OPEN STUDIO - PAINTING WORKSHOP
AT ST. MARGARET'S HOUSE
49 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

January – May 2008

This 15 week painting workshop drew from elements of collage as a way to
see form in all of its aspects. Artists from St. Margaret's Residence as
well as special needs artists from around the city gathered one day per
week to work on different methods, concepts, and techniques in painting.
Through the layering qualities of collage to the layering of paint, the
artists explored aspects of composition, form, and atmosphere. The
workshop was lead by artist and art therapist, Candace Bowen.

This workshop was funded in part by public funds from the New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs Foundation.

PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP AT
HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT
290 East 3rd St., New York, NY ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

February – June 2008

This printmaking workshop was held for 15 weeks and taught by artist Ascha
Drake. The six participants learned various techiques of relief
printmaking.

The workshop was supported in part by public funds from The New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs.

SCULPTURE WORKSHOP AT
SCI's ST. MARTIN DE PORRES
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITY
Brooklyn, NY ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

January - May 2008

This 15 week sculpture workshop was taught by sculptor Ronald Knepper.
Seven women created box environments for cats made out of socks
illustrating the difference between domestic and feral cats. The workshop
was funded by The Darwin Urffer Foundation.

PAINTING WORKSHOP FOR RESIDENTS
OF ST. MARGARET'S HOUSE RESIDENCE
49 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

September 2006 - June 2007
September 2007 - June 2008

From September to December 2006, fresh art led a fifteen week Painting Workshop for a class of five to eight residents at St. Margaret's Residence. Taught by artist Beverly Bergman, the participants learned to paint and draw in various methods including acrylic, watercolor and pastel.

SCULPTURE WORKSHOP
AT THE CHRISTOPHER
202-212 W 24th St., New York, NY ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Spring 2007

Contemporary figurative concepts were the theme of the spring 2007 fifteen week Sculpture Workshop at The Christopher led by Ron Knepper. Participants were encouraged to express their individual sculptural concerns. The materials varied from air-dry to fired ceramic clay to collaged fabrics. The work created during the workshop echoed contemporary figurative art found in today's Galleries. The workshop was supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

THE PRINCE GEORGE
BOOKMAKING WORKSHOP
202-212 W 24th St., New York, NY ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

May – July 2007

Artist and author, Ascha Kells Drake lead this workshop for ten artists/residents of the Prince George Residence. The different bookmaking techniques they learned included the simple accordian, side-bound book and single signature binding. This workshop was provided, in part, by a grant from the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation.

RELIEF PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP WITH COMMON GROUND'S PRINCE GEORGE RESIDENCE
202-212 W 24th St., New York, NY ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

November – December 2006
January – February 2007

In November and December 2006, fresh art led a six week Relief Printmaking Workshop to eight residents of Common Ground's Prince George Residence. Taught by artist Ascha Kells Drake, the participants learned various relief printmaking methods such as monoprints and collagraphs and created spectacular prints.

PAINTING WORKSHOP FOR RESIDENTS OF THE CHRISTOPHER, A COMMON GROUND RESIDENCE
202-212 W 24th St., New York, NY ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

September– November 2006

This painting workshop was conducted at The Christopher, a Common Ground Community Housing residence from Sept. 9th to Now. 11th. During this 10 week workshop artists experimented with color and form usiing various mixed media, including paint, mediums, leaves, seed pods, tissue paper and colored gels.

STAINED GLASS MOSAIC WORKSHOP WITH SENIOR
WOMEN FROM CARING COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER
Independence Plaza North, 310 Greenwich St., New York, NY ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

February – May 2006

This ten-week workshop for ten to thirteen seniors explored the medium of mosaic using stained glass and found objects. Professional artisan, Christine Higuita, a teacher at the Newark Museum, led the women in creating mosaic glass lamps. They explored cutting stained glass into tiles (called tesserae) and applying the different colors and shapes to create complete images on each side of a 4-sided rectangular lamp. Grouting in between the glass tiles completes the mosaic and gives it a finished and softly glowing look when lit.

FINE ARTS WORKSHOP FOR RESIDENTS
OF ST. MARGARET'S HOUSE RESIDENCE
49 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

February – June 2006

Taught by artist Ming Cheung, this fifteen week workshop for ten to fifteen seniors provided various two-dimensional mediums for the exploration of the individual's creativity. The seniors worked with Chinese brushes in traditional methods as well as watercolors and acrylics, utilizing contemporary techniques.

The workshop culminated in an exhibition at St. Margaret's from June 11-July 15, 2006.

The workshop and exhibition were made possible by a Downtown Connects! Grant from Citizens for NYC and St. Margaret's House.

