OPEN SPACE

……………………………………………………………"That bottle keeps its blink on its side red from horizon." Clark Coolidge………………………………..

It sure has been awhile since my last post. I’m here to tell you of a wonderful article that covered the SFMOMA Teen Mural project in the East Bay Express. It covers the project from start to finish, illustrating the evolution of the student’s artistic process and how their experiences helped shape the final piece.  Take a few minutes and check it out here. It’s currently featured on the front page!

Just to remind you what the project was all about:  SFMOMA commissioned renowned artist Kerry James Marshall to create two murals for the museum’s Haas Atrium, and in response fifteen teens from three Oakland high schools designed and produced a collaborative mural, to be installed in the skate park at DeFremery Park.  Your can learn about the project in its entirety here.

Also, don’t forget to visit the exhibition chronicling the SFMOMA Teen Mural Project in the galleries of the Koret Visitor Education Center, on the second floor of SFMOMA, through October 18.

Enjoy!

SFMOMA has commissioned renowned artist Kerry James Marshall to create two murals for the museum’s Haas Atrium. For over 30 years, Marshall has explored stories of racial identity, the Civil Rights movement, and unsung histories in his work. In response to Marshall’s works, fifteen teens from three Oakland high schools are designing and producing a collaborative mural, in Town Park at DeFremery Park, focusing on the themes of silenced histories and storytelling. We’re blogging about it here on Saturdays.]

We’ve blogged about this project here for the last 14 weeks.  To read our posts documenting the project week by week, we invite you to view them here. Here we are at the very end of our program. About 7 teens showed up last week to put the finishing touches on the mural. Fred of Precita Eyes, two teens, and myself were at the park past 6 pm (good thing I wore sunblock)!

Thanks to Fred, Rafa, and K-dub for all of their support with this project.  I can’t say how proud we are of the teens from Oakland High School, Oakland School for the Arts, and Ralphe Bunche Academy for their dedication, hard work, and tremendous spirit.

Come visit the exhibition of the planning and design process of this project in SFMOMA’s Koret Visitor Education Center.  On view May 30 – October 18, 2009.

Last week we had our first site visit to Town Park in DeFremery Park & met up with some key players in the Teen Mural Project: Internationally renowned local artist Brett Cook [left]; mural artist, and artistic director of our program, Fred Alvarado from Precita Eyes; and Bay Area activist, artist, teacher & skateboarder, K-dub.

We all piled into cars and headed over to Emeryville to Brett’s incredibly gigantic and light filled studio. Upon entering, many “wows” were heard when Brett’s very large spray paint collection was discovered. Brett’s studio is amazing: two levels of wall-sized paintings and almost an entire floor filled with books. A plate of oranges welcomed us. Brett gave a presentation beginning with images of his early days as a graffiti artist in San Diego. From there he traveled to the east coast, Mexico, and back to California, leaving his politically and socially minded art everywhere from outside walls of dilapidated buildings to construction walls surrounding the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and eventually into museums and galleries world-wide. He stressed the importance of community, soul, and collaboration in creating public art. It was an inspiring two hours, for teens and adults alike.

Heading back to the park, we chowed down at the DeFremery House where Fred and K-dub introduced themselves. Both artists work closely with their local communities, and will play a large and committed part in this year’s Teen Mural Project.

After the intros, Steve Lavoie, from the Oakland History Room at the Main Library, gave us a run-down of Oakland history since the 1800’s, including the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad & the formation of the Black Panthers, giving us a better understanding of this very historic site.

This week: Fred will walk us through the mural design process; the teens will meet and interview Kerry James Marshall himself, and watch the muralists who are working on Kerry’s murals in the Atrium.  Next week: questions and answers from the Kerry James Marshall Teen Mural Project interview.

The Teen Mural Project started in full force last Saturday when fifteen enthusiastic students from three different Oakland high schools gathered at SFMOMA. We had teen rappers, t-shirt artists, graffiti artists, and lots of skateboarders.  A talented bunch, for sure.

First, Annie Lawson (Manager of School, Youth and Family Programs here at SFMOMA) introduced an interview with Kerry James Marshall, and showed the teens drawings of his Atrium murals. We also looked at the work of Kara Walker and Doris Salcedo and had a conversation around the theme of “silenced histories,” a theme present in their work and Marshall’s. After lunch, we walked through the galleries, talking about works of art, & investigating connections between the work of Kerry James Marshall and works by Robert Arneson, Katharina Fritsch, Frida Kahlo, and Diego Rivera. We went back to the Koret Visitor Education studios and the teens made mixed-media hidden history boxes: dioramas expressing their personal histories, cultural voices, and different sides of their personalities.

(Right: Some of the teens making their history boxes. Photo:Jack Huynh)

Today we’re meeting at Town Park in DeFremery Park to survey the mural site and meet with local historian, Steve Lavoie, to learn about the rich and charged history of West Oakland and DeFremery Park. We’re also going to visit artist Brett Cook’s studio and hang out with Keith Williams (A.K.A “K-dub”) at the park. Keith founded Town Park, after many years of teaching at Oakland High School. He’s also a long-time partner of SFMOMA’s youth programs and we’re happy to continue our relationship with him working on this special project. Next week, back at the museum, we’re meeting with Kerry James Marshall himself!  Stay tuned for more fun, more pictures, and perhaps some words from the teens themselves. Happy Saturday.