Summer Lovin'

This was the second year that the Wall Therapy Festival happened here in Rochester NY, and the organizers raised over $30,000. through an Indiegogo campaign to help cover expenses. Beyond that cost, volunteers and individual donors of time, energy and money made this happen. All the Wall Therapy artists have gone to their respective homes in Belgium, Africa, Brazil and a myriad of other places. The good thing is, you can still take a tour and enjoy it today!The idea was the brain child of Dr. Ian Wilson, formerly from Brooklyn, now working as a medical doctor at the University of Rochester. Talk is cheap, so let me plunk down a few photos. Feel free to click to enlarge them to get details.

All of the pictures above are located just off of East Ridge Road on the edge of Irondequoit. If you have  a car, or even better a bike, or feet, use them to take you through El Camino Trail, near Hollenbeck Street and see them for yourself! There are more murals in the South Wedge, and near the public market among other places all over town. Again, these artists aren't just from Rochester.  Many of the artists traveled from different countries  to be here and many are internationally known in both graffitti and gallery circles. The whole point of  doing this is to once again make it known to the community that art is for all of us! It changes perspectives and demonstrates care and concern for the local community. It reaches into our history and into our past. It is personal, as well as for public consumption. It has meaning and worth.

These artists have taken time to beautify some of the little known and well known areas of our city. It was incredible to see little kids surrounding the artists, staring upward at their work, and asking questions about why they were doing it, and if they really had permission! The image just below is on Joseph Avenue. Now, I don't generally go over to that neighborhood to take tourist photos, but when I did I was greeted by smiles of kids, business owners and the artist himself. Meanwhile, cars slowed down and I heard the word "Awesome!" enthusiastically coming from a passing car. Others beeped their horns to demonstrate approval of the mural work. This kind of energy is electric. Our little city was highlighted in Juxtapoz Magazine and Huffington Post. The Democrat and Chronicle also did some great step by step process photos throughout the week on this website that are pretty amazing to see. For more details about each artist and links to their websites check out this Wall Therapy link.  Happy hunting! 

Arts Fest Photos

Thank you to Len Crellin and Joann Brown for providing most of the photos displayed here. This is a small taste of the many events that made the 25th Annual Arts Festival incredible this year!

Little known trivia... We hired Eddie Davis as one of our visiting artists.  When we walked into the festival on Friday, Bob Geroux, the original creator of the first Irondequoit High School Arts Festival, informed us that Eddie Davis Senior (our Eddie's Dad) was the guest artist at the very first arts festival 25 years ago. What a cool way to continue the cycle of creativity for years to come!

 

Between the visiting artists and musicians, the film festival, badminton, ping pong, engineering projects, public speaking class presentations, student music, jazz, rap, acapella, hippie gypsie french coffee house music, henna, face painting, slam poetry... We had over 50 events going on on 4 stages to take care of  your artistic, musical and gastronomical needs. We tried to entertain EVERYONE!

 

One of the highlights of my day was when I was running to get some more supplies and I overheard a conversation between two students. One was trying to get the other to skip class. The second kid responded, "Why would I want to go to your house and hang out and do nothing when we have all this stuff going on here?  This is so much better!"

 

This is what we strive for. Art, creativity and the energy that happens when great people work together for a common good is a force that cannot be reckoned with.  It draws people in naturally, and creates a synergy where beautiful things are allowed to happen. As this energy springs up intellectual and creative pursuits are the fruit of that labor. Thanks for being a participant, an onlooker, or a builder of this event. May this be the beginning of many creative endeavors. Thank you to the PTSA for providing the funding that enabled this event to happen.  Thank you to our maintenance staff, administration, students and staff who were willing to get their hands dirty in order to entertain 1300 high schoolers from 9am til 3pm. I certainly could not have done it alone. So now, lets rest a bit, and get ready for exams, and we'll start working on finding the best artists and musicians for next years event! 

The 25th Anniversary of the ARTs Festival!

What a pleasure to welcome back old friends and meet some new ones this year!

Our visiting artists included Bill Wolff, an adjunct professor at RIT and worked with the Sculpture and Mixed Media Classes. 

Bill Wolff earned a Masters in Sculpture (Wood) from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2009. He also did post graduate research at Tokyo University of the Arts from 2005-2007. He earned an MFA in Sculpture from Louisiana State University in 2004 and a BFA in Sculpture from Binghamton University in 2000.

