isn’t simply different, but for something significantly better.
Artology Art Show 2009
escrito por Kathleen McLaughlin
Monday, 03 de August de 2009
FRONTPAGE_NO_TRANSLATION_AVAILABLE
The Philadelphia
Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Student works will be
on display August 12 – October 4
Opening Reception: August 21, 2009 6:30-7:30 PM
Philadelphia Museum of Art is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday: 10am-5pm
Artology is an art and science summer program designed with the intent of sparking children's curiosity and increasing commitment to school through hands-on experience in the arts and sciences. Artology implements a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum and utilizes Philadelphia's public park system as an interactive classroom.
BuildaBridge Community Programs
escrito por Khayla Lowe
Monday, 03 de August de 2009
FRONTPAGE_NO_TRANSLATION_AVAILABLE
BuildaBridge Community programs are making huge strides to
connect youth with caring and equipped teaching artists.
BuildaBridge will conclude a six week visual art session in
partnership with Northwest Interfaith Hospitality Network (NPIHN) on August
19.Lead instructor and art therapist,
Christine Byma is leading students in the creation of self-portraits and large-scale
collaborative works.August 10 and 11
community programs will facilitate a visual arts project for the Kidsville
Learning Center Pre-K classes. The lead instructor Sarah Thompson will aid
students in a print making and a stain glass window activity. Sarah will be accompanied by two BuildaBridge
volunteer classroom assistants from Germany, Chris & Sandra Haagen.
Students will exhibit their final projects during their family & friends
day at the center.
In addition to our summer efforts we are looking forward to
the upcoming school year and the start of the Discovery program.The program delivers arts-integrated
educational opportunities to children coping with homelessness in Philadelphia.Student participants explore dance, drama,
visual art, music, creative writing, and culinary arts.
For more information concerning Community Programs, please
contact Khayla Lowe at
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or (215)842-0428 x 12
Watch The New Discovery Video
escrito por Kathleen McLaughlin
Wednesday, 29 de July de 2009
FRONTPAGE_NO_TRANSLATION_AVAILABLE
Thanks to the great work of Human + Nature, BuildaBridge has a new video about the Discovery Program. Discovery partners with emergency and transitional housing sites to provide
arts-integrated education in multiple art mediums (dance, drama, visual art,
music, culinary arts and creative writing).
Human +Nature produces socially concsious films and videos to inspire people to take action to better our world. Thank you to Leslie Birtch and Richard Gretzinger for producing a great visual representation of the Discovery Program.
To Learn more about Discovery and how you can get involved please contact Khayla Lowe, Coodinator of Community Programs, 215.842.0428 x12 or
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BuildaBridge Partners for Arts in Transformation in Central America
escrito por Kathleen McLaughlin
Monday, 20 de July de 2009
FRONTPAGE_NO_TRANSLATION_AVAILABLE
Dr.
Corbitt assisted with training in Central America during June as part
of BuildaBridge's growing collaborations in the region. During the ten
day visit, meetings and presentations were held in Dominican Republic
and a training in Nicaragua in collaboation with the Nehemiah in
preparation for Diaspora of Hope 2009. In Guatemala, an Arts in
Tranformation Consulta was hosted as part of BuildaBirdge's partnership
with Strategies for Tranformation. One hundred participants from
public, private and church sectors
attended to share what they do and find ways to collaborate working
with vulnerable populations. Workshops and performances in various
art-forms displayed a width and depth of talent, including graffiti and
wheel chair dancing (http://picasaweb.google.com/ncorbitt1/GuatemalaConulta09#5352187742987926594). Diaspora of
Hope Arts camps are being planned for Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Guatemala in November 2009. Please Contact
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, 717-514-5200 to learn how to get involved.
Artist On Call Needed
escrito por J. Nathan Corbitt
Monday, 20 de July de 2009
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Muralist needed in Guatemala to work with La Escualita
in La Limonada of Guatemala City. La Escualita has recently built a
second school in the notorious slum that provides education to over 100
children living in poverty. The muralist is requested to work with the
children to complete murals on the interior walls that provide hope and
beauty to the learning environment. Request is for September, 2009.
Three weeks minimum. Housing provided.
Contact:
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.
Michaelanne Harriman in Guatemala
escrito por J. Nathan Corbitt
Monday, 20 de July de 2009
FRONTPAGE_NO_TRANSLATION_AVAILABLE
Artist on Call (AOC) member
Michaelanne Harriman is in Guatemala studying Spanish and teaching art
in a local school in Antigua. A special mural project is being
completed in a women's prison in Zacapa as part of BuildaBridge's
long-term collaboration with Strategies for Transformation based in
Guatemala. As with other AOC members who have facilitated murals and
art project in prisons, Michaelanne will help in the design of the
mural while local "residents" are involved in the painting based on the
themes they select. Michaelanne is a community artist Directing the Community Arts Program at
Ayuda Community Center in Philadelphia. Artists on Call is the
advanced volunteer program of BuildaBridge with opportunities globally. All artists raise their own support and complete projects
in-country that range from short projects to long-term internships.
