Artaware's Blog

This was the year for Art Aware to celebrate African American artists, including Horace Pippin, Faith Ringgold, William H. Johnson, Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden.
From January to June, we made presentations to approximately 4,050 students in six schools (Bonsall, Cramer, Gesu, Sacred Heart, Molina and Sharp).

From September to December, we focused on Romare Bearden in eight Camden schools (Bonsall, Cooper’s Poynt, Cramer, Molina, Parkside, Sharp, Sumner, Washington) and in one Philadelphia school (Gesu). Two hundred and twenty-five students received in-depth preparation on Bearden through slide presentations and art-making workshops and then were taken to the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City to see Bearden’s original artwork. (See Lesson Plan.)

How the students (grades 3 to 8) enjoyed being introduced to Romare Bearden (1911-1988) – one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. And what outstanding artwork they produced which will be displayed in their schools and in public places for the remainder of the ‘04/’05 academic year.

The collage Art Aware created to introduce students to Bearden describes well what they experienced this year. Through Romare Bearden’s work they appreciated what a “Renaissance man” he was in how he introduced images from the past into his own 20th century collages.

They heard Wynton and Branford Marsalis’ jazz tributes to the artist and could see the rhythms in Bearden’s artwork. (See jazz CD in Bearden Resources List)

Through the students’ own art-making, influenced by Bearden, they came to understand how the world can be made whole through scholarship, art and music.

Art Aware most certainly fulfilled its Mission Statement this year – that of “enabling students to see the life-giving force of art, each in his or her own way.”

It has been a fantastic year for Art Aware in Camden City. In collaboration with teachers, administrators and skilled volunteers, we have reached nearly 5,000 students with our mesage peace empowerment through art.

Our mission is to serve inner city elementy school students by initiating, supporting and supplementing art in Camden City public and parochial schools.

Camden children are at peace doing art in their classrooms. And this peace translates to student success! Yet, despite research proving the educational necessity of art, it is often still cut in a budget crunch.

Art Aware believes this to be a travesty of education. So we do whatever we can to see that it doesn’t happen!

In 2003 we visited every classroom in 7 schools (Washington, Holy Name, Molina, Sharp, Davis, Cooper’s Poynt, and Cramer). With our interactive presentations using reproductions of paintings, we supplemented every art teacher’s efforts to meet the standards of the NJ State Core Curriculum.

We gave awards lo student artists, beautifully designed by Emdur Metal Products in Camden, which included the artwork of each student from this year’s Peace Poster mounted on a wooden plaque.

In 2004, we would like to bring our art appreciation classes to even more elementary schools in the city and continue to raise up exemplary students and teachers in Camden, as they deserve to be recognized and celebrated!

The highlights of the year were when Art Aware staff collaborated with AAUW (the American Association of University Women) members on trips for Camden children to Philadelphia Orchestra concerts.
For 33 years the Camden County branch of AAUW has been taking 100 Camden children a year to the five Saturday morning subscription series children’s concerts by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

A few weeks before each of the concerts in the 2000/2001 season, Art Aware and AAUW members visited the classrooms with an art activity which supplemented the music the students would hear at each concert.

Prior to the January 6th concert featuring Aaron Copeland’s “Appalachian Spring”, the Education Department of the Philadelphia Orchestra sponsored a photo contest in which subscribers were supposed to send in snapshots of children posing with their favorite “simple gift” (the theme of a part of the music). Art Aware/AAUW had 4th graders from Cramer School draw their favorite simple gift and then took photos of them with their drawings. The winning photos were to be shown on large screens at the Academy of Music while the Philadelphia Orchestra played the theme.

Every photo we submitted to the contest won!

What follows are two written accounts of the experience.

What an Experience – #1

The Philadelphia Orchestra played Copeland’s “Simple Gifts” on the stage at the PA Academy of Music while close-up, individual photos of twelve Cramer 4th graders holding up a drawing of a simple gift were shown on huge screens on both sides of the proscenium.

Each photo was shown for a full ten seconds before moving on to the next one.

It seemed as if there were a thousand children and adults in the concert hall looking at the students in Ms. Seidan’s class holding up his or her beautiful artwork.

High up in the ampitheatre sat the students from Cramer Elementary School taking it all in – seeing themselves and their friends on the screen in partnership with the Philadelphia Orchestra performing way down below on the stage.

The feeling of collaboration ws awesome! Cramer students participated with the Philadelphia Orchestra in illustrating Copland’s music. Then there were members of AAUW who bought the tickets, and Art Aware, who initiated the artwork and the music teacher from Cramer School who coached the students……all together under the same roof in the magnificent Academy of Music.

What an experience!

What an Experience #2

In 4th grade, I went to a concert for the first time in my life. It was on a Saturday morning. The Philadelphia Orchestra performed. I sat with my classmates high up in the theatre. It was so high and the stops were so steep, I was afraid to walk down to my seat, so I bumped down on my rear end…

A few months before, my teacher and some guest teachers had us listen to some music that was going to be played at the concert – Aaron Copeland’s “Appalacian Spring” – that part which became the song “Simple Gifts.”

