New Skills

I Believe in the power of learning new stuff- Last week four visiting artists did a residency with Ohio University’s Aesthetic Technologies Lab http://www.ohio.edu/atlab/. The focus….They all work with balloons- all of them play balloons- and for the week they got together, practiced, recorded music- Wild!
One of the artists, Addi Somekh, is a professional balloon twister and gave a workshop last Wednesday…have you ever participated in something- knowing that it was going to change your life? I had this feeling with a pop-up book workshop, the first time I developed negatives and they came out of the tank—and seeing a photograph develop on paper…HOOKED! http://newballoonart.com/addiontv.html
http://www.balloonhat.com
So, I learned your classic dog and hat structures- from Addi- and he showed us his work….he has traveled the world with a photographer making balloon hats for people. Genius. He took one idea and just kept going with it—and these hats make people so happy- so quickly- and it is so easy! Once you get a few of the basics…off you go- and off we went.
It was Halloween and we made hats for Trick or Treaters- and there was a CROWD! A child frenzy- and there was FREE candy at every house—but these kids were waiting for their hat… I couldn’t believe it—a Mom even tried to hire us to do a birthday party! And Addi said this would happen- he encourages young people- to learn how to twist- and instead of getting a part time job at a coffee house—stand on the corner, do parties—hire yourself out…make more money and more fun!
Addi made balloons at Atco- our local sheltered workshop- and I asked him how much time he needed….”The time it takes to make everyone happy.” And so we went and for two hours he made hats for about 30 people with developmental disabilities. Big beautiful hats and flowers…I thought it was a lovely morning- and then I talked with a staff member a few days later- she said that a few of the clients have been feeling really depressed- hardly talking…and this workshop had them smiling and talking about the experience for DAYS! And all it took were some balloons and connecting to one another… and that is the secret I think…figuring out how to connect to one another—I don’t care if it is through drawing or talking--- what ever it is that helps us listen and respond…makes us feel better—Art just seems to be the best thing I’ve found so far.

Back to the Balloons….With this new found technique—I just kept making and making—practicing. Looked up “How to Make Balloon Hats” on www.Youtube.com learned more…and did up some costumes for the Uptown Athens Halloween Extravaganza… and then blew up balloons on the street corner-and made hats for the partygoers -- You’d have thought we were passing out gold! People were so happy and it was so much fun- We were interviewed by radio and newspaper- it was wild- Imagine a fundraiser-- add a balloon twister- and you have instant fun, decorations....charge a buck a hat- and generate more fund raising!
My suggestion….take a workshop- learn something new…then DO IT BIG and see what happens.

Next Think Tank December 2nd!

The Ohio Association of Adult Services
Presents
Art Think Tank Three

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Franklin County Board of MRDD
2879 Johnstown Rd.
Columbus, OH 43219

9:00am – 3:00pm

Facilitated by: Patty Mitchell, MFA
Patty Mitchell is a working artist and social entrepreneur specializing in collaborations between artists with and without developmental disabilities. Designs from collaborative artworks are translated into product with a focus of creating employment for underserved populations and funding streams for continued programming. Mitchell started Passion Works Studio through an Ohio Arts Council Artist in Residency, in Athens Ohio (1996), where today 40 artists with cognitive disabilities work as artists and have generated almost a million US dollars since 1998. Mitchell is now sharing this model throughout Ohio and internationally with Handikos of Kosovo and Flor de Arte of Coanil in Santiago, Chile.
Mitchell has received a Distinguished Alumna Award from Ohio University’s College of Fine Art, Individual Artist Award from the Ohio Arts Council, Citizen of the Year from Athens Civitan and The Keystone Award from Ohio University for outstanding community service. Passion Works has received the Governor’s Award for the Arts: Community Development and Participation and Distinguished Organization for Art Education from the Ohio Art Education Association.

Registration Information: On-line registration only
Agenda: Patty will send the agenda out prior to the meeting
Registration Web Site: www.oaas.org
OAAS Member Organization Fee: $25 (If your Adult Services Program is an OAAS member- please use the OAAS Member Rate)
Non-Member Fee: $35
Lunch: Brown Bag – Beverages supplied by OAAS

Paintbrush Tip!

