My Two Homes & The Latinx Teaching-Artist Fellowship 2019

MY TWO HOMES & THE LATINX TEACHING-ARTIST FELLOWSHIP

MY TWO HOMES

Minature Foods, Clay

Various sizes

My Two Homes is an arts education curriculum developed by Root Division and taught by the Latinx Teaching-Artist Fellows (LTAFs) to students in the ExCELProgram at Mission Education Center (MEC). The goal of this class aims to build students’ understanding of their cultural backgrounds, as well as aid in their transition from their countries of origin to the United States through art making. This year, LTAFs Camilo Villa and Greta Liz Anderson worked with 80 elementary-school students from MEC. Throughout the school year, students explored a variety of ways to communicate their experiences and ideas through different mediums such as textiles, watercolor, acrylic paint, clay, sculptural materials, and performance. One of the main projects, “Banderas de la Juventud Latina” encouraged students to acquire an understanding about the existence of self through the creation of their own identity flag. These art projects offered an opportunity for students to understand what they carry with them despite moving to another country, while also learning about other Latin American cultures, as well as the many cultures within the United States.

MIS DOS HOGARES

El proyecto “Mis Dos Hogares”, es un currículo de educación artística desarrollado por Root Division y enseñado por artistas y educadores becarios Latinos, quienes le dictan clase a estudiantes que forman parte del programa ExCEL en el Mission Education Center. La misión de estas clases es fomentar el entendimiento que los estudiantes tienen sobre su cultura y etnia, como también de la transición de sus países de origen a Estados Unidos. Este año los artistas Camilo Villa y Greta Liz Anderson le enseñaron a 80 estudiantes del Mission Education Center. Los estudiantes exploraron diversas maneras de comunicar ideas a través de distintos medios artísticos como textiles, acuarelas, pintura acrílica, arcilla y otros materiales para hacer esculturas y performance. Uno de los proyectos principales, “Banderas de la Juventud Latina” motivo a los estudiantes a obtener un entendimiento sobre la existencia de su ser a través de la creación de banderas de la identidad. Los proyectos ofrecieron una oportunidad para que los estudiantes entendieran lo que traen con ellos, sin importar a cual país se muden, como también el aprender sobre la cultura de Estados Unidos.

“My favorite project was making the flag of Guatemala because it is my country and my family lives there.”

Marylin, 1st grade

“Mi proyecto favorito fue hacer la bandera de Guatemala porque es mi país y mi familia vive allá.”

Marylin, k Grado

LATINX TEACHING-ARTIST FELLOWSHIP

ABOUT THE LATINX TEACHING-ARTIST FELLOWSHIP

As an effort to more accurately reflect neighborhood diversity in the Studio Artist community and teaching core, Root Division launched our Latinx Teaching Artist Fellowship (LTAF) in Fall 2010. With additional funding for the program in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017 from the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Community Investments Grant, we have been able to support two Latinx Teaching Artist Fellows. We recruit Latinx artists who speak both English and Spanish fluently, have experience teaching youth, and have a strong studio practice. LTAFs receive a free studio space at Root Division’s facility for a year in exchange for teaching at Mission Education Center. As part of a year-long artist-teacher in residency, LTAFs teach a dedicated curriculum called My Two Homes to each grade level at the school. My Two Homes is a 10-month project that investigates and navigates the immigration process, in particular the move from one home to another. The fellowship is a mutually beneficial response to the needs of this school population, while simultaneously creating professional opportunities for Latinx artists.

Detail of Dreamers, Laser cut wooden rings, coasters, yarn, natural dyes, oil pastels, feathers, beads and wooden dowls, Various sizes

ACERCA DE LA BECA DE ARTISTA PROFESOR LATINX

Por el esfuerzo de reflejar con mayor precisión la diversidad de nuestra comunidad de artistas y la comunidad de nuestro nucleo de enseñanza, Root Division puso en marcha la Beca Artista Profesor Latinx (BAPL) en el otoño del 2010. Con el financiamiento adicional en 2012, 2013, 2015, y 2017 de la San Francisco Arts Commission / Inversiones Comunitarias, tuvimos la oportunidad de ofrecer esta beca a dos artistas latinos. Reclutamos a artistas latinos que hablan Inglés y Español, que cuentan con experiencia educando a jóvenes y que tambien cuentan con una práctica artística de taller sólida. El BAPL recibe un espacio de taller gratis por un año en Root Division a cambio de dar clases de arte en Mission Education Center--una escuela pública de Kinder a Quinto grado, que da servicios a estudiantes que emigraron recientemente de América Latina. Durante la residencia de artista-profesor de un año, el BAPL enseña un currículo llamado “Mis Dos Hogares” a cada uno de los grado de la escuela. Mis Dos Hogares es un proyecto de 10 meses que explora y navega el proceso de inmigración, en particular la mudanza de un hogar a otro. La beca otorgada por Root Division representa una respuesta a las necesidades de esta población escolar. Esta beca no solo beneficia a los estudiantes, pero también crea oportunidades profesionales para artistas latinos.