While we were listening to the music, we were told to draw our “favorite simple gift.” I drew a flower.

Then the teachers took a photograph of each of us holding up our finished artwork to send into the Academy of Music – for the contest they were having.

…the lights dimmed in the theatre. The musicians looked like puppets on the stage so far away. We were on the top of a mountain – in the ampitheatre.

On either side of the proscenium were two large screens. When the orchestra started playing “Simple Gifts,” on both of the large screens – bigger than life – were shown pictures of a girl holding up her artwork. It was one of my classmates! Then came another slide on the two screens – another classmate! And then THERE I WAS on these huge screens, in this huge Academy of Music, holding up my yellow and red flower – with such a happy face!

I looked so good – my artwork looked so good . I never looked so good. My artwork never looked so good! Was that because so many people were looking at it!?

Every photo that the teachers had sent in had been chosen as a winner in the photo contest and was shown in the darkened Academy of Music while the Philadelphia Orchestra played.

It was awesome!

Me and my classmates right there in that huge place in the middle of all that music. It made us think about being part of another kind of world from the one we had come from.

Camden children need to be acknowledged tor the good work that they do!
The 2001 Peace Calendar of Camden students’ artwork is in production. In December, ten thousand copies will be distributed to every public and private elementary school classroom in Camden, government offices, businesses, supermarkets, churches, students, parents, citizens, etc.

Plans are underway to collaborate with Rutgers University and the American Association of University Women for Art Aware classes and trips for elementary school children in the fall.

Dr. John Giannotti, Chairman of the Fine Arts Department of Rutgers will introduce the Calendar with a letter stating how visual art in Camden contributes to peace in students’ lives and to the life of the city itself!

The following is a brief summary of Art Aware activities from 7/1/99 to 6/30/00:

Art Aware Peace Calendars – 1) 10,000 Y2K Calendars produced and distributed, 2) interaction with 30 public & private Camden elementary schools for 2001 Calendar contest, 3) 2001 Calendar artwork chosen, layout completed.
Art Aware classes – for approximately 2,000 students at public and private elementary schools, after-school and summer recreation sites.
Art Aware sponsored trips – for 750 students to various sites including: 1) Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2) Camden Children’s Garden at the N.J. State Aquarium, 3) Camden Neighborhood Renaissance Arts Festival.
Aware exhibitions of students’ artwork – (approx. 2,500 pieces) and student photos (approx. 500) at various sites including: 1) elementary schools, 2) City Hall, 3) NJ State Aquarium and Camden Children’s Garden, 4) UMDNJ (Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ), 5) Camden Neighborhood Renaissance Arts Festival, 6) Camden Housing Authority headquarters and recreation sites, 7) South Jersey Performing Arts Center, 8) Blockbuster Sony E-Centre, 9) Campbell Soup Foundation, 10) L-3 Communications, 11) Camden Pathmark Supermarket.
After ten years, Art Aware is finally being recognized as a creative influence in the schools, in the lives of Camden children and in the community. Camden’s face is changing and Art Aware and all of its supporters can take some of the credit.
Residents, young and old, and visitors are smiling because, through Art Aware, they know some of the positive accomplishments of Camden children and their wonderful artwork!

Art Aware is in its ninth year serving Camden children and in its fifth year as a Unit of Resources for Human Development, Inc. (RHD).
Every year, since our affiliation with RHD, we have grown and been able to make more of an impact in communities throughout the city.

The experience of putting together, printing and distributing a peace calendar of children’s artwork was the biggest challenge yet – and blessing. The calendar is a vehicle for celebrating the city youth whose daily successes get passed over in favor of sensational newspaper headlines.

Through the calendar we can show many people (10,000 in the year 2000) that city kids “shine” and are at peace in their schools, neighborhood centers and at home.

When children’s spirits are allowed to radiate, all is right with a city and a world! The problem is ignorance – pure and simple! Art is the first thing that is cut in school districts to save money and art can be the one thing that keeps urban students interested in academics! Thank goodness the Camden School District has art teachers in every school and some classroom teachers who use art across the curriculum, but still, the walls of the elementary schools are often devoid of artwork because it is not considered important by the powers that be!

Bare walls are a terrible waste of space! Through visual art, children can learn, by “osmosis,” their importance and where they fit in the scheme of things!

Thanks to a grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Art Aware was able to transform Cream Elementary School into an art museum, with the cooperation of teachers and staff! After two months of the Art Aware Program (which included trips for 350 children to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the gift of 100 large reproductions, hands-on student artwork displayed in the school and in Camden City Hall), the entire Cream School community seemed to “walk taller!”

This year also saw increased activity with the Camden Housing Authority, parochial, charter and public schools, and the NJ State Aquarium and Camden Children’s Garden.

Dedicated people – and money – are needed to change the image of a city. There are many such people in Camden but more are needed! There is a lot of money in Camden, but more is needed, especially for the non-profit, grass-roots organizations like Art Aware!

