May 2010 Archives

After a only a week or two of work, Norlan has come up with this awesome Giraffe. It's made of felt, packing peanuts, sand, and a wooden pole to support the neck. His inspiration was simple: "I like giraffes, and I figured, I didn't want to make a bag in sewing class, so I made this instead." He drew out the trace for the animal, then cut out the material along the trace. The front and backside are machine sewn together, except for a small opening used to fill giraffe with packing peanuts, and then the opening was sewn up by hand. Norlan is also wearing a rain poncho which he made out of some water-proof material he found laying around. Then, for the finishing touch, he etched "Hello World" into the neckline using the laser cutter at a sensitive setting. Ka-Blam!

Young people from the Providence Youth Arts Collaborative (AS220 Broad Street Studios, Community MusicWorks, the Carriage House, New Urban Arts, and Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth) have joined forces to organize the first-ever youth arts day on the theme of Roots & Rituals at AS220, generously sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts!

Join us for this FREE collaborative arts and media day where you can make cool stuff, learn about local youth arts organizations, and see expressive performances. Don't leave your personality at home, bring your SKILLZ, experience different art practices in workshops, or just hang out. There will be an open mic - show us what you got! Get ready for a day you won't soon forget! You will have an awesome time!

SATURDAY, MAY 22

DOORS 11:30 WORKSHOPS 12-2 PERFORMANCES 2-5

FREE FOOD!

Schedule:

12-1pm
Improv Workshop (sign-up)
Laser Cutter Workshop (drop-in)
Story Booth (drop-in)
Writing Workshop (sign-up)
Visuals Workshops (drop-in)

1-2pm
Dance Workshop (sign-up)
Laser Cutter Workshop (drop-in)
Story Booth (drop-in)
Movie in an Hour (sign-up)
Visuals Workshops (sign-up and drop in)

2-3pm
Youth Panel
Street Band
Free Food

3-4pm
Broad Street and Carriage House Dance Performances with CMW Rhythm Machine Video and Slideshow Screening (work from Broad Street, Carriage House, and CMW)

4-5pm
Roots & Rituals performances featuring CMW Fiddle Lab and Broad Street Studio Street Band finale
Plus ongoing youth gallery show and other surprises!

The recent excursion to MIT was one of the best field trips I've ever been on. Once the AS220 group entered the MIT buildings, it was a technological world where anything you could think of as reasonably possible to create could be done. We went into a lab where there was a massive machine which used only water to cut clean through 7 to 9 inches of steel. Then we saw robot cars being produced, high tech communication booths where business interactions could take place, a bass guitar powered using only a hand pump, and an electric fabric which lit up when touched. It was a good/well/great experience which taught me to appreciate all of the passion and work which goes into our technology these days.

Writing and Photography by Jeremiah Joseph

Manny Togbah, age 17, has been making art since he was very young. Most of his work has centered around religion or animals, topics which he explores through various mediums and methods. He usually likes to draw with pencil and has been learning how to paint as well. Most recently, he has started working with pastel after finding inspiration from some of the work on display in the AS220 gallery. These pieces here are the beginning of what Manny hopes will become a whole collection of oil pastel animal heads. He likes to work quickly, completing the eagle, lion and deer each in about an hour apiece. Manny makes most of his artwork at the studio, but will also bring work home, which allows him more time to concentrate and create as much as possible. This is his first year here at BSS and he has certainly hit the ground running and has no plans of slowing down. "I want to be a professional artist," he says. "I want to travel the world and share my art wherever I go."