MEC sudents draft drawings for their Dreamcatcher projects.

“In art class I’ve learned to draw fun illustrations of superheroes.”

Eric, 3rd Grade

“En la clase de arte he aprendido a hacer ilustraciones divertidas de super heroes.”

Eric, 3er Grado

Melvin, 4th Grade

Top: Darlinson mixes ingredients for pumpkin pie bake off.

Bottom: Students create still life drawings using ingredients as they mixed them.

“When thinking about home, I remember I could grab fruits from a tree right outside my house.”

Melvin, 4to Grado

“De mi hogar recuerdo cuando agarraba frutas del árbol afuera de mi casa.”

MISSION EDUCATION CENTER

ABOUT THE MISSION EDUCATION CENTER

Mission Education Center (MEC) is one of several “newcomer programs” developed in response to the continuing influx of immigrants to San Francisco, providing a safe learning environment for children to develop skills for success in a U.S. classroom. For this one-year program, instruction at MEC is taught entirely in Spanish before students are mainstreamed into other SFUSD language immersion schools.

MEC has some visual art instruction, but Root Division fills the school’s need. for Spanishspeaking teaching-artists with relevant life experience.

MEC students explore aspects of performance art by practicing various formations using their bodies to create shapes.

ACERCA DE MISSION EDUCATION CENTER

Mission Education Center (MEC) es uno de los programas creados para estudiantes “recién llegados” en respuesta al continuo influjo de inmigrantes a San Francisco. Este programa proporciona un ambiente de aprendizaje para que los niños aprendan habilidades para tener éxito en un salón de clases en los Estados Unidos. La enseñanza en MEC es completamente en español durante el primer año y ocurre antes de que los estudiantes se integren a otras escuelas del Distrito Escolar, El MEC tiene clases de artes visuales, pero Root Division satisface la necesidad de tener artistas-educadores hispanohablantes que cuentan con una experiencia de vida similar a la de los estudiantes.

Dulce admires her finished Self Portrait project.

“I like art class because it has helped me become more organized.” Ashly, 3rd Grade

Jeremy uses his Self Portrait project as a mask.

“A mi me gusta la clase de arte porque me ha ayudado a ser más ordenada.”

Ashly, 3er Grado

E x CEL AT MISSION EDUCATION CENTER

ABOUT ExCEL AT MISSION EDUCATION CENTER

The after-school program was started in the spring of 2007 and is dedicated to serving a diverse population of Latin newcomer students. The program operates Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 6:30pm and serves 80 students daily. During the week students participate in a variety of academic enrichment and recreation activities. The program offers various enrichment classes throughout the school year; cooking, art, gardening, dance, academic games, and STEM. Our newcomer students need support to help them adjust and transition to their new country. The goals are to create a learning environment that is welcoming and engaging to students and families and to support newcomer students through their transition. Students engage with and are exposed to a variety of academic, enrichment, and recreation activities that will allow them to build skills that will help them in the future. The students are very eager and excited to learn, and they have a strong willingness to succeed.

ACERCA DE ExCEL EN MISSION EDUCATION CENTER

El programa de después de escuela se inició en la primavera del 2007 y está dedicado a servir estudiantes Latinos recién llegados. El programa opera de Lunes a Viernes de las 3:30 a las 6:30pm y provee servicio a un grupo de 80 alumnos. Durante la semana los alumnos participan en actividades de enriquecimiento academico y recreación. El programa ofrece clases durante el año escolar tales como cocina, arte, jardinería, poesía, danza, juegos académicos, teatro y ciencia. Estos estudiantes necesitan mucho apoyo, consejo y asistencia para adaptarse y hacer una transición a su nuevo país. Los objetivos de este programa son crear un ambiente de aprendizaje que tambien de la bienvenida a los estudiantes y a sus familias, y que apoye a los estudiantes durante su proceso de transición.

Left: Students pick their clay colors as they prep for the Miniature Foods project.

Right: Student adds texture details to her food sculptures.

Art is something that is fundamental for students’ learning. They are able to use their creativity and imagination to create beautiful art. Having a partnership with Root Division and the My Two Homes Project/ LTAF has been amazing. Our students look forward to these classes every week. We get paired with 2 great artists every year. It’s beautiful to see the artists come with such great ideas but also [to see] the love that they show our community at Mission Education Center.”

