Dedicated Masterminds 2017

ARTISTIC NOISE Presents: DEDICATED MASTERMINDS

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Shout Outs Artistic Noise could not reach as many young people as we do without the help of many individuals. We would like to express our deep gratitude to everyone, who has contributed to our efforts over the years.

Thank you to all of the staff members at the sites that we serve, and our partnerships, both past and present.Very special thanks to: Everyone at the NYC Department of Probation, especially Ana Bermudez and Audrey Wilson. Our partners on Riker’s Island, especially Rachel Hutt, Linda Eaddy and Angela Tolosa. Everyone at Friends of Island Academy, especially Messiah Ramkissoon and Felicia Mosley. Our partners at Crossroads and Horizons Juvenile Detention Centers. Everyone at ARTS East New York, especially Catherine Greene. Everyone at the Museum of Modern Art, especially Calder Zwicky and Shellyne Rodriguez.

Everyone at the Pinkerton Foundation, especially Julie Peterson. Gamal Willis at CASES. Isaac Scott of Confined Arts. Terrance Coffie of Educate Don’t Incarcerate. Jessica Bynoe, Liz DelliCarpini and Harriet Goodman.

Thank you to Artistic Noise’s Board of Directors: Kate Jellinghaus, President of the Board Tess Korobkin,Vice President of the Board Irene Sherman, Treasurer Ann Tobey, Clerk Yasmine Awais, Board Member Joel Diaz, Board Member Kimberley Gordon, Board Member Amanda Holm, Board Member Francine Sherman, Board Member/ Co-Founder Maurice T.Vann, Board Member Alex Venino, Board Member A very special thanks to Tammy Brown, Ben Hatcher and New York University for hosting the Dedicated Masterminds exhibition at the Commons Gallery and to all of the wonderful art collectors, who have purchased Artistic Noise artwork over the years.

We would also like to thank all of the talented volunteers and interns who have helped us this year, especially Kelsey Chaplain, Jordan Crawford, Kate Pane and Robert Pleasant.

Last but not least, a huge thank you to all of the young artists, who have participated in our programs over the years- it is because of you that Artistic Noise continues to grow! This exhibit and catalog are for each and every one of you.

This year’s exhibit is dedicated to Francine Sherman who co-founded Artistic Noise 16 years ago. Fran is an inspiration to us all. None of this would be possible without her vision, strength and unwavering belief in the power of art and the voices of young people.

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Our Supporters The Board of Directors, staff, and youth artists gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the individuals, foundations, organizations and government agencies, which have made contributions to Artistic Noise.

Artistic Noise Institutional Supporters 2017: Art4Moore CASES Friends of Island Academy Hunter East Harlem Gallery The Janey Fund Massachusetts Cultural Council New York City Department of Corrections New York City Department of Probation New York City Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Office of Children and Family Services Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Pinkerton Foundation Rhea Blackwood Foundation Research Foundation Variety, The Children’s Charity of NY Google

Dedicated Masterminds Artistic Noise is an organization that keeps youth productive and positive. It is a place where we learn from each other’s past, present, and future. At Artistic Noise we stay dedicated to mastering our minds. We take pride in our art and we take pride in being unique. Our artwork is a reflection of our inner thoughts.

Being able to express yourself and not be judged by others is important, while understanding that every human is an individual.

We are all human. Hear us make Artistic Noise.

2017 Exhibition Curators: Angel, Bishop, Davon, Dorthy, Eli, Juwan, Lamont, Samantha, Tyrik Exhibit Manager: Briana

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Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program - Harlem, NY The 3D Self Portrait project provided a step-by-step introduction to the use of mixed media sculpture and collage while allowing each participant the freedom of personal expression. Participants developed imagery by sculpting their own facial features and forms, choosing to either represent themselves in an anatomically accurate manner or portraying a more abstract self-image. The final step of painting their constructions established this depiction by adding color and personality to their creations.

Teaching Artist: Nic Holiber

3D Self Portrait

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Eli Chrome platinum is covered over the five senses to show the unity it creates working together but differently at the same time. I added the blue because I like the color blue and purple and I added pink to appeal to the opposite sex.

