Girl Wonder by Creative Art Works

GIRL WONDER PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM LOUIS D. BRANDEIS HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS

SUMMER 2023 1

GIRL WONDER

Unveiling Celebration Louis D. Brandeis High School Campus 145 W 84th St, New York, NY 10024 Wednesday, August 16, 10:00 AM Abby Walsh, Teaching Artist Mon Iker, Teaching Artist Sydney Lasomser, Teaching Artist Assistant About the Mural

“Girl Wonder” is a mural about how the dreams of one person can draw inspiration from a community and, at the same time, contribute to that community. Starting on the left edge of the mural, a young girl blows soap bubbles filled with dreams such as her sweet-sixteen birthday, graduating from high school, and making friends both virtually and in real life. The bubbles grow larger as they progress towards the right edge of the mural and begin to include images of a wider world, including a cozy apartment, the skyline of Manhattan, and scenes from nature. Nurtured by her family, friends, and school, the girl begins to imagine giving back to her community. Personal desires blossom into collective ambitions.

FROM KAREN JOLICOEUR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Over the course of the past two short months, Creative Art Works has engaged more than 110 youth apprentices in the creation of seven works of public art under the tutelage of 16 phenomenal teaching artists and our dedicated staff. These include murals for three sites in Manhattan, one in the Bronx, and two in Queens, and the installation of an ambitious oral histories project in East Harlem. It has been a joy to witness the evolution of skills, relationships, and of the artwork itself! From their initial introductions through the development of initial concepts, presentation of designs, subsequent revisions, and ultimate execution, our “YAs” have had a mammoth amount to learn—and to do—in mere weeks. This is especially impressive considering the “firsts”! For most of them, this was their first time working with CAW, and for a third it was their very first job. A surprising number have never dug this deeply into visual art before, or been called on to make a public presentation. The daunting process demands and develops patience, resilience, and creative problem solving. We are so proud of them coming through with flying colors! This is the fifth CAW mural at the Louis D. Brandeis High School Campus, including the western exterior mural and three interior murals, so this project feels like a homecoming. Several of the YAs are current students at one of the four high schools on the campus, and our own Teaching Artist Assistant is a past graduate! These connections to the school and surrounding community inform the robust youth-created design, which welcomes passersby to contemplate the positive development possible within the building. We hope you agree that the future they represent looks bright! Yours sincerely,

Karen Jolicoeur Executive Director

Back row, left to right: Adan A. Arellano, Namory Karamoko, Fabian Justin Cajiga Front row, left to right: Treasure Jackson, Lorenzo Vergara, Nicole Reyes, Teachin Nur Malik, Anastasia Aikens, Maria Marquez, Ethan De Los Santos, Israel Robinso 4

as, Yotzin Reyes, Jaylen Brown, Eric Lopez, Teaching Artist Mon Iker. ng Artist Assistant Sydney Lasomser, Teaching Artist Abby Walsh, Zeniya Hayes, on 5

Anastasia Aikens Anastasia is 16 and is a junior at Frank McCourt High School, born and raised in Harlem. She’s an African American and Puerto Rican young woman. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, drawing, and listening to music. This is her first year working with CAW. Something she’s taken away from CAW is the ability to be committed. Since the mural is on her school building, she was excited to see how this would positively affect her community. Coming back to school every day to create something beautiful for the Brandeis community fills her with purpose over the summer break.

Jaylen Brown Jaylen is 17 and grew up in Harlem while attending high school in Chelsea. New York is influential in his development, because of the many different possibilities. This is Jaylen’s second year in this program, and provides a new perspective that can affect the way he thinks creatively. He enjoys alone time day to day, although it’s not often, and games are what he plays. Art itself isn’t something he usually does, and it’s really not his thing. Jaylen has no problem exploring different topics similar to Bing. Thanks to Creative Art Works, he has a steady hand while painting!

Adan A. Arellano Adan is 21 years old and earned his GED. Adan loves working and making money. He also loves going to bailes, which are parties. He is a very hard worker—he can get it anyway he can. He is from Mexico, but grew up in the Bronx. One thing Adan can say he has gained since he’s been in this program is some creativity and a more positive mindset. Making art is something that he hasn’t done since he was little, and he is enjoying it.

Fabian Justin Cajigas Fabian is a 16-year-old high school student who attends Frank McCourt High School, class of 2025. He is African American and Puerto Rican, raised in Kingsbridge, but moved to Gowanus during quarantine. His talent and interest is basketball. He played his sophomore year for The Brandeis Bulldogs, and he is working on becoming better to play his junior year for varsity. His art experience is from school and he’s never done art outside of school. This is his first time with Creative Art Works and so far, it’s been interesting. He would like to connect with others and make money while he’s here.