Nayeli Torres, MEC ExCEL Site Coordinator

MEC students showcasing their individual “Banderas de la Juventud Latina” artworks.

El arte es algo fundamental para el aprendizaje de los estudiantes. Con el arte los estudiantes pueden utilizar su creatividad e imaginación para crear bellas piezas de arte. La oportunidad de poder colaborar con Root Division y con el Proyecto de Mis Dos hogares/LTAF ha sido excelente. Nuestros estudiantes esperan con felicidad las clases de arte a cada semana.

Cada año tenemos dos grandes artistas. Es hermoso ver como los artistas vienen con grandes ideas, y también ver el amor que muestran a la comunidad de nuestra escuela Mission Education Center.”

Nayeli Torres, Coordinadora de ExCEL

Hector proudly poses after finishing the identity flag project, “Banderas de la Juventud Latina”.

FELLOW ARTIST: GRETA LIZ ANDERSON

Greta Liz Anderson is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Asunción, Paraguay. She migrated to New York on her 15th birthday. Raised to be multilingual (Guarani and Spanish), diversity has always been part of her approach to artistic communities and practices. Her work consists of interactive installations and performance through wearables that challenge and build on various models of social construction. Currently, Greta Liz is working on a project called #BuscandoCompatriotas (looking for people of my land), a project that aims to create global connections between Paraguayans living in other countries. She received a BFA at the Fashion Institute of Technology and an MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute. Greta Liz’s work has been exhibited and performed as public installations and performances throughout galleries, art fairs, public and alternative spaces in New York, Miami, San Francisco, including the de Young Museum, stARTup Art Fair, and the Old SF Mint, Miami for Art Basel, and in Paraguay after 13 years of separation at the Centro Cultural Japonés.

Greta Liz Anderson Buscando Compatriotas, Paraguay national flag and megaphone

Greta Liz es una artista multifacética nacida en Asunción, Paraguay. A los quince años, Greta emigró a Nueva York. Su trabajo explora instalaciones y actuaciones escénicas a través de esculturas usables. La diversidad cultural es el enfoque de su carrera artística y práctica. Actualmente, Greta está trabajando en un proyecto llamado “#BuscandCompatriotas”, la cual busca crear conexiones globales entre Paraguayos viviendo en otros países.

Greta Liz obtuvo su título de Bachelor de Arte en el Fashion Institute of Technology y una Maestría en Arte en el San Francisco Art Institute. Su trabajo ha sido exhibido en varios espacios galerías, museos, lugares públicos y locales alternativos en Nueva York, San. Francisco, Miami y Paraguay.

FELLOW ARTIST: CAMILO VILLA

Camilo Villa is a Colombian artist and dancer based in Oakland, California. Camilo holds a BFA with a minor in Social Action & Public Forms from the California College of the Arts. His published work can be found in the culture and commentary magazine, The Field Between. During the day he works at Learn. Love. Success. - a non-profit organization committed to providing the highest quality of after school programming for underserved and underrepresented students that lack equitable access to high quality after school programs.

Camilo is an artist who utilizes his creative practice as a visibility platform. He is committed to unveiling oppressive systems to recreate alternative communities. His love for craft and performance intersect in order to communicate symbolic narratives that encourage conversation about the role of art within social justice. He is currently working on the Baila Conmigo Project, which invites queer Latinx people to occupy iconic public spaces of cities to the rhythm of latin beats. Besides livening the daily routine of citizens, this project aims to create community through dance, a non-verbal bodily language that brings people together. The dance is recorded though video and photographs that are then translated into vibrant posters, stencils, and collages.

Camilo Villa with MEC students discussing their work on view for New Growth: Shared Stories at Root Division’s gallery.

Camilo Villa es un artista y bailarín colombiano que vive en Oakland, California. Camilo tiene una licenciatura en Bellas Artes con una asignatura secundaria en Acción Social y Formas Públicos del California College of the Arts. Parte de su trabajo se puede encontrar en la revista, The Field Between. Durante el día trabaja en Learn. Love. Success. - una organización sin animo de lucro comprometida a proporcionar la mejor calidad en la programación de la escuela para los estudiantes que no cuentan con los servicios suficientes o que tienen una representación insuficiente y que carecen de acceso equitativo a los programas de alta calidad.