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Angel I sculpted my self portrait and the best part about my sculpture is the painting and the way I put grills on his teeth. This project was a good experience for me because this was my first time doing this and now I feel like I can sculpt anything.

Tyrik

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Bishop The 3D portrait was definitely the most experimental project for me. I often tend to day dream so that explains why my head is in space.

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Juwan This 3D self portrait is a reflection of my inner self. I want my viewers to think of their most darkest desires and look into the eyes of my portrait.

Davon 8

Dorthy I made this because I wanted to show me as a little girl full of dreams and thoughts. The circles of faces were people around me who hated on me, loved me, friended me, were there with me.

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Lamont I casted clay for the features and used a wooden background.

I made Iman Shumpert. I didn’t make a nose because he’s not nosey.

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Sam What do you think? Flesh skin was what I was going for. A raw dead feeling with a calm and neutral impression. Were you right?

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Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program Harlem, NY In collaboration with Educate Don’t Incarcerate and the Center for Justice at Columbia University, Artistic Noise held an art exhibition at the NYU School of Social Work.

Using the theme, “Roses That Grew From Concrete”, youth artists created paintings that were inspired by social change and awareness.

Teaching Artist: Nic Holiber

Roses That Grew From Concrete

Briana I Can Wear My Hair How I Want!

I read an article somewhere about a Black girl who had her natural hair out in an afro. She got suspended because her hair was “inappropriate” and/or “not done”. The article really angered me because I wear my hair in an afro. I wear my hair natural! And this young girl got suspended because her hair was worn in the natural state it is after its washed? So I painted a random girl with an afro with fists coming out of her hair meaning natural hair Girls Rock!

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Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program - Harlem, NY Brentwood Residential Center - Dix Hills, NY Crossroads Juvenile Detention Center - Brooklyn, NY Horizons Juvenile Detention Center - Bronx, NY Contemporary artist, David Hammon’s, created a series of Body prints in the 60’s and 70’s.

Hammon’s spoke of these works as his “moral obligation as a Black artist to try to graphically document what I feel socially”. It felt timely to revisit these works and the concepts behind the creation of them with Artistic Noise participants in 2016 & 2017. Although these prints are dealing with some very complex issues, the act of creating them is actually quite celebratory, playful and completely messy. Our participants decided on a gesture that represented how they felt that day. Their emotions responded to their incarceration, their love of family and also the playful quality of the project. Using vaseline (Hammon’s used grease) the artists covered either their faces or hands and pressed these onto large sheets of paper. We then dusted the paper with charcoal powder and when we removed the excess charcoal these beautiful and haunting images emerged.

Teaching Artists: Lauren Adelman, Jocelyn Goode, Jen Kind-Rubin, Lauren Levine & Kate Pane

Body Prints

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Angel My experience with body prints was good I like the way we put vaseline on our body then put charcoal on a big piece of paper with our hands, face or arms.

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Anonymous

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Bishop

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Nytasia

Anonymous 18

Anonymous

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Crossroads Juvenile Detention Center - Brooklyn, NY The concept behind the reverse mural was to symbolize the collective experience and the range of emotions shared by many incarcerated teens. It is the idea that the sum of the whole is greater than individual pieces.

The process included having the young men in our group visualize and render symbols that represent elements of their lives that are important to them.

Then they painted the panels individually, sometimes having to watch another classmate add on to what they started in a previous session. The greatest challenge for the youth working on this project was that they had to release authorship in order to add it to the whole picture. By giving up ownership yet investing into beautifying a section of the mural, the young men witnessed their worth in contributing to something greater than themselves.

Teaching Artist: Jocelyn M. Goode & Jen Kind-Rubin

Reverse Mural

Elijah, Eric, Isaiah, Ishante, Jose, Raymond, Terrell, Xzavier

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Choices

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Adira Academy and Old Colony Y - Brockton, MA “It’s about self-esteem. There’s how other people see you and there’s how you see yourself and that’s what’s more important.” - Gina Sometimes society projects their negative ideas onto us and we absorb them into our identity, though we shouldn’t. This piece represents the struggle between who we are and how we are sometimes perceived by others.

