Two Thursday's ago Davina Alejo & Mikaela Gonzaga had their very first gallery opening in the Youth Gallery! A bunch of incredible people came to their studio to see their artwork, both friends and family. It was a fantastic turnout and everyone enjoyed their body of work.They even sold some pieces and made some money! Check out some images from the event below!

THE LADIES OF THE HOUR :)

HERE ARE LINKS TO THEIR PORTFOLIOS

DAVINA

MIKAELA

Check out the awesome lineup in the Youth Gallery!

FEBRUARY: Davina Alejo & Mikaela Gonzaga

MARCH : AS220 Youth Group Show

APRIL: Kanema Miller & Roberto Perez

MAY: Kenneth Norman & Eugene Petty

JUNE: Group Show

JULY: Photo Mem Presents

AUGUST: Fabratory Presents

If you are between the ages of 14-21 and want to have an exhibition of your artwork in the AS220 Yotuh Gallery, email nick@as220.org or gianna@as220.org and include a brief description of yourself and your artwork along with at least two images. If you do not have digital images of your work you can schedule a meeting to present your artwork!

*The AS220 Youth gallery is uncensored and unjuried. *

*Gallery Hours * M-F (11-7)

SATURDAY (12-5)

MVC 3 is a FAST pased fighting game published and developed by Capcom. It was realeased February 15, 2011. The game is rated T for everyone HAHAHA. It is based on Marvel and Capcom universes; When you fire up the game you'll be able to choose from a variety of your favorite characters from both realms including Spider-man, Wolverine, Chris Redfeild and many others. Each Character packs their own special moves and "Hyper Combos" which allow you to unleash devestating damage on your oponints. Players are able to choose up to 3 characters which will be displayed on a stylish comic book roster, each match lasts 1 round making the the urgency of victory all the more important. One of the coolest new editions is the implementation of the X-factor mechanic which allows your character to boost his strength, speed and overall ability and you are also able to switch characters mid-combo even in air.

Mike: Besides losing horribly both times I played last week, some of my favorite characters are Magneto, Chris Redfeild, and Wesker.

Ray: I got to play MVC 3 for the second time in my whole life last week and i thought it was awsome. I only won one match but its all good. Id have to say my favorite charectors in the game were Dante, Spider-man, and Zero preferably all dressed in black lol.

Overall Impressions: The game definatly translated well at game night, everyone enjoyed jumping in and beating the crud out of each other with epic super-cool characters. Jordan writes, "This game is fast, awesome, and old school". "Tremell" writes, "I liked this game because it clashes two of my favorite companies". If you like fighting games, this game is for you if not then it's probably a pass. Next week we will be reviewing either Mortal Kombat or Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition so stay tuned.

Witten by: Mike Viera and Ray Min

I think all AS220 Youth Staff would agree that working with Berto (in the blue shirt) for the last several years as a student has been a pleasure. Now working with him on Saturdays it is also tasty! When Berto recently started as co-teacher of the Saturday Cooking class at the AS220 Youth studio he wanted to explore his own culinary ethnic background in addition to those of our students. Since he came on board we have prepared the root vegetable cassava/yucca in both Dominican and Liberian dishes, South East Asian Nime Chow spring rolls and Carribean Pastelito meat pies to mention a few. With a shout out to his partial Japanese heritage last Saturday we made sushi for the first time. Judging by the speed with which it was consumed it can only be said that it was another tasty cooking class success.

At last week's community meeting, Libby Kimzey from Capital Good Fund visited the studio to discuss tax preparation with our older youth who worked in the year 2011 and are not being claimed by their parents.

She answered some questions about personal and specific situations as well as detailed what documents are necessary for tax filing.

Libby also added that there are a variety of tax credits that youth may be eligible for related to education and parenting. Young people will be able to sign up for individual meetings with Libby on February 11 or April 7. They will need to bring the following:

W2s

Medical expenses

Tuition

Rent, Room/Board (receipts or written letters from room mate/landlord)

W9s/1099

Bank Statements (checking account/savings account)

When I first came to AS220 at the beginning of 2011, I was new to art and did not know where to start. I always appreciated photography so i decided to enroll in some photo classes with Scott and Miguel. I started to learn about traditional black and white film photography, how to use a camera and how to develop and print the photos in the darkroom at AS220. Over time I became more experienced at using the darkroom and working the camera and applied for the summer work program and to work on the Kennedy Plaza Portrait Project with the AS220 photo team. I helped photograph and interview people for a big project that was shown in a few galleries. Through this job I gained a lot of professional photography experience. During the next term I got even more experience doing professional shoots with Scott and Miguel as we did shoots for the upcoming Providence Daily Deal and Local Mixtape websites. I even got to lead a professional shoot of musician Steve Allain whose photos were displayed on indowncity.com, a local Providence site. I have also started to shoot photos of cyclists around the city as a possible future gallery show. I now feel completely comfortable and at home behind a camera, where as one year ago it could not be more bizarre.

