The art of exchange… reciprocal relationships are formed and strengthened when folks come together to create and share with each other.
Blackbook sessions give artists (young and older) the space to interact as they pass, sketch, ask, learn, and create memories together. Discussing admiration for fellow artists, seeing a sketch come to life, sharing supplies and ideas helps to build talent and community.
TAP’s Curator Committee got together for the first time this evening at #StudioLuevanos with tacos from #CaminoReal on Lafayette and Central. Much respect to the artists who are sharing their time and talents to further the mission and beautify the spaces of The Alley Project.
Music, blackbooks, more stories, slaps, and ideas were being passed around for a few hours tonight at Studio Luevanos on The Alley Project.
People came and went over the course of a few hours as artists hit each others books, passed out stickers, and talked about people who weren’t there that would probably enjoy meeting up soon.
TAP’s spaces and programs are designed to help build relationships between neighbors, artists, youth, and others. Many of TAP’s programs are naturally intergenerational because they are often in and about community… and communities are made of people of all ages.
At Studio Luevanos youth, parents, artists, neighbors, and elders regularly gather to share time, skills, and stories with each other. We believe when this happens it is some of our most engaging, critical work as it helps to build community and skills together.
“I believe the children need to see people of their culture working with them, talking, listening, and interacting. I was one of those kids that did not experience people who looked like me doing things in my neighborhood. TAP provides a space for this.” - Mary Luevanos
The youth learned how simple it can be to make your own books at Open Studio with Mary Luevanos. Samples, paper, materials, and a portable printer was all they needed to start making their own journals.
They will fill them with whatever creativity fits inside their pages and perhaps bring back to share in a few weeks.
Artists brought old flicks to pass around while sketching tonight. Blackbooks, vintage photos, and nostalgia steered the conversation.
Stories about exploring the city to search out hidden walls and art at a time before social media took the group back in time. Disposable cameras, blackbooks, HEETT, storytelling, markers, New York, Western High School, Carson Street and more came up.
There is an important history to be shared and ideas about how to capture and share that with future generations kept people engaged for several hours.
Open Studio participants learned a little about public art by creating rocks to share with others by hiding them in unlikely places to be discovered.
Mary Luevanos showed examples of other rock projects people have done and talking about what they might do with theirs.
Spending time together sketching and talking about the rest of the summer.
We have spent some time together today and during the last month just sketching and talking about what we’d like to do this summer.
Blackbooks, hitting the walls, collecting/sharing old flicks, ideas about ways to inspire youth and each other, and more. Meanwhile we’ve just been enjoying sharing space… especially in the absence of our good friends that recently passed.
In the coming weeks we hope to start collecting and organizing old photos we all have of art from around the city from the 90′s on. If it happens we’ll scan and share them sometime soon!
Parents, youth, and artists shared time and talents with each other today at Studio Luevanos.
People bring paper, sketchbooks, pencils, markers, and ideas. We gather in garages and lots. This way we get to regularly share skills, make memories and create new art in a way that costs very little for the return.
“I bring my kids with me so we can spend time time together doing something we love. I want them to be able to open their eyes to the world of colors and creativity in person, not just on a screen.” -Miguel Faz
A warm March allowed neighbors to work in their yards and artists to wrap up two mural installations this week along TAP.
Stop by in person to see the new artwork at TAP232 and TAP239.
The ELCA’s Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) visited The Alley Project today for some history, a tour, and workshop.
The youth are in town for the ELCA’s large gathering in Detroit this week that will have 25,000 youth from around the nation in town for workshops and service projects
Thanks for spending time with us and hope to see you again soon.
Live in the community and looking for an original location to have your child’s birthday party? TAP would love to host with art instruction and activities, space, and anything else you may need from us. Here’s some pictures from this young lady’s birthday party today at TAP. TAPpy Birthday!
Shared a beautiful final Open Studio of the 2014 season with friends and family of TAP.
Mary Luevanos led this year’s Angel’s Night event activity that included an education about Jorge Posada and his influential art as well as fashioning calaveras to take home in time for Dia de Los Muertos.
Radical Productions opened up their garage on the alley tonight also for poster making to advertise for Sunday’s festivities at Clark Park.
Mary Luevanos leads Open Studio in week two of getting comfortable working with clay. Parents, youth, and elders took turns talking to amongst themselves and with each other in the garage, alley, and lots.
