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About |
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Mission The mission of the Degrees of Freedom Project is to teach and encourage youth to explore the collaborative art process as a way of building community. Strategic Vision The strategic vision of the project is to host a summer workshop series uniting youth from different Chicago neighborhoods that will culminate in an interactive community art installation. History As my first year of graduate school at Columbia College was coming to an end in 2007 I had a strong desire to propose a thesis project on the subject of community and barriers that keep people from coming together. The subject of my own art work was previously about the harsh realities that exist in the world and the pain and struggle we all face. But as I grew and gained new insight I wanted to focus on the fullness of the cup instead of dwelling on its emptiness. We are, in part, creatures of our environment, and if we all add to the beauty of the world, the world will become a beautiful place. My idea was to do a project that would bridge borders by exploring what unites and divides people through collaborative art making. Inspired by festivals around the world and how different cultures use art to unite people in celebration, the Degrees of Freedom Project was born. Support Support comes from the Hispanic Scholarship Fund McNamara Family Creative Arts Grant, the Columbia College Albert P. Weisman Award, the Spring 2008 Columbia College Partnership Building class, Insight Arts, The Peoples Music School and many volunteers. The project began last year as a dream and is well on its way to completion with summer workshops beginning in June of 2008. Program Goals & Objectives The project will host a six week Saturday workshop series in the summer of 2008 with youth from different Chicago neighborhoods. Youth will work together over the six weeks to create an interactive community maze made up of sculptures that represent their different neighborhood communities. Workshops begin mid June, final installation will be held the first week of August. Goals: · To share ideas and experiences of what community is. · To work together on different projects that will help build trust. · To learn different ways community art can be used to bring communities together. · To explore reasons and mutual benefits for connecting with others. · To create a collaborative art installation that reflects the other four goals, which will be installed with a community celebration for the public to interact with.
Desired Understandings: · By working together, sustainable communities can be built. · The arts are an important part of community interactions and a powerful tool for social change. · We are all connected. · Each contribution is valid and has an impact on the whole. |
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Contact Information: |
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Angel Nava E-mail: angel.nava@loop.colum.edu |