Last year, AS220 Youth began to offer week-long intensives so youth could get their computer skills up quickly, Building on that idea, we will be offering 4 week-long intensives during the week of February school vacation (Feb. 20-24).

Visuals will offer screenprinting at the RITS.

Performance will be training youth on Studio Engineering.

The Fabratory will put youth through the paces so they can get the IC3 computer certification.

And Photo will be traveling around Rhode Island creating camera obscuras.

*For more info on the intensives, email studio director, Anne at anne@as220.org *

Recently our students in the Training School have explored the use of photography and collage to create crazy self portraits........that look nothing like them. Inspired by the rich history of artists creating interpretive self portraits that do not reflect their physical image each student used photos of themselves, images of animals and comic book characters to create these multilayered images. Currently nine of these images are gracing the cafeteria gallery at the training school, and we will be excited to show them in a location near you soon, enjoy!

On Thursday the 19th a diverse crowd gathered at One Capitol Hill to view artwork created by the students of AS220 Youth that was on display at the 2nd Annual Youth Exibit at the Atrium Gallery. There were over 80 works of art on display from photographs to paintings to character illustrations. There was also a performance by Angie Daluz who's voice brought down the house. The AS220 Youth dance crew Too Legit made an appearance and cut the rug with their amazing moves. Students from the creative writing program at AS220 also performed their poetry from memory sans microphone. At the end of the evening all of the students that had their art displayed at the gallery and their mentors received were excited to receive citations from Governor Chaefee congratulating them on the work that they have done. It was a friendly and spontaneous environment were everyone laughed and enjoyed the artwork that our programs have been working to produce for the last six months.

If you haven't had time to go to the Atrium Gallery this week is your last chance! The show comes down this Thursday!

Atrium Gallery,

One Capitol Hill

Check out these images!

Hot of the presses!!!!

TD Charitable Foundation has made a generous donation to AS220 Youth to support the transitional services we offer youth exiting the Training School. We will use the funds to offer paid internships in art, design and technology at AS220.

Participants will be responsible for completing portfolio projects, a resume, and an artist statement. The portfolios will reflect an increase in creative skills - and in self-confidence!

Thank you, TD.

This Thursday, January 26 from 5:30-7pm come celebrate and support the work of Mikaela Gonzaga and Davina Alejo currently up in the AS220 Youth Gallery. The show features new paintings and drawings by these two very talented young artists from the Visuals Program at AS220 Youth. Please make sure to stop by and check it out! The show will be up ALL FEBRUARY!

Thursday, Jan 26 5:30 - 7:00 PM AS220 Youth Studio - 115 Empire St 2nd Floor

AND, remember that show in the Atrium Gallery at One Capitol Hill is up till Saturday, the 28th. The show includes awesome work from AS220 Youth, UCAP, and the RI Training School so if you haven't checked it out make sure you do!

This fall, AS220 Youth was lucky to receive funding from the NEA, Surdna and a few generous family foundations.

As a result, we're growing!

Former Fabratory Coordinator Jeremy Radtke has been promoted to Assistant Director and we will be hiring a new Media + Technology person.

Jeremy's new responsibilities will include creating new educational and vocational opportunities for youth, to link them to careers in art, design + technology.

Because of this, we are hiring!!!!

CHECK IT OUT!

To mark the start of a new term AS220 Youth's culinary all-stars got together and had a potluck! Every week our cooking group gets together to learn culinary skills and easy recipies to make at home. Everyone's sweet tooth was satisfied with all the kinds of yummy food brought in, like muffins, coconut pudding, and apple crisp crumble.

This past weekend they moved onto something healthier!

Check out these photos from this Saturday when Scott & Berto put together 2 tasty potato creations! Potatoe Leek Soup and Potatoe Latkes

*Why have you decided to become a mentor with AS220?

I decided to become a mentor with AS220 for various reasons. I respect and love the positive outlet that AS220 provide for youth to embrace their inner creativity, strength, and growth. Once I discovered the unlimited opportunities to be a positive aspect in a young person's life, I couldn't turn down being a mentor for AS220. My values and beliefs definitely coincide with AS220 mentoring program and decided that mentoring with AS220 was the right choice that I made. I absolutely appreciate the support that I receive from the mentoring program staff at AS220.

*What are some things that you love about your mentee?

There are so many things that I love about my mentee besides the fact that our birthdays are 6 days apart! My mentee is such a resilient, bright, open-minded, witty, and kind-spirited young lady. She reminds me of myself at her age because I see the ambitious attitude that I possessed at her age.

