Community Arts

The artistic goal of a combined metal sculpture was achieved; a detailed 3D community model was made by the participants. About 60 individuals participated in the creation of the final project. Our consumers expressed excitement while participating. The project helps them focus, which in turn helps them create a final project. The final project impacts the behavior of the participants, and they show pride in their accomplishments, with smiles and pointing out the part that they contributed to. Families are impressed with the abilities shown by individual consumers. 58 adults created some portion of the 3D community model. They spent time in a 4-week set of workshops. During that time small groups explored the community creating the clay molds by taking imprints of various landmarks, such as a PO Box in the post office and bricks and art work of the buildings. These imprints supplied the 3D community model with actual textural images. The clay molds provided the artist to complete the sand carving before the metal pour and painting of 3D community model. The artist did the final welding assembly with the completed project being unveiled on July 24th at Lake Streets Open Street day. A new goal for 2016 was to build community through the cast metal sculpture process. The community chosen was the one block surrounding Metro Work Center, Inc. We believed that having businesses participate with our consumers it would be a beneficial exposure for both. Several business actively participated by sharing the business mascot or giving a brief history of the company. The project started on schedule and was primarily completed in a timely manner. The process to have the 3D community model put on display at the Lake Street library is currently on hold due to one of the artist breaking her leg and having complications. Being this injury took place after the final project was complete it did not impact the value of the arts experience for our consumers. Fortunately, the library is flexible and understanding helping us avoid a challenge. Having continuity of artist from the previous year gives our consumers a sense of safety and recognition and makes many of them more secure in participating in the process. Sara Hanson, the artist, continued her supportive work with the consumers, using her talents in metal sculpture to help consumers create an excellent 3D community model. Since we believe that the project was very successful, we would use the same process for a similar project, but create a different combined final artwork. We believe this continuity over three projects is a great strength of the program in helping our consumers to be involved in a process and be successful with a product. Metro Work Center successfully reached the community we planned to serve. Metro Work Center is a Day Training and Habilitation Center for adults win intellectual disabilities and related conditions. Our primary goal for this project was to provide experiences to this population that might not otherwise have the opportunity to access such sophisticated art projects. Our consumer vary widely in age (21-75), motor skills, and functioning levels. While some of our consumers work independently, other need had-over-hand assistance. A great deal of "show and tell" experience is involved rather than communication through language only. The artist and the Metro Work Center staff worked with each individual to help determine the scope of their ability to work with the sculpture. The poured metal art project was also a new experience for the surrounding community business who participated in the in strengthening of relationships and expressed a greater appreciation of the community of people with disabilities while collecting imprints for the project. Several businesses participated by sharing the business mascot or giving a brief history of the company with the consumers. Building this relationship lead to gaining textile pieces to be incorporated into the file project. The businesses were then invited to the unveiling of the 3D community model at Lake Streets Open streets event. Opening up this unique art experience to the community was a successful effort. Business owners/employees gave positive feedback of the experience. The artists also had the opportunity to show off and explain to the community the completed 3D community model and the process. Our Center, programming space, and surrounding community is accessible. The sculpture will be on display at the Lake Street library (as soon as the artist's injury is healed). The library is also an accessible space for our consumers and the public. 58 adults participated in assembling the clay molds for the 3D community model. The adult consumers plus the local business participated in contributing to the molds. Due to the influx of new consumers 15% of the adults and all of the business experienced this art form for the first time.