Tynasia Culver Tynasia is 19 years old, and this is her second year with Creative Art Works. Last year was extremely hard for her because her mom passed away in the middle of the summer. Her mom was one of her biggest supporters and motivators. She continued the program last year in memory of her. This year, Tynasia hopes to make a new beautiful piece of art knowing she’s watching over her. Even though she never considered herself an artist, this experience taught her teamwork and to speak up for what she wants. It also gave her a sense of community. This year’s mural project is about dreams becoming reality. Her dream is to become a vet tech and eventually open up her own dog grooming business on the side. Tynasia’s hope is to make animals feel appreciated and loved through all the animal cruelty going on. She lives in the Bronx near Riverdale and will be going to SUNY Ulster next spring to follow her dreams and aspirations.

Zeniya Hayes Zeniya is 23 years old, and comes from a Hispanic and African American culture. She enjoys spending her days at home with her dog, going out with her sisters, and dancing. She’s living life how she wants and to the fullest that she possibly can, not only for herself though, because she is soon to be a mom. What she took from this Creative Art Works program is how to work better with others in a group and using the new things she learned and applying them outside of this program.

Ethan De Los Santos Ethan is a 16 years old. He was born and raised in Inwood and is going to be a junior next school year at Inwood Academy for Leadership. He describes himself as a calm person but can also be energetic at times. His hobbies are playing video games and sports. He’s interested in being an engineer. Throughout this program, he not only gained money but the opportunity to meet new people. In addition to that, he has experienced having a job for the first time.

Treasure Jackson Treasure is 16 and is Guyanese. She lives in Brooklyn but her culture will always stay with her. TV shows and movies are special to her. The way they make you feel through a screen is very intriguing to her. She hopes she can become an actor. If not, then being a lawyer is what she would desire to be, hence why she goes to High School for Law and Public Service. Her style is what makes her unique. This is her first year working with Creative Art Works. This program helps her think and be more creative.

Namory Karamoko Namory is from Harlem and is in his senior year. He likes activities like drawing, running, and music. He’s quiet, thoughtful, and fun. He comes from an Ivory Coast background. His dream is to be a comic writer or artist. He’s going to play for a soccer team at his school. This summer work has been great because he can do what he likes most and get paid for it. This work has also taught him some tips in drawing and how to get better as an artist.

Nur Malik Nur turned 18 last November and will be 19 this fall. Nur graduated in June 2023 from these halls (Global Learning Collaborative). Born and raised in The Bronx she hails from all over, from the island to the mountains. She doesn’t have many hobbies or interests besides reading, but she used to dabble in instruments, writing, and singing. She can be social but feels more comfortable when observing others. Working for Creative Art Works has allowed her to creatively expand Now she’ll leave a painting from her own hand!

Eric Lopez Eric is a 17-year-old Latino male, born and raised in Manhattan. As of now he no longer attends high school. he loves going outside to sit in the sunshine at his local park and reminisce about his day. A passion he has is helping others and just lending a helping hand. This was his first time ever being a part of CAW and it has opened so many new doors for him. Eric enjoyed making new friends who he can relate to, and also building his art and communication skills. He loved being a part of this program overall.

Maria Marquez Maria is a 22-year-old Ecuadorian American born in Queens and raised in Brooklyn. They love to bake, play video games, and do arts and crafts. They are currently studying at Brooklyn College for a degree in art. They are an aspiring artist and jewelry maker. Their favorite pastime is drawing and making their own world through art. Their goal in life is to become a comic book illustrator and publish their own comic book series. They love fashion and advocate for everyone to express themselves through their style and appearance, regardless of what others think.

Devante Mcdougell Devante is 20 years old. He is very outgoing and has a good vibe. He’s Jamaican and African American. He likes sports, and he loves to play football. He loves music and making music. Devante likes to travel all over the country to different states. He likes working with Creative Art Works because he like to learn new skills. He likes art and painting with different colors and brushes.

Yotzin Reyes Yotzin is a 17-year-old senior at High School for Media and Communications. He is Mexican, born and raised in The Bronx. His hobbies include playing basketball, bike riding, going to the gym, and playing video games. He is interested in real estate and photography. His hobbies, interests, and culture are important to him because it’s his label—it’s how he feels he is seen and represented. Being a part of Creative Art Works, he feels his creativity has expanded further than he thought it could. He’s doing things he didn’t know he had the abilities to do.

Nicole Reyes A student at Brandeis Campus, Nicole is from the Bronx. She’s what you call the future. She’s very reliable and responsible. She’s from the City that never sleeps that is called New York City. She’s from an Hispanic culture called the Dominican Republic. She’s an 18-year-old who hopes to pursue her dreams in the future. This is her first job! When it comes to leadership skills, Creative Art Works has helped her creatively and positively. She is the future leader of a new generation.