She acknowledges her faults but that doesn't get in her way from setting goals and accomplishing them. I love her wittiness because she keeps me abreast on life and how you have to slow down and have a great laugh, cry, or shout every once in a while. When I have discussions with my mentee, I envision her life through her because she definitely have seen and experienced things in which I can only experience through her stories.

I also appreciate my mentee's love for reading. It's very rare that you find a 16 year old who loves to read and summarize what they read.

*How have you found mentoring to assist you in professional growth and development?

I have been a mentor since high school and mentoring have definitely provided me various opportunities throughout my life. Being a mentor assists me in being a better human being, social worker,and all around person. Being a mentor has helped me to have a balance within my life. I had to realize that it wasn't about me all the time. I grew to become more humble, positive, more sociable, and open-minded. These things also assist me in my current occupation by being a better equipped and prepared social worker.

*Any advice for individuals interested in mentoring?

For those who are interesting in being a mentor please follow through your commitment to your mentee. Many of the mentees have been disappointed by many people throughout their lives and don't need another disappointment. When you do decide to mentor, commit to being there wholeheartedly.

*What are some things that you love to do with your mentee when meeting with her? *

My mentee and I love to laugh, talk, and discussed the latest books we read or would like to read.

On Thursday December 22, eight young people and faculty went to see the show "In Habitat" of two Providence-based artists, Brian Chippendale and Jungil Hong, at the new Providence Gallery, Buonaccorsi + Agniel. The show mostly consisted of screen prints, collages, and paintings in the signature Providence style of visually-stunning chaos made from neon colors and stark contrasts. However, two of our favorite pieces in the show, "Crater Head in Seventh Row" and "Bird in Row Six" by Jungil Hong were made of slip cast porcelain on wood.

The gallery is in a large space near the Steelyard in the Butcher Block neighborhood and is an exciting addition to the Providence art scene that we look forward to visiting again soon.

Nineteen of our Photographic Memory students have been hard at work producing twently nine amazing photographs for our upcoming show titled " Think, Make, Do" at the Atrium Gallery. Guicin Guzman feels that people are going to be " surprised, amazed and shocked by what AS220 Youth has prepared for the viewers at the Atrium show." " I felt curious to see the result when I worked with Miguel ( Photo Mem staff member) to enlarge my photo for the show. I do like my photograph better as a 16x20" photograph than the 5x7"I had printed in class. I like that I can see more details when it is larger. I also learned that it is hard work to organize and takes will power to hang a show of awesome visual artwork. " Our opening at the Atrium Gallery is on Thursday January 19th from 6-9pm. Come check us out!

Two weeks ago AS220 Youth students and staff had their Fall Showcase!

Last semester was super productive and filled with lots of amazing new students and incredible art work by all of our different programs, Photo Mem, Performance, Fabratory, Writing, and Visuals!

Couldn't be there? Check out the video below:

Thanks Andres!

Sashaly, our intern from Providence's Met School has been working with Photo Mem for the last few weeks on a personal project entitled "The Art in Fashion" about teen fashion in Providence. Using Tumblr, a blog platform used by many teens she is seeking to archive the uniqe-ness of our city and the ways that teens in Providence use fashion to express themselves.

For the next year she will be using her amazing photography skills and her keen eye for individuality to curate an amazing blog and show off this generations view of what fashion means to them.

CHECK OUT HER BLOG HERE

Come join AS220 Youth for the opening of our show THINK.MAKE.DO at the Atrium Gallery! Brought to you by the Rhode Island Council on the Arts!

Check out all the amazing work done by youth in Visuals, Photo Mem, Fabratory and a special performance by 2 LEGIT dance crew!

WORK BY OVER 50 AS220 YOUTH ARTISTS!

THURSDAY JANUARY 19TH 6-8PM

ATRIUM GALLERY 1 CAPITOL HILL PROVIDENCE, RI

AS220 Youth would like to introduce you to our newest staff member in the performance program, Justin!

Justin Case is a musical composer, producer, arranger, and DJ. He has been producing since 2000 and Djing since the age of 15. Justin has produced instrumentals for many recording artists around the world. Teaching himself about music production, Justin has over 60 independent placements to date, including placements with Chachi Carvalho, Audio McSwagger, Lee Wilson, and Stars & Murph.

Check out this track!

Here is a link to more of his work:

JUSTINCASE

A couple weeks back photographer Pete Brook came to AS220 Youth to talk about his prison photography project. Tim Matsui also came along to get footage of Pete during his time at AS220 Youth. Tim is putting together a documentary together about Pete Brook and his project.

While Tim was hanging out in Music Lab on the 2nd floor, he bumped into MC Jamale Fisher. Jamale has been actively participating in the performance program for about a year now. Jamale spit an accapella version of a song he's been working on titled "What If".

Tim was blown away. He liked the song so much that he asked Jamale if he would mind recording the track in the next hour just so he could use it as background music in his upcoming Pete Brook documentary.