SCULPTURE WORKSHOP AT THE CHRISTOPHER FOR RESIDENTS OF COMMON GROUND FACILITIES
202-212 W 24th St., New York, NY ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

February – May 2006

This fifteen-week workshop taught by artist/teacher Ron Knepper utilitized concepts of the artwork created by past Kinetic Artists; Charles Simonds and the Chapmans' intimate environment; and past relief sculptors, to inspire the student to create their own examples in various mediums.

From these examples the students were inspired to create from sheet metal, clay and found
materials a mobile, an environment and a portrait relief.

The workshop was made possible in part by public funds from the New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs.

ASSEMBLAGE WORKSHOP AT THE CHRISTOPHER ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

November – December 2005

In November and December 2005, artist/teacher Ellen Stavitsky led a five week Assemblage Workshop at The Christopher. The participants in the workshop made Joseph Cornell inspired boxes and constructions reminiscent of Louise Nevelson's reliefs. The variety of textural materials Ellen provided for the workshop was a great source of inspiration to the artists.

FINE ARTS WORKSHOP AT THE CHRISTOPHER ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

March – June 2005
July – October 2005

This fifteen-week workshop for six to eight residents at The Christopher, a Common Ground Community Housing Residence, explores the medium of painting in watercolor and acrylic. Professional artist and graphic designer, Beverly Bergman, instructed the class in the techniques of painting in these two water based mediums.

The Christopher is a supportive housing facility for people that are low-income, or are formerly homeless, or struggle with mental illness, HIV-AIDS and other disabling conditions.

This workshop is supported in part by Public Funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and by The Herbert and Edith Lehman Foundation.

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ART PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
AND MARKETING PROGRAM WORKSHOPS

This program, which focuses on teen girls and senior women, guides our artists as they develop, produce and learn to market hand-crafted art objects. fresh art brings in design and retail professionals as teachers and guest speakers for workshops and provides networking opportunities for the participants' goods to local gift shops.

fresh art's Art Product Program Workshops have been conducted at two sites. From 2000-2004, our teen girls workshops have taken place at Grand Street Settlement on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The seniors workshop, created in 2002, takes place at the Caring Community Older Adults Center at Independence Plaza North in Tribeca.

SENIORS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CARING COMMUNITY OLDER ADULT CENTER -
INDEPENDENCE PLAZA NORTH WORKSHOPS

In February 2002, fresh art began a craft workshop with Caring Community’s Elder Adults Center at Independence Plaza North in TriBeCa. Located several blocks north of where the World Trade Center once stood, the center had a difficult time since September 11th. The World Trade Center was very much an integral part of the Seniors neighborhood and the loss of it and the lives involved affected them greatly.

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COLLAGE UNDER GLASS WORKSHOP
with Senior Women from Caring Community
Senior Center, Independence Plaza North
310 Greenwich St., New York, NY

September – December 2004
January – March 2005
April – July 2005
September – December 2005

These two ten-week workshops for eight to ten seniors explored the medium of painting and collage under glass. Professional artisan, Kaaren Lewis, a teacher at the Craft Students League lead the women in creating collaged designs highlighted with metallic paint on the inside of glass vases, and on the back of photograph frames and plates. The second semester of this workshop will continue to explore the creative possibilities of this medium.

This workshop was made possible by a grant from the Werner and Elaine Dannheisser Fund.

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BEADING WORKSHOP
September 2003 – June 2004

Beading had so effectively captured the imaginations of the Seniors at Caring Community’s Independence Plaza North Senior Center that fresh art continued this popular craft workshop for a year and a half. Here are a few of the senior’s comments on the workshop: "It is hard to put into words the wonderful, positive affect this has had on me. It has brought out the "artist" in me. I am now so focused on this craft."-Norma. "Learning to do beading was a revelation to me-I never thought I could be so creative."-Sylvia. "It gives me pride in the work I do and when someone tells me how beautiful the necklaces are I feel so good." –Connie. The advanced class taught by Masami Sato and assisted by Ann Brabazon was so popular, that in January we created another class for beginning students. This class was taught by the wonderful volunteers from the New York Beading Society: Sylvia Leider, Annette Barth, Susan Dressler, Ruth Milts and Lenore Eisenkraft from New York Cares.

The culmination of the senior’s craft workshop was a touring exhibition of the jewelry. The exhibition started at the Caring Community’s Independence Plaza North Senior Center on May 17, 2004 and continued on to Center on the Square, 20 Washington Square North on Monday June 7th. From June 9-15th selected pieces of the jewelry were on exhibition at Takashimaya-Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan where Masami was exhibiting her own and her students’ work. Lastly the jewelry will be on view from June 8-30 and September 8-30, 2004 at OK Harris Works of Art, 383 West Broadway, New York, NY.

We are grateful to the Werner and Elaine Dannheisser Fund who have made this workshop and exhibition possible.