This is one of the BEST tips EVER! Artist- Mehri Davis shared with me….Clean old stiff paintbrushes with HAIR CONDITIONER! Tried it today- I thought maybe they would have to soak over night- but no! This stuff starts to work right away- and if you use a scrub bush – it really takes the gunk away. – Your brushes will be silky soft!

Collaboration Opportunity: MURAL!

Message from the (Fabulous) Director of Open Door Art Studio, Courtney Yoakum

Good Morning Everyone,
I have recently met with Derrick Mortland of VSA Ohio to discuss a collaborative project with Open Door, partnering Art Studios and VSA.
The basic idea of the project is to create a collage/ mural using the illustrations/drawings created by the artists from various studios. We are thinking of creating both an indoor and outdoor mural.
I welcome any input you may have. If anyone has any ideas regarding funding and material resources that is also welcome. Also if there are any studios I have not included, please feel free to forward this e-mail.
The first step to participate would be to send me copies of illustrations from your artists. There is no theme, I would prefer we see what we receive and go from there. The more the better. Once we have enough images we will begin to create a rough draft of the collage/mural. Other details will be worked out in the process. Simple at this stage is good. Just basic pencil on paper drawings will work great.
I will be meeting with Derrick along with a couple of people from the City this week.
I think this is a great collaborative opportunity. I’m looking forward to receiving images and hearing any feed-back, ideas or questions you may have.
I will know more after the meeting.

Thanks,
Courtney Yoakum
Director: Open Door Art Studio
1365 Grandview Ave.
Columbus, OH 43212
614-486-4919
www.opendoorartstudio.org

New Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKqKExZ0pIA

Filmaker Melissa Godoy produced a short film highlighting the spirit and energy of Passion Works Studio. See first hand how Passion Works Artists define the purpose and ideals of the studio.

TU TUs and Painted Bottles

Had a lovely workshop at Passion Works Studio- we painted bottles to be used in the Ohio University Homecoming Parade- These beauties may turn into hats, jet packs, super hero capes....so far we are collecting materials and thinking big thoughts!

ART Think Tank II

Thanks for attending, sharing ideas and encouraging your colleagues.

This event featured the work of Soaring Arts Studio, Creative Foundations and Art Ability- we were so fortunate to have members of these projects in the audience. We viewed a PowerPoint describing their art process and where they are today. As a collaborating artist- I am really thrilled with how all the participants in the Art Think Tank shared their ideas, experience with materials and encouraged others in their work.

Toni Lanzer of Soaring Arts Studio had a fantastic tip- Use the very thin blue insulation board as a support when painting fabric—and just staple the material to the blue board! The thin board can be stacked on a drying rack- allowing each rack to lower and still let air circulate. We had been using thicker boards with pins- Toni’s method is a lot safer and quicker to set up. (You can find- Blue Board at Lowe's, Drying Rack at Dick Blick)

Brandon Doup of Creative Foundations- talked about using stencils in making art. Brandon enlarged Creative Foundations Artists drawings with an overhead projector then traced the images onto very thin vinyl flooring. Cutting the shapes out with scissors and a utility knife- the stencils are covered with spray paint- leaving the outline of the image. Creative Foundations artists have been exploring “graffiti art” on suitcases, canvases and furniture.

COLLABORATIVE ART PROJECT

For the next two weeks I will be working as a Visiting Artist with Ohio University’s School of Art. OU’s recycling center captured plastic beverage containers after the first football game. We have cleaned 30 bags of bottles and are ready to make costumes and noise makers- to be used as props in the Homecoming Parade- Athens Ohio, October 17, 10am. Can you believe that these bottles will last 100-1,000 years?! Plastic will virtually last forever and we are using it in disposable products, AH! So, we will have a visual demonstration as to how many bottles are used during a three hour event- Our plan is to dance down main street- with theater, art, music and dance students encouraging the rethinking of using so many disposable water bottles.

If you are considering participating in a parade— My vote is to do it! It is so much fun for your participants- and if you have a visual arts studio- it is great to shake things up and invite your artists to participate in performance.