Dyana Richards Dyana is 17 years old, in 11th grade, and attends Innovation Diploma Plus High School. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and hobbies include chilling with friends, reading from time to time, and an undercover talent for doing hair. She’s a humble, loyal, honest, and antisocial person. In the future she wants to become a travel nurse or a lawyer. Helping people is something that makes her feel good. Something that she learned from this program was teamwork. This program helped her build up the courage to let others help.

Israel Robinson Israel Robinson is 16 years old and is half White and half Dominican. He’s about to be a senior at Gramercy Arts High School. He joined Creative Art Works to engage in more art activities, build friendships, and earn some money. He’s a funny, silly, kind, and respectful person, and his main goals are to spread kindness, positivity and love, but also to encourage others to do the same. He likes to draw and dance; although not in public. He also enjoys reading the Bible, going out for bike rides, going to the park, and resting.

Abby Walsh, Teaching Artist Abby Walsh can be found all over the city, working with young people in various forms and styles as a teaching artist. This is still her first year with Creative Art Works, one of four arts nonprofits she is currently exploring in this role. Her degree in illustration came from Ringling School of Art and Design but her career has taken many turns from that initial point–including time working as a Production Designer for film and theatre, a Construction Supervisor and crew lead for everything from installing rigging systems in new buildings to NYFW sets, etc. Having young people as her main collaborators has profoundly opened up her art practice and sense of possibility–this is the most interesting part of her path so far!

Lorenzo Vergara He is Lorenzo And he is sixteen Junior year of high school Is where he’ll be seen Filming and editing Is where he thrives Drawing and doodling Is where he’s alive He would say He’s imaginative Creative and hardworking Is a nice additive I almost forgot He’s also from the Bronx Trying to rhyme this Really… stonks This is Lorenzo’s first job with Creative Art Works. He’s been able to take away experience as a designer and an artist, to be able to work with fellow colleagues and to make a few friends.

Mon Iker, Teaching Artist Mon (they/she) is an interdisciplinary artist working across the fields of arts-activism and clinical herbalism. By engaging the intersection of social and environmental justice through art and the healing exchange, they aim to create work that bridges visual culture and social practice. Mon’s artistic endeavors have been featured in the New York Times, and select residencies include the EmergeNYC Fellowship, Eyebeam Art and Technology Fellowship, and A Blade of Grass Fellowship. Select exhibitions include the Hemispheric Institute of Performing Arts and Politics Encuentro, Art Basel, Queens Museum, and Living Walls: World’s First All Female Street Art Conference. Mon holds a BFA Magna Cum Laude from Trinity University and the Savannah College of Art and Design, and professional certification in Clinical Herbalism from ArborVitae School of Traditional Herbalism.

Sydney Lasomser, Teaching Artist Assistant Sydney (she/her) is an artist, student, and lover of art, born and raised in Washington Heights. Growing up around art and with plans to pursue it, she went to Fashion Institute of Technology and received her associates in fine arts. Now, she plans on continuing her studies at City College for a degree in K-12 art education with a newfound passion of teaching younger children. This is Sydney’s first summer as a Teaching Artist Assistant with Creative Art Works, working at Brandeis High School Campus (which is where she once attended high school!). With experience working on large murals, and a wide background in art, she’ll bring her skills to the table.

About the Public Art Youth Employment Program

Public Art Youth Employment Programs give teens and young adults full-time summer jobs and part-time jobs after school to create large-scale public art and multimedia projects. Youth Apprentices are guided by professional teaching artists from the initial concept development through client presentation, to the final edit and public unveiling or premiere. Along the way, they gain tangible employment and life skills such as leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and the power of taking initiative. They are empowered by the enduring accomplishment in their work of art and its positive impact on the community.

About Creative Art Works

Creative Art Works (CAW) is a 37-year-old nonprofit that empowers young people through the visual and multimedia arts. Our programs equip children, teens, and young adults with essential tools and skills; connect them with community, academic success, and career opportunities; and inspire them to reach for new possibilities. Working in underserved neighborhoods of New York City, in public schools, recreation centers, foster care facilities, parks, juvenile justice settings, and in the remote environment, CAW provides dynamic creative youth development for those who otherwise lack access. Our programs build confidence, unlock a love of learning, and teach valuable technical and socialemotional skills while creating profound connections between our young constituents, their art and their communities. www.creativeartworks.org Creative Art Works’ Public Art Youth Employment program receives support from the Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, the Leroy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, the Find Your Light Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the Office of the Manhattan Borough President.

Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation

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