TEENS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

FRESH REFLECTIONS
Photography and Poetry Workshop with Girls from
The Lower East Side Girls Club
56 First Street, New York, NY

October – December 2004

This workshop for ten at risk teenage girls combined Polaroid transfer photography
and journal and poetry writing as a means of creative self exploration. The girls visited
the 24x24 Polaroid Studio in SoHo, a unique opportunity to work in a professional photographer’s studio. Their self portraits as well as examples of their writing were
on exhibition at The Lower East Side Girls Club from December 11, 2004-January 15, 2005. In conjunction with the exhibition, the girls gave a poetry reading at the Bowery Poets Club on December 11th. The ten-week course was taught by photographer, Miriam Fogelson and poet, Catherine Tyc.

This workshop was made possible by grants from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund/New York City Department of Cultural Affairs administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and the Herbert and Edith Lehman Foundation.

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GRAND STREET SETTLEMENT WORKSHOPS

SILK PAINTING AND SEWING WITH GIRLS
FROM THE GRAND STREET SETTLEMENT
September 2003 – June 2004

This workshop for the teen girls of Grand Street Settlement lead by artist Oona Ibar offered a chance for the participants to work individually and collaboratively on silk painted scarves and banners with bold and colorful designs. During the Winter/Spring semester Mayan hieroglyphics was the inspiration and basis for the design element of this workshop. Having learned the basics of silk painting in the first workshop, the young women concentrated on the designs for their painting. In addition to the creation of their own alphabet of visual symbols, the Mayan symbols also inspired the study of animals. The result was vivid images of birds and reptiles as designs for their silk scarves and shawls

For the final semester of this workshop, in addition to the continuation of painting on silk, the young women also learned basics of machine sewing. A field trip with their teacher, Oona to fabric stores and boutiques on the Lower East Side gave them insight into current fashion trends as well as the experience of how to coordinate fabrics, and how to buy material to fit a pattern. The hand painted scarves from all three workshops were displayed and the artists introduced at "Power of Language & Arts" a special evening at Grand Street Settlement on May 27, 2004

Thanks to Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation for their support of this workshop.

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GRAND STREET SETTLEMENT WORKSHOPS
SILKSCREEN SUPERSTARS
January – April 2003

Our mentoring visit with Russell Simmons. Left to right: volunteer Jennifer, Amanda, Wendy, Russell Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons, Oscalena, Destiny, Louisa

This twelve-week workshop teaching silkscreen design and printing processes took place at the Grand Street Settlement in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where fresh art has been conducting entrepreneurial craft workshops since Fall of 2000.

T-shirt sale and reception at Grand Street Settlement. Left to right: Amanda, Destiny, Oscalena, Louisa, volunteer assistant Jennifer and instructor Regina Scudellari.

Leading this workshop was silkscreen artist and illustrator, Regina Scudellari. Early on Regina showed the girls her original artwork. She also shared with the girls her experiences as a working artist, and how she makes a living through a combination of freelance assignments and teaching.

Then it was time to get to work! The girls, some of who attended a prior fresh art silkscreen workshop in the Fall that used paper as the printing medium, decided this time they wanted to print on t-shirts. Designs were worked on individually, and then transferred to screens for printing. Each girl had the opportunity to practice and apply all facets of the design and printing process through weekly hands on design and printing work. They also learned teamwork and discipline through their participation in the set-up and clean-up of the art studio.

Did you ever see such smiles? Left to right: Amanda, Destiny, Louisa, Oscalena right after their visit with Russell Simmons. Photo on right: Marleny

An exhibition, sale and reception for the girls’ creations was held at the Grand Street Settlement on April 1st. All the girls had the opportunity to become salespeople for the day, and did a great job. (The girls received 60% commission on all goods sold.)

The workshop finished on a high-note with a special visit with entrepreneur and hip hop music mogul, Russell Simmons. The opportunity was given to us through Mr. Simmon’s foundation, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, which is a sponsor of fresh art’s Art Product Program.

The girls were thrilled to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet with Russell, who is a big role model and inspiration for them. They learned more about the building of his fashion (Phat Farm) and music (Def Jam) empires, were able to ask questions, and got words of inspiration from Russell who believes that art can be a powerful thing in our lives. The girls also got to meet with Kimora Lee Simmons, who runs the Baby Phat fashion line, and Ellen Haddigan, Director of the Foundation.

This workshop was intended in large part as art therapy; to be a creative outlet for the Seniors.

However it also provided an opportunity to offer their work for sale. But most importantly, the workshop gave the Seniors a time to be together in community. We have a very good time together!

The craft workshop end product was making baskets using recycled greeting cards from donated materials from the organization Materials for the Arts. Using a blanket stitch the individual pieces were decoratively edged in stitching and then utilizing the same stitch, sewn together. The baskets made great gift containers for the holidays; an excellent place to present those home baked Christmas cookies, fruitcake or poinsettia.

contact us!


e-mail: info@freshartnyc.org
phone:
646-262-3273

548 Broadway
3rd floor
New York, NY
10012