This a snippet of a longer track that will be on the new MC Writing

Mixtape which is set to drop December 15 2011.

Meet Nick Carter, not the Backstreet Boy! The REAL Nick Carter is the new Visuals part-time staff member. Nick graduated from Brown University last year and enjoys painting, drawing, glass blowing, circles, weird patterns, grey sweatshirts and he is also a musician. He might be an extraterrestrial, but we are still investigating. If you have not met him yet, stop by Visuals and say hello!

AS220 Youth recently finished a mural for Andera, a local online software company. Guest artist Josh Baptista, Gianna and Gaby worked with a group of Young people (Luis, Solomon, Davina, Carlos, and Anthony) to design and paint this beautiful mural! We will soon have a slideshow of the project, but for now check out some pictures below and be on the lookout for more!!

Last Tuesday the photo mem class participated in an awesome event celebrating Providence's 375th birthday. We set up a photo booth; we took pictures of people attending the event. We photographed families, couples, kids, individuals and the the fabulous Walter Miller pictured here. We then printed the photos out on the spot with our gnarly printer. It was really fun and it gave photo mem students an opportunity to work on a real world project with real world expectations. The photo mem photographers were Miguel, Sharon, Mike, James, Sashalee, Gicy and Scott. Join us Saturday Dec 10th from 12-4pm at the Olneyville Winter Festival to have your own portrait taken by our ferociously good team.

On thursday December 1st Photo Mem had it's first crit, or critique. Even though these crits were studio-wide, you could say it was a great success for Photo Mem students. This was the first critique for many new students at AS220.

The critique's started off on a good note beginning with Jordan and ending with Jamie. We had RISD Student's Scott and Keith. This critique gave photomem students the opportunity to see what its like to be in an actual critique. It also helped students see what they really wanted to focus on in later class time.

COME THROUGH!!!!! He is an amazing illustrator, check out his work!

It can if you are photographing at the Cupcakerie! Photographic Memory students are photographing for a local business website (which is in-process and not online yet). It has been inspiring to meet local business owners and in this case tasty as well. Cupcakerie owner Kritin Brennan generously gave assistant James Sawyer a sampling of the Cupcakeries artful cupcakes when the shoot was over. Photo Mem program manager Scott Lapham may have eaten some as well....... Yum.

At AS220 Youth's game night we have been playing different single player and multiplayer games, every Thursday! This week we will be playing the new Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The reason we want this game in particular is because of its vast open-ended nature, it's supreme focus on character interaction and weapon design.

In video game class, we've really been focusing on character design; this game should put the importance of good character design and weapon design into perspective. Another reason we want to have this game present at game night is because of its intense focus on single player gameplay, there is no multiplayer. This is also why we've been playing Call of Duty at game night, both games are hugely successful, and each of them is competing for sales.

Through discussion we hope to elaborate on why this is, and what everyone's opinion is about these games. Multiplayer games obviously translate better at game night, but in order to think critically about game design we have to explore elements of single player games.

We're really excited to play Skyrim and it will offer an opportunity to branch out into some more diverse games and really get things going at game night.

Stay tuned for next weeks blog on how it went!

SKYRIM

COD: MW3

Game night at AS220 Youth has been experimenting with different types of games since it's recent reboot. We started with a simple goal, combine game night with our game design class! Since then we've played some of the latest and greatest games out there.

It was our goal to turn a fun Thursday night gathering of friends into a gathering of minds that can think critically about games. We've made several improvements to our night, such as upgrading a Nintendo Wii to an Xbox 360, opening a Gamefly account, and purchasing 2 key games. The first of those 2 is Plants V.S. Zombies, a flash favorite.

Plants V.S. Zombies is all about strategically placing specific plants(who have different attack moves) from a huge list, which are unlocked after each round and using them to defeat the ever-stalwart zombie horde. Since we first tried Plants V.S. Zombies at game night it has become a studio favorite! Most of us love the skills and the challenge presented to protect your house from a zombie invasion. Beyond that, the effects and sounds make the game both funny and entertaining.

Another game we have been playing is Castle Crashers. The first night we played we had 4 controllers, and we just went off! The game speaks for itself, the pure simplicity of wailing away demented minions of lore. Games like these are always entertaining and in a group setting, that energy translates really well.

When I asked the attendees if they would play castle crashers at home, most said yes! Still we had some who were hesitant. Stating that "it might not be everlasting fun, but it's still entertaining."

I used these 2 games to give a small-scale example of how single player games can be just as fun as multiplayer games. I am currently conducting a similar yet much heavier discussion between 2 behemoth massive game titles comparing multiplayer and single player games.

Stay tuned!

-Mike

CASTLE CRASHERS

PLANTS VS ZOMBIES