Camilo es un artista que utiliza su práctica creativa como una plataforma de visibilidad. Está comprometido a desvelar sistemas opresivos para recrear comunidades alternativas. Su amor por el arte y el performance se entrecruzan para comunicar narrativas simbólicas que fomentan la conversación sobre el papel del arte en la justicia social. Actualmente está trabajando en el Proyecto Baila Conmigo, que invita a las personas latinas queer a ocupar los espacios públicos de las ciudades al ritmo del baile Latino. Además de animar la rutina diaria de los ciudadanos, este proyecto apunta a crear una comunidad a través de la danza, un lenguaje corporal no verbal que une a las personas. El baile está documentado a través de videos y fotografías que luego se traducen en carteles, plantillas y esculturas representando a lo/as bailarines.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN DREAMCATCHER

MATERIALS: Cotton yarn, wooden circles, strawberries, pot, burner, feathers

COMO HACER TU PROPIO ATRAPASUEÑOS

MATERIALES: Lana de algodón, circulos de madera, fresas, olla, fogon, plumas

STEP 1:

Begin by boiling water with the strawberries to prepare your dye bath. Add your fiber to the bath and keep at a low simmer until you are satisfied with the color. You can add in more iron sulfate or aluminum sulfate to experiment with the color. For a richer, more intense color, transfer the dye bath along with the fiber into the plastic bucket, making sure the fiber is completely immersed.

STEP 2:

After the natural dyeing process, cut out a long strip of yarn and start rolling it around the wooden laser cut circle until you cover the entire circle with yarn.

PASO 1:

Empiece por hervir el agua con las fresas y luego añada la lana y mantenga el tinte a fuego medio hasta estar satisfecho con el color. Puede añadir mas sulfato de hierro o aluminio para cambiar el color. Para obtener un color mas rico e intenso, transfiera el tinte a un conteneder de plastico, junto a las fibras.

PASO 2:

Después del proceso de teñido, corte una tira larga de lana y empiece a cubrir el círculo enrollando la lana alrededor hasta que no se vea la madera.

STEP 3:

Continue by cutting another long strip of yarn in a different color, then tie a knot at one point around the circle and place the strip over the circle.

STEP 4:

Decide which shape you want in the middle of the circle and when you are done designing it, tie a knot around one of the sides of the circle.

STEP 5:

To finish, choose a feather that you like and cut a 3-6 in. piece of string. With this string, tie a knot around an end of the circle. With the other end of the string, go around the tip of the feather about 5 times and then tie a tight knot.

STEP 6:

Hang your dreamcatcher on a string and celebrate!

CONGRATULATIONS

Now you have your own dreamcatcher!

PASO 3:

Para continuar, corte otra tira de lana de un color distinto y amarre un nudo en algún punto del círculo. Luego estire la tira y déjela caer sobre el círculo.

PASO 4:

Decida que figura quiere en el centro del círculo y cuando termine de diseñar, amarre un nudo alrededor de uno de los extremos del círculo.

PASO 5:

Para terminar, escoja una pluma que le guste Y corte una lana de 3 a 6 pulgadas. Después, con la lana, amarre un nudo alrededor de un punto del círculo. Con el otro extremo de la lana, vaya al rededor de la punta de la pluma 5 veces y luego ate un nudo muy fuerte.

PASO 6: Cuelga tu atrapasueños y celebra!

FELICIDADES

Ya tienes tu propio atrapasueños!

STAFF

Executive Director

Michelle Mansour

Education Programs Director

Lindsay Ellen Howland

Art Programs Manager

Samantha Reynolds

Marketing & Design Manager

Phi Tran

Office & Systems Manager

Celeste Christie

Installations & Site Coordinator

Carissa Diaz

ABOUT ROOT DIVISION

Root Division is a visual arts non-profit located in the SoMa District of San Francisco. We connect creativity and community through a dynamic ecosystem of arts education, exhibitions, and studios. Our mission is to empower artists, foster community service, inspire youth, and enrich the Bay Area through engagement in the visual arts. Root Division is a launching pad for artists, a stepping stone for educators, a door to creativity for youth, and a bridge for the public to become involved in the arts.

Design

Phi Tran

Latinx Teaching-Artist Fellowship Publication © 2019

Translation

Greta Liz Anderson

Rafael Bustillos

Camilo Villa

ACERCA DE ROOT DIVISION

Root Division es una organización sin fines de lucro de artes visuales ubicada en el Distrito SoMa de San Francisco. Nosotros conectamos la creatividad con la comunidad a través de un ecosistema dinámico de educación artística, exposiciones y estudios. Nuestra misión es fortalecer a los artistas, promover el servicio comunitario, inspirar a la juventud y enriquecer el área de la Bahía a través del compromiso en las artes visuales. Root Division es una plataforma de lanzamiento para artistas, un trampolín para los educadores, una puerta a la creatividad para los jóvenes, y un puente para que el público se involucre en las artes.

Root Division is supported in part by grants from Grants for the Arts, San Francisco Arts Commission: Community Investments, Kimball Foundation, Crescent Porter Hale Foundation, Morton Foundation, Violet World Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, Garver Family Foundation, Bill Graham Memorial Fund, and Art4Moore.