For more information on Artists on Call contact
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.
BuildaBridge Country Song and Institute Hip Hop
escrito por Kathleen McLaughlin
Friday, 10 de July de 2009
FRONTPAGE_NO_TRANSLATION_AVAILABLE
Check out the Institute 09 HIP-HOP of Transformation, produced by Gary Hook and Alan Sweeney who taught at the 2009 Institute. We thank them for their work and contribution!
Check It Out! The new BuildaBridge Institute 09 Hip-Hop
BuildaBridge Goes Country
Thanks to George Ensle, the Song Painter, for sending us a BuildaBridge song from his new album Build A Bridge. (We like the name.) "George Ensle, (pronounced Enslee), began songwriting and performing as a teenager in the late sixties in his hometown, Houston at such venerable clubs as the Sand Mountain Coffeehouse and the original Old Quarter, sharing stages with legendary folk greats, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Jerry Jeff Walker. In 2008 he was nominated for Singer/Songwriter of the Year by the Texas Music Academy.George has a unique fingerpicking style originating from his classical guitar training and honed over the years to flow seamlessly with his lyrics. He has been called a 'songpainter,' capturing 'lifescapes', with storysong portraits of "real people making it in the real world." Check his website . Song used here by permission: George Ensle. Copyright 2008 by George Ensle, Ensle Publishing BMI.
The Third Year of Artology Begins with Excitement!
escrito por Kathleen McLaughlin
Thursday, 09 de July de 2009
FRONTPAGE_NO_TRANSLATION_AVAILABLE
By Karly Kolaja
On Monday, July 6th, BuildaBridge’s art and science camp, Artology, opened its doors to another group of inquisitive young students. The program is in its third year, and it’s off to a fantastic start. By just the second day, kids were already shouting, “Artology rocks!” The first few field trips have gone over well, and everyone, student and staff alike, is eager and ready to learn.
For the few months leading up to the camp, applications filed in from all over North, West and Northwest Philadelphia. At the back of each application, campers were asked to answer a few questions regarding their hopes and expectations for Artology. Whether from a returning child, or one completely unfamiliar with BuildaBridge, their answers never failed to instill anticipation and excitement for the return of the program. When asked what talents she would bring to Artology, Janee, age 13, responded, “I will show courage, always do the right thing and set a good example for my peers.” Baiyinah, age 11 said, “I’m always willing to help others and listen when they need someone to talk to. I like to be myself at all times and can encourage others to do the same.” And Justin, age 11, stated succinctly, “I will be funny and cool. I would recycle and not litter.”
Continuing in the same vein, those applying were also asked what they would do if they could make their community a safer and more beautiful place. The answers to these questions went a little beyond excitement for Artology, and headed down the path towards inspiration. Derrick, age 11, said that he will, “clean off the streets and send a notice to Obama and he can band guns from the corners. I will put flowers in gardens.” And while Brianna, age 12 went for a big picture approach, “I would take all the violent things out of the world. I would also have me and my friends pick up stuff off the ground that’s dangerous and just trash. To make it more beautiful I would make art,” Brianna seemed to believe in starting small, “I will make cupcakes and ask people to clean their mess after themselves.”
Who doesn’t love cupcakes?
To learn more about Artology, contact Artology Director, Charlene Melhorn, at 215-842-0720 or
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Weblog 
On August 17,
BuildaBridge recruited a different kind of volunteers-Volunteers In
Service To America, or less formally known as AmeriCorps VISTA’s. This is
our third and, potentially, final year working with VISTA’s, but if this is
indeed the end of our VISTA years, we are going out with a bang as we welcome
three new VISTA’s to our Germantown home.
ECHO's (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) mission "is to network with community leaders in developing countries to seek hunger solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions." They currently impact groups in 180 countries. 
A high school volunteer group from Indiana joined the project during their breaks from weeding and farm maintenance duties. Later their leader reported to me several "rival" girls within their group had something to talk about after working together on the painting. They had never spoken to each other before. 
Although
the first session of Artology is over, and the majority of the 6th-8th
graders have gone, a few are back at camp. For the first time, Artology
staff members have asked a handful of Artologists who showed leadership
potential in the first session, to return and help out during the
second session. These campers, now known as Student Leaders, are those
whose journals shone, who were the first out of the bus to explore
during field trips, and who possessed contagious enthusiasm which the
staff believed they could transfer to the 4th and 5th graders.