In response to one request for a corporate contribution, the manager of a store told us their leadership felt it more important to give food than art to needy people. We couldn’t believe this attitude – coming from a major art supplier at that! Why should it have to be an either/or proposition!?! It is the common perception that art is a frill.

We say art awareness is “the meat and potatoes” for empowering elementary-age kids to recognize their own worth, to want stay in school, and to become caring human beings.

We’re so grateful to our supporters for helping us emphasize the importance of art in the inner city as it raises up Camden children!

Art Aware gives interactive presentations to all classes in selected Camden and Philadelphia elementary schools. (1991-present)
Art Aware Camden Students’ Peace Calendars and Posters produced and distributed. (1999-Present)
Art Aware sponsors trips to art museums and theatrical productions (1999-Present)
Exhibitions of Camden students’ artwork in public places such as Camden City Hall, Pathmark Supermarket, Cousin’s Supermarket, UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden Children’s Garden, schools, classrooms, etc. (1998 – present)
Romare Bearden presentations and trips to Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City for 225 students from nine schools – Anyone Can Fly Foundation grant. (2004)
Awards from The State of New Jersey, Camden County Board of Freeholders and Camden City Council for being “an advocate for the rights of children and residents of the City of Camden.” (2001)
Art Aware classes in after-school and summer recreation sites and in the Camden Children’s Garden. (1991-2001)
Art Aware Camden Students’ Peace Calendars produced and distributed – 10,000 copies each year. (1999-2001)
John Overmyer, guest cartoonist/illustrator in Art Aware classes. (1997-2001)
Trips to Philadelphia Orchestra Children’s Concerts and follow-up classes in collaboration with American Association of University Women, Camden County Branch. (2001)
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Grant provided trips to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and follow-up Art Aware classes. (1999)
Classes in Camden County Libraries sponsored by Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission. (1998)
Production of Art Aware video. (1998)
Award from Camden Country Board of Freeholders. (1998)
Classes at 23 Camden elementary schools for special area teachers of art, music and library. (1991-1996)
Paths/Prism Education Business Collaborative Grants for classes at Leidy, McCloskey and Fulton Elementary Schools, Philadelphia. (1993-1996)

(I’m looking back at previous writings about art, Folks)
Futon Hanging Out of 7th Floor Window

My 1967 photographs of Tokyo lowrises
included brightly colored futons hanging to air
on banisters on second floors of wooden houses.

My 2007 favorite digital image of a highrise
in the outskirts of Shanghai included one red futon
hanging out a window on the seventh floor – the one
bright spot amidst the thousand or so closed
windows of a group of tenement buildings.

I choose to compare Tokyo and Shanghai forty years apart.
Life hadn’t changed much in Tokyo in forty years – there were
still the high and low rises, the Chuo-sen train with its
orderly riders, even when crammed together at rush hour.

It was my first trip to China in ’07, so I didn’t have a 1967
image of China. The ’07 image of
thousands of the blank windows interrupted by one red futon
represented a stark contrast for me regarding communism.

The touches of individuality in Japan were everywhere in 1967.
They impressed me enough for me to be a Japanophile my whole life.
The touches of individuality in China were few and far between,
I wondered if the provincial housing authority would reprimand
whoever it was who had hung their red futon out to air from
the seventh floor window of the thirty-story high rise.

Individuality is squelched in all cultures though, including our own.
And such squelching
is fodder for creative types who write about it.
The outsider is my favorite area of study, especially
when an artist can draw millions of followers into that
outsider perspective.

Indeed, we are in an era when we can see how many millions are affected
by an individual leader of a country or by a particular international artist;
we need only look at Nielson TV Ratings or the numbers of hits on a Tweeter tweet.

Today, in newspapers and online, a syndicated cartoonist depicted President Obama
as an indecisive leader drawing him with squiggly lines, having an insubstantial body.
This critique which will align people into various political camps. But
look at the history of this individual who became president of the United States.
He was an outsider and speaks up for those who live outside accepted societal norms.

An example of a female outsider is Mary Oliver, an internationally known poet who celebrates
the natural world. Similar to Obama in her unconventional childhood, she developed her
individual style which millions buy into – with heart and soul (and, fortunately, with money too).

In celebrating the individual, great masses of people. which institutions and governments
seek to control, are divided up into millions of little self-creating entities. Is that image frightening? Does it sound chaotic? What if everyone in Shanghai’s huge tenement
hung their futons out to air?

It would make for a giant collage much in the style of a work by Romare Bearden, Pablo Picasso or
Chuck Close. The only way to mess up the painting/collage would be if the Chinese
government sent out a dictum that all futons had to be of a certain color and size.

Ugh! Viva that futon hanging from the seventh floor of a tenement in China and here’s hoping
more will follow in that individual style…

In previous blog, you can see the finished product of how Yukio Ozaki used MANY colors of clay.

Meditating upon Hawaiian artist, Yukio Ozaki’s Nerikomi vessel:

The universe comes together
in a small vessel of
intricately colored clay