 

 

Loreal Prystaj worked with students in our Photography classes to create dark fairy tales.

Loreal Prystaj grew up in Fairport, graduated from Fairport High School, and then went to the Fashion Institute of Technology where she graduated in May 2013. She starting becoming interested in Photography in 2008, and she has been addicted since! Her work has been published and exhibited in galleries, and collections.

 

 

 

 

 

Justyn Iannucci was a guest artist with our Drawing and Painting Classes.

 

Justyn Iannucci works as a freelance Illustrator working out of Upstate NY. Formal training includes a Bachelors of Fine Art in Illustration from the Rochester Institute of Technology as well as an Associates Degree in Graphic Arts and Printing from Monroe Community College.

 

 

Eddie Davis worked with our students at the junior high level.

 

Eddie Davis III has taught at the Memorial Art Gallery’s Creative Workshop since 1996, most recently drawing and design classes for kids and teens.

Eddie earned a BFA in industrial design at Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in sculpture at Rochester Institute of Technology. He served as assistant professor of industrial design in RIT’s College of Imaging Arts & Sciences from 2004-08.

The Pickpockets were our musical guests who got rave reviews by both students and staff!

 

Ed Keegan was also a visiting musician, and he came in and led a drum circle to close out the day.

 

We also had two retired art teachers from the district come back and show that doing art is something we NEVER retire from! Thank you to Bob Geroux and Len Crellin for coming in and sharing yourselves and your work!

 

 

Thanks to all the ambassadors, alumni, artists, musicians and staff members who made this a fantastic day!  Despite the fact that it was rainy outside and we were forced to go to our indoor "plan B" your enthusiasm and hard work made it feel like it was a sunshiny day INSIDE!! What a great day! Many thanks to all the hard workers who made it look easy!

Exhibition at I-Square Visions

 

Closing reception will be Friday April 26th from 7-9pm. Please come and see student and teacher artwork from Irondequoit,  Kearney and Eastridge High Schools!  There will be food, entertainment, and lots of fantastic people to mingle with. Everyone will be there. You should join us, too.

Vessel Designs

Sculpture and Mixed Media A (begining level) students just completed their vessel design projects where they used cardboard, plaster, wire and other assorted materials to create works of art that also could function as a vessel to hold or store another item. The one above is probably the coolest fish food storage unit I've ever seen! The head comes off to show an underwater scene inside of a drawer. Emily even brought in her fish food to be absolutely certain that it would fit inside properly!

All of these pieces have one or more storage areas inside of them for different purposes.  Students were told that the appearance of the inside should be just as interesting, if not more interesting than what is seen on the outside. Joe, Anna, and Alana's work are all shown below.

Status Report

Every once in a while I wonder if anyone ever actually looks at this page, and this is what I found out today... I guess I need to keep writing and showing the world what a few high school students can do with a random assortment of supplies and a little encouragement. Thanks to those of you who take the time to browse!  Pageviews by Countries Entry Pageviews United States 533 Russia 43 Germany 18 Canada 5 Switzerland 3 France 3 Australia 2 United Kingdom 2 Philippines 2 Malaysia 1

So Many Exciting Things!

It's really hard to keep track of all the comings and goings with public art exhibitions going on all around town! The Youth Art Month Show at the Arts Council of Greater Rochester closes this weekend with a brunch reception on March 23rd from 10am-2pm.

Meanwhile, Image City Gallery is hosting "Through the Student Lens" highlighting photography by high school students from March 20-April 14, 2013.

Finally, the I-Square Visions Gallery here in Irondequoit will be exhibiting Tri-Square: work from students from Bishop Kearney, Eastridge and Irondequoit High Schools beginning on April 9th and running through April 26th. Closing reception will be on Friday April 26, 2013. The flyer below was created by a Kearney student.

And... While we're celebrating the successes of amazing students... My Sculpture and Mixed Media C students just completed their "Project Runway" assignment where they created clothing out of recycled materials. Some of the photos (taken by Mr. Conner):

John, made from lawn and leaf bags, charcoal and masking tape.

 Lexi, made from an old purse and a rice bag.

Mandy (dress made by Tarie) from tissue paper, construction paper and a white kitchen garbage bag.

 Michaela, dress made from an oversized children's book.

Holly, white and black garbage bags, soda tabs, and duct tape.

Note the accessories (bracelet and necklace also made from soda tabs).

Your accomplishments continue to blow me away.  I have the best job in the world!