As
the week progressed, Déja and Shawnice did just that. Déja taught
Shawnice how to play Mancala, sat next to her on the bus, and shared
her iPod with her on the way to Forbidden Drive. At a visit to a local
garden, Shawnice was confused by the instructions in her journal.
Having completed the same activity a few weeks earlier, Déja stayed by
her side, and explained what to do.
Artology
encourages children and youth to get excited about science and the
environment through hands on, engaging activities like drumming, dance,
field studies and visual art. This program was made possible through
funding from Lincoln Financial Foundation, The Douty Foundation, The
Adam and Maria Sarah Seybert Institution, The Allen Hilles Fund, the
World Relief Committee of the American Baptist Churches, the Support
Community Outreach Programs of the Department of Human Services, the
School District of Philadelphia and the Second Baptist Church of
Germantown.
This
summer, BuildaBridge was lucky enough to have hosted budding photojournalist
As we approached the capitol building in Helena, Montana I couldn’t help but notice how the building popped out against the huge and expansive sky. From a certain angle it appears that we were approaching a building floating in the heavens. Well, most of the time we’ve spent here in Montana has felt like a walk in the clouds. The air has been crisp and the views have been stunning. I’ve studied reservations in history class along with the idea of manifest destiny, but now it all feels real. I don’t know if you knew this, but there really are amber waves of grain and purple mountains majesty –no wonder a song was written about them. The flip side of this involves an understanding of why this place has been considered sacred and holy among American Indians and why settlers showed up to steal it.
There has been a lot of riding here in the Big Sky Country. Things that are “close” tend to be about an hour or more away. Right now I’m jamming to Jimmy Ruffin and writing this update while Dr. Corbitt drives and Rebekah Wilcox coordinates another something or another. I’m amazed by the amount of work that has gone into getting a ragtag bunch of ragamuffins into Montana. Once arriving in Billings, MT on Monday we were met by a great guy named Berris Samples. He opened his
Down to the right next to the path are two brown granite markers. Two brown markers acknowledging the spot two warriors fell in the battle of Little Bighorn. Believe me when I say they don’t scream. Instead, they seem to whisper, “We were. One day you will have been.”
BuildaBridge will conclude a six week visual art session in
partnership with Northwest Interfaith Hospitality Network (NPIHN) on August
19.
Dr.
Corbitt assisted with training in Central America during June as part
of BuildaBridge's growing collaborations in the region. During the ten
day visit, meetings and presentations were held in Dominican Republic
and a training in Nicaragua in collaboation with the Nehemiah in
preparation for Diaspora of Hope 2009. In Guatemala, an Arts in
Tranformation Consulta was hosted as part of BuildaBirdge's partnership
with Strategies for Tranformation. One hundred participants from
public, private and church sectors
attended to share what they do and find ways to collaborate working
with vulnerable populations. Workshops and performances in various
art-forms displayed a width and depth of talent, including graffiti and
wheel chair dancing (
Artist on Call (AOC) member
Michaelanne Harriman is in Guatemala studying Spanish and teaching art
in a local school in Antigua. A special mural project is being
completed in a women's prison in Zacapa as part of BuildaBridge's
long-term collaboration with Strategies for Transformation based in
Guatemala. As with other AOC members who have facilitated murals and
art project in prisons, Michaelanne will help in the design of the
mural while local "residents" are involved in the painting based on the
themes they select. Michaelanne is a community artist Directing the Community Arts Program at
Ayuda Community Center in Philadelphia. Artists on Call is the
advanced volunteer program of BuildaBridge with opportunities globally. All artists raise their own support and complete projects
in-country that range from short projects to long-term internships.
On Monday, July 6th, BuildaBridge’s art and science camp, Artology, opened its doors to another group of inquisitive young students. The program is in its third year, and it’s off to a fantastic start. By just the second day, kids were already shouting, “Artology rocks!” The first few field trips have gone over well, and everyone, student and staff alike, is eager and ready to learn.
would bring to Artology, Janee, age 13, responded, “I will show courage, always do the right thing and set a good example for my peers.” Baiyinah, age 11 said, “I’m always willing to help others and listen when they need someone to talk to. I like to be myself at all times and can encourage others to do the same.” And Justin, age 11, stated succinctly, “I will be funny and cool. I would recycle and not litter.”
ology, and headed down the path towards inspiration. Derrick, age 11, said that he will, “clean off the streets and send a notice to Obama and he can band guns from the corners. I will put flowers in gardens.” And while Brianna, age 12 went for a big picture approach, “I would take all the violent things out of the world. I would also have me and my friends pick up stuff off the ground that’s dangerous and just trash. To make it more beautiful I would make art,” Brianna seemed to believe in starting small, “I will make cupcakes and ask people to clean their mess after themselves.”