Art Works