The background of this collage represents the negativity society projects onto us and how it makes us feel; that we are bad, that we are not good enough, that we are lesser. Inside the figure are representations of how we see ourselves and what we are working to become throughout our lives. This piece shows that we should be embracing the positive and the truth about who we are while pushing away the negativity and refusing to let it become our identity. Before judging others based on society’s perceptions, look closer.

Teaching Artist: Vanessa Ruiz Assistant Teaching Artists: Minotte Romulus Interns: Jordan Crawford, Kelsey Chaplain, Avi Ber Wheelock Student Liaison: Hannah Brown

Look Closer

Amanda, Dani, Gina, Trinity, Amber, Jenny, Tonajah, Kyla, Monica, Solange, Jimmaya, Jenasis, Kendra, Nadia, Tyara

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Art Therapy Program at The New York City Department of Probation – Queens ECHOES In this three panel mural, the artists explore two contrasting themes that plague them: Entrapment vs Independence. After learning about traditional muralists and artists that started out as graffiti writers, participants found images in magazines that resonated and inspired them personally. A collaborative effort was used to create a meaningful composition. Artists experimented with liquid paints by pouring overlapping colors for the background that functioned as a therapeutic release. Later artists went into details with paint pens drawing out their personal imagery. The combination of release and control with the use of material paralleled the issues and theme of Entrapment and Independence in the finished painting.

Teaching Artists: Jennifer Kind-Rubin and Kate Pane

Entrapment vs. Independence

Joshua, Joshua, Rahiem, Tyquan, Jason, Raymond, Matthew, Aaron, Ramel, Jerald “We used teamwork to create a colorful and vibrant piece, challenging barriers. We are alive.

Stepping out of our comfort zone into the dope. We build imaginary, energetic expression”

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What words come to mind to mind when you think of “entrapment”?

“Jail, the hood, and drugs” -Artist, anonymous

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Aaron “The lion represents freedom and independence. But he’s behind bars, he’s trapped, and the bars are red because of what happens to you when you are locked up.”

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Brentwood Residential Center - Dix Hills, NY “Communication & Confinement” was an opportunity for the young women at Brentwood Residential Center to express their views on confinement. In collaboration with the Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial summer program, the young women at Brentwood Residential responded to weekly prompts that revolved around the exploration, and honest communication, on the theme of confinement. These weekly prompts had participants respond to the theme through their senses, by posing a weekly guiding question, such as, “What does confinement sound like?” Participants wrote their responses to the weekly question in a stream of consciousness activity. These written pieces were mailed to the participants involved in the Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial summer program, and later developed into an artwork exhibited at the Visions of Confinement show at Hunter East Harlem gallery. The young women at Brentwood Residential were also introduced to artists that imbue the motif of confinement in their art, such as in the works of David Hammons and Jenny Saville, and engaged in a variety creative art activities to help them discern this theme from multiple vantage points. One of their art activities was a printmaking project, which alluded the theme of confinement through their symbolic compositions. These artworks are a culmination of the weekly discussions that evoked powerful conversations on the young women’s experiences in confinement.

Teaching Artists: Lauren Levine and Jennifer Henzi

Communication and Confinement

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Destiny Prisoner of Love I used the images of a shackled heart because I feel confined.

I felt lost and confused. But my love for my girlfriend is the real reason. She got my heart feeling like it’s found happiness!

I’m a prisoner of love as well as a prisoner.

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Alanis Freedom/Pain I chose that image because it reminds me of hurt & pain. This title reminds me of my artwork because it’s crying eyes for pain & freedom. The eyes are looking at her freedom.

Toni Evil Never Sleeps The way I feel about my artwork is that all the evil in the city & how the city never sleeps it’s like an evil storm that just hangs over the city what can we do to make the storm go away?

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Yvelisser Freedom My art piece is about freedom, being able to be free also not having to fight off guards I got a rap that I want to share with you ladies and gentleman . Are you ready to hear my rap.? YES Coming live from Brentwood Residential I’m not coming from planet commerical I wanna be universal this ain’t no hiphop hypocrisy I’m not feeling the democracy This is reality. I am formality.

I gotta momma that would die for me I gotta momma that will ride for me but lately since I been locked up she would hide from me, Freedom.

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Aorieahna Freedom My art piece shows “freedom” the two keys lets you out of the doors and the bird sitting in the trees shows that the bird has the freedom to go anywhere anytime anyhow. It’s important because I feel like I have no freedom in BRC. I feel like I can’t go in my room or to the bathroom without permission.

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Emely & Shamaya I Was Thinking About Feelings It’s not about holding things in sometimes its better to vent and let some feelings go! Happy, sad, angry just let it be free keeping it inside can be dangerous.

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Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program - Harlem, NY Brentwood Residential Center - Dix Hills, NY The Advanced participants in Artistic Noise’s intensive SYEP Summer program created this installation in the summer of 2016. The young artists worked onsite at the exhibition Visions of Confinement: A Lens on Women in the US Prison System at the Hunter East Harlem Gallery. The final product is a collaboration between our Advanced participants and the young women incarcerated at the Brentwood Residential Center who were participating in an Artistic Noise workshop.

Our Advanced participants used their cameras to explore the five senses of confinement for the site-specific installation which. With the understanding that confinement affects the mind, body and soul, participants turned their lenses (and pencils and paintbrushes) to visualize how women in the prison system experience being confined. The finished work is a multi-media collection and collage of artwork that brings the humanity of the women behind bars to the forefront of our minds, the urgent need to reimagine a more humane system, and a call to prison reform. The participants tackled a new sense every week of the summer program. The young women at Brentwood would free write each week about the sense our youth on the outside were photographing. The final installation contains both the photographic images and the writing.

Teaching Artist: Francesca DeBiaso, Lauren Levine & Erica Reade

The Five Senses of Confinement

Angel, Bishop, Briana, Eli, Jackiee, Juwan, Kasey, Lamont 34

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Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program - Boston, MA “With and Without” is a five foot by five foot painting. This two-sided piece represents our world with and without Ubuntu. On the left is an abandoned house, which represents our community without the love, care, and understanding of Ubuntu. The once beautiful house is now in shambles and showing the aftermath of the violence and injustice that plagues our neighborhoods. It is a stark warning of how our entire world can fall apart if we don’t come together and help each other.

On the right side is a poem- the voice of our youth. We worked together to vocalize our views and opinions about how the world could be if we all came together and actively engaged in Ubuntu. The reoccurring line, “When hatred turns into compassion, when cruelty turns into kindness, communities will start to come together like families,” pin points the simple things we can do in our everyday lives to bring Ubuntu to the ones we love and transform our communities.

Teaching Artist: Vanessa Ruiz Assistant Teaching Artists: Minotte Romulus, Jen Miller Interns: Taylor Connolly, Avi Ber

With and Without

Brajon, Dani, Danny, Elmer, Geno, Malik, Quasaia, Rashid, ShaAsia, Shana and Tyree

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Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program - Boston, MA “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

- Martin Niemoller Teaching Artist: Vanessa Ruiz Assistant Teaching Artists: Minotte Romulus Interns: Jordan Crawford, Kelsey Chaplain, Avi Ber Wheelock Student Liaison: Hannah Brown

I am the least racist person there is.

(And other Trump quotes).

Amanda, Dani, Shana, Quasaia 1st Row: LGBTQ, Syrians, Native Americans 2nd Row: The Disabled, Trump, Blacks 3rd Row: Muslims, Women, Mexicans

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Art Therapy Program at the New York City Department of Probation - Harlem ECHOES The teen artists had to use black and white geometric shapes of relatively equal size to create a composition that is visually balanced, meaning the visual weight of the contrasting colors is equal.

Teaching Artists: Jocelyn M. Goode and Lesley Achitoff

Contrasting Geometry

Donte, Deandre and Darren

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Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program - Brooklyn, NY This project introduced participants to the work of artist Henry Moore and allowed for the exploration and creation of sculptural work. The themes adapted to this project were feelings and experiences of modern life.

Teaching Artist: Nic Holiber

Modernist Sculpture

Angel, Dorthy, Lamont

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Lamont This portait is more than just a portrait. Imagine water coming from the sculpture. It reminds me of somewhere peaceful and safe.

Angel I made this sculpture because we all watched a documentary about Henry Moore and everybody did their own thing.

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About AboutUs Us Artistic Noise exists to bring the freedom and power of artistic practice to young people who are incarcerated, on probation, or otherwise involved in the justice system. Through visual arts and entrepreneurship programs in Massachusetts and New York, our participants give voice to their experiences, build community through collaborative projects, and learn valuable life and job skills. Artistic Noise creates safe spaces where court-involved youth can be seen, heard and supported on their path to adulthood. We believe the practice of making art offers opportunities for young people and communities to transform.

ArtisticNoise.org

2185 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd New York, NY 10027

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Program Descriptions

Artistic Noise is comprised of four core components: Studio Art Workshops in Residential Settings; Art Therapy Workshops; Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Programs in Community Settings; and Youth Leadership Development.

STUDIO ART WORKSHOPS IN RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS Metro Youth Services Center/ Spectrum Detainment Center – Dorchester, MA Adira Academy and Old Colony Y - Brockton, MA Brentwood Residential Center- Brentwood, NY Crossroads Juvenile Detention Center - Brooklyn, NY Horizons Juvenile Detention Center - Bronx, NY RSMC, EMTC and GMDC on Rikers Island - New York, NY Studio Art Workshops, which are provided in juvenile detention facilities and other residential settings, provide youth with a safe and structured environment to creatively express and process complex feelings and share their stories. These weekly workshops bring innovative art activities into lock-up. Projects are designed to involve a variety of traditional and digital media and to span several weeks or months. Themes are chosen to maximize the youth’s interest and involvement over time. Selected participants from these workshops are able to apply for employment through our Community Arts, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program.

ART THERAPY WORKSHOPS New York City Department of Probation – Brooklyn KJOP New York City Department of Probation Harlem ECHOES Program New York City Department of Probation Queens ECHOES Program In partnership with The New York City Department of Probation and The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College Artistic Noise provides Art Therapy for youth involved in probation.

Art therapy groups and individual sessions are provided along with assessment, family therapy and outreach services. While all therapy programming is provided by a licensed creative arts therapist who is board certified in art therapy, groups are co-facilitated by an Artistic Noise Teaching Artist.

This program combines Artistic Noise’s Restorative Justice model with a therapeutic component.

Selected participants from these workshops are able to apply for employment through our Community Arts, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program.

ARTS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND CURATORIAL PROGRAM IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS Earl Center for Learning and Innovation, Wheelock College – Boston, MA Artistic Noise NY - 2185 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd - Harlem, NY As youth grow in their art and demonstrate a desire to develop employment skills and competencies, our Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program offers a unique opportunity for teens to work collaboratively with their peers; curate art shows; and market and sell original artwork and products they have designed. The program begins in September and culminates in June with our yearly exhibit of student work. Along the way, participants develop their creative skills as individual artists and collaborators and their business skills as paid artists, entrepreneurs and curators, gaining knowledge of job professionalism, learning about art world careers, and creating their own art exhibit. Through this highly structured program participants see an extensive planning process through to fruition, encouraging youth to understand the importance of working towards long-term goals.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM When Artistic Noise was founded we aimed to build a program that the participants could eventually take over. We still believe in this mission and officially piloted our Youth Leadership Development Program in 2012. We have begun to train the participants who have graduated from our various programs to be our future leaders. These young leaders are mentors to our youth, Assistant Teachers and Advocates for youth in the juvenile justice system.

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Curator Bios

Angel Artist/ Curator (2014-present) My name is Angel and I am 18years old. I go to school in Brooklyn. My school is called Grand St Campus. My favorite subject is English and US History. I have been in Artistic Noise for 3yrs 1/2. I’ve been promoted to clean before sessions. My favorite art medium is to paint and to make sculptures by hand. My goal for the future is to own my own cooking business.

Bishop Artist/ Curator (2015-present) My name is Bishop I’ve been with Artistic noise since October 2015. It has been the most influential part of my life. It keeps me occupied and keeps me out of trouble.

I make art and I love what I do. I do it to the best of my ability. I was promoted to be Supply Manager after six months. I hope in the future to become a staff member at Artistic Noise. If that doesn’t work out I will still continue to make art. I’ve been making art since I was a kid my favorite part is the reactions on people faces when they see my work completed.

Briana Artist/ Curator (2014-present) Exhibition Manager (2017) My name is Briana, I’m 18 years old. I attend Kingsborough Community College. I’m a Liberal arts major as of now, until next year I get into the nursing program. My goal is to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in science to become an RN. First I started at a program at Brooklyn probation then transferred to A&E as a curator and recently was promoted to be Exhibit Manager of A&E. My favorite style of art I enjoy doing is painting. I like getting messy with the paint but it’s worth it cause I paint pretty well.

Davon Artist/ Curator (2017-present) Dorthy Artist/ Curator (2016-present) My name is Dorthy there’s nothing much to tell about me haha sike. I work at Artistic Noise I love working here.

I like giving back, Iove drawing, I’m mad welcoming and hard worker once my mind is set on something I go out of my way to finish it. I’ve been in artistic noise for close to a year now and I love it. I like treating people to snacks I always have snacks to share I like sharing lol team sharing is caring.

Eli Artist/ Curator (2015-present) My name is Sadiq but I prefer to be called Eli. Elijah is my middle name, so it’s no biggie. I just prefer that name. I just graduated high school and I’m currently preparing for college. I love to play basketball. I’ve worked at Artistic Noise for 2yrs and my position is art/curator and entrepreneur. I am also the food service professional. My favorite medium is visual art and pencil drawings. My goal in life is to accomplish my dreams no matter what they may be.

Juwan Artist/ Curator (2015-present) I’m Juwan. I am 19 and I attend school in Far Rockaway, NY. My favorite subject was Algebra. I have been at Artistic Noise for 1yr & 3 months. My favorite art medium is pencil drawing. A goal I have for the future is to become a millionaire & that’s becoming a music star. Before art music is my #1 one passion , I fell in love with music at a young 46

age around 3 & 4 yrs old. I fell in love with making music at age 16. I think my music is pretty good I’m like leveling up every song I make I want it to be better than the other.

Music is life that’s why our hearts have beats.

Lamont Artist/ Curator (2015-present) My Name is Lamont and I’m a creator at artistic Noise.

I graduated high school in 2016. I’m goofy, passionate, intelligent and misunderstood. I have been working for Artistic Noise since the winter of 2016. My goal in the future is to be a professional music artist and take and invest into something beneficial for my family. Music is another form of art and another way to express yourself artistically. I plan to take over the world by any means possible.

Samantha Artist/ Curator (2017-present) You could either call me Samantha or Sam, if you’re bold enough you could pick your own nickname. I’ve been at Artistic Noise for about 6 months now & I hope no one is fed up with my sarcasm & jokes just yet. Being in A&E is a familiar yet new experience because you could never learn the same thing twice just build off on what you already know.

Tyrik Artist/ Curator (2016-present)

Staff Bios

Lesley Achitoff, LCAT, ATR-BC Art Therpay Program, NYC Lesley Achitoff, LCAT, ATR-BC, received her Masters of Professional Studies in Creative Arts Therapy at School of Visual Arts, and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University. She has been working with teenagers and young adults as a Creative Arts Therapist since 2003. This work began with families at risk of termination of their rights served by a Prevention Program in Brooklyn, and segued into working as an Art Therapist in a Department of Education Alternative High School for C.A.S.E.S., an alternative to incarceration program. Learning about services increasing on Rikers Island, Lesley was the second Creative Arts Therapist to work there, and now directs a program supervising 14 Creative Arts Therapists, including the modalities of Music and Dance/Movement. Along the way Lesley has facilitated groups of teens served

by Andrew Glover, New York Foundling and The Good Shepherd, as well as created projects enabling wheelchairbound patients to create murals with their chairs at Bellevue Medical Center/Rehab, New York Founding, and The Veterans Hospital in the Bronx. Starting in October 2015, Lesley and her staff on Rikers have curated and facilitated two shows of the artwork of inmates from Rikers at a gallery provided by School of Visual Arts, the first time this work has been shared with the community.

Lesley has witnessed limitless positive results in working with these resilient individuals and believes in their ability to internalize positive attention, find ways to generate hope for their futures, as well as learning to recognize their many strengths.

Lauren Adelman Executive Director, NYC Co-Founder Lauren Adelman is an artist and educator based in Brooklyn, NY. She received a BFA from The School of The Museum of Fine Arts and a MA in Arts Education from NYU. She co-founded Artistic Noise in Boston in 2001 and New York in 2008. Lauren has also worked as an educator at the Museum of Modern Art since 2006. She currently works in the Community and Access Department at MoMA running partnerships with adults and youth involved in the criminal justice system. Lauren is a licensed Department of Education Teacher and has taught art in many varied settings such as public schools, juvenile detention centers, and nonprofit arts organizations both locally and abroad. Lauren has shown her own artwork nationally and has been awarded residencies at The Wassaic Project, Wassaic, NY; Anchor Graphics, Chicago, IL and was most recently a visiting artist at The Artist’s Proof Studio in Johannesburg, South Africa. Lauren’s own artistic practice explores environmental and social issues through printmaking, drawing, animation and other media.

Jennifer Edwards Berr Artist in Residence, Boston After receiving her BFA from RISD, Jenny served as the studio apprentice to Gyorgy Kepes, professor in Emeritus, and Director for Advance Visual Studies at MIT. Thereafter, Jenny earned her MFA from Yale School of Art. Having a wide range of teaching experience, Jenny has taught in the RISD photography department since 1998. She also holds licensure from Massachusetts Department of Education to teach K-12 and has taught drawing, two-dimensional / three-dimension design, photography, self defense, safety and decision-making and to children and teens. Her work has been published and exhibited nationally. She is currently working on a video portrait of trauma and survival.

Sophia Dawson Artist in Residence, NYC Sophia Dawson is a visual artist based in Brooklyn, New York. She attended the School of Visual Arts and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts in 2010. She recently graduated New York University with her Masters in Visual Arts Administration. Sophia’s personal practice aims to educate people on recent history and collective and individual struggles through her art. She has worked as both a teaching artist and muralist on a number of projects throughout New York City.

Arturo Garcia Artist in Residence, NYC Arturo Garcia is a Classical Realism Painter and Arts Educator based in Brooklyn. Arturo was born in Mexico, and was raised between Mexico and Spain. He attended The National School of Plastic Arts in Mexico City. Upon graduating with honors, he began his career exhibiting in Mexico. Arturo became affiliated with “The Water Street Atelier” after moving to NYC. Arturo’s work has been featured in numerous national and international artists magazines. Arturo has taught art to many different audiences through non-profit organizations in NYC. Jocelyn M. Goode Artist in Residence, NYC Jocelyn M. Goode also known as Artist Extraordinarie1 dubs herself as a “creative mastermind hustler”. She is the founder of CultureCocoa ArtHouse, Inc., a social enterprise non-profit dedicated to addressing youth unemployment in Jamaica, Queens by utilizing art, design and entrepreneurship as tools. In addition to building a non-profit, Jocelyn is a practicing artist with recent focus on exploring themes of pop-culture, identity, environment and brand inclusion using body painting as the discipline.

Her other enterprises include Jocelyn Goode’s Pop-Up Art Party and The School of Creative Hustle, which provides free tutorials on YouTube “teaching the business between art and business”. Jocelyn’s bio would not be complete without adding that she is of the fourth generation in her family to reside in Queens where she lives with her husband and two sons aged 6 and 9 years.

Goode graduated Magna cum Laude from Amherst College with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Fine Art and French, Magna cum Laude from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising with an Associates of Arts in Graphic Design, and also possesses a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute.

Nic Holiber Art, Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Program Director, NYC Nicolas is a Brooklyn based artist and educator who paints, sculpts, and creates public artwork. Completing his MFA at the New York Academy of Art in 2012, he was awarded a Postgraduate Fellowship the following year.

Holiber’s art is characterized by its unique use of materials and vivid use of color, creating multidimensional works that combine painting, drawing, and sculpture. Recent projects and awards include public commissions for the NYC Parks Department, Bloomfield College (NJ), and LMCC’s Process Space Residency Program on Governors Island. Since 2007, he has worked in a diverse range of educational settings. Nicolas is passionate about his work at Artistic Noise and remains committed to empowering youth through the visual arts.

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Jen Kind-Rubin, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT Art Therapy Program Director, NYC Jen Kind-Rubin is a nationally registered, board certified (ATR-BT) and a New York State Licensed (LCAT) Creative Arts Therapist living and working in New York City. She earned her Bachelors degree at New York University (2003). While there, she studied at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, combining her interests in psychology and studio art to create her own concentration. A passion and enthusiasm for this combined interest led her to obtain her Masters of Professional Studies in Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Institute (2011). Jen has long been fascinated with the relationship between art exhibition and self-esteem, exploring the question in her master’s thesis and through the execution of client art shows at several past work sites. Jen has experience working with clients across all demographics, but has always had a particular interest in working with urban, at-risk youth. This focus has guided her professional career through numerous settings in New York, including homeless shelters (Covenant House and The Ali Forney Center), The Door, New York Foundling (foster care), and Brooklyn Leadership (an alternative transfer high school). It is Jen’s belief that we all have a natural resiliency, but sometimes need additional supports to discover where this inner strength lies. Art-making provides this opportunity, externalizing the internal experience, and creating space for self-discovery and empowerment.

Jennifer Miller Program Assistant, Boston Lia O’Donnell Director of Development Lia brings an entrepreneurial approach and experience building fundraising programs from the ground up to this position as Artistic Noise’s first Director of Development.

Previously she launched the corporate sponsorship program at the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston where she worked directly with major donors as well as the emerging artists they supported. She also serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors at WrightLocke Farm. She previously presided over grant making as Chair of the Winchester Cultural Council, and has also served as an educator for several cultural organizations in the greater Boston area, most recently at the Institute of Contemporary Art. She graduated with a BA from Boston University in art history, and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate though the Tufts University museum studies program. She proudly serves as an elected Town Meeting member in her community, and in her spare time she recruits and supports women and people of color to run for office as well.

Minotte Romulus Assistant Director, Boston Co-Founder Minotte Romulus is an artist, mentor and educator who has collaborated with John Ewing on several large-scale public art projects. She has taught for St. Stephen’s Be Safe Program and led projects for Artistic Noise in both New York and Boston. Minotte has spoken at Boston’s Cyclorama, The Boston State House, The Cloud Foundation, Columbia University, The Massachusetts College of Art and most recently at The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Annual Conference in Washington DC. Minotte worked with Artistic Noise while she involved with the justice system as a young woman. Now over 10 years later she is the Assistant Director teaching art workshops in the very facility where she was incarcerated. As a former Artistic Noise 48

participant she offers the young people she works with hope that they can succeed, follow their dreams and that anything is possible.

Vanessa Ruiz Executive Director, Boston Vanessa, better known as Nessie Ruiz, received a BFA in Photography from the Rhode Island School of Design, including global and liberal arts studies through Semester at Sea, and a MFA in Visual Arts from the University of Chicago. Nessie’s photographic work revolves around social issues affecting marginalized populations, both locally and abroad. Since 2010 she has been an adjunct faculty member at several colleges including Montserrat College of Art and Community College of Rhode Island, where she teaches photography and visual arts courses.

She has also taught continuing education classes at RISD and the University of Miami. Nessie is uniquely suited to lead Artistic Noise because of her own background.

She herself grew up in a low-income Latin family with a history of incarceration. As a teen she created a leadership project for girls in her community, and successfully secured a grant to fund it. Since then, she has been passionately involved with youth-focused non-profits in the US, Sri Lanka, and South Africa where she has helped to create and implement positive youth development programs for young children and teens. She believes wholeheartedly that art has the power to transform lives. She has two ongoing missions in life: to bring art to underprivileged youth, and to meet Dolly Parton (now for the fourth time). If you ever have the chance, ask her to explain how the two missions are related.

Ebony Walcott Studio Manager, NYC

Interns

Kelsey Chaplain Undergraduate Art Intern, Boston Jordan Crawford Graduate Art Therapy Intern, Boston Kate Pane Graduate Art Therapy Intern, NYC

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Presented by: Artistic Noise The Commons Gallery - June 2017 Artistic Noise - 2185 7th Ave. New York, NY 10027 For more information please visit our website www.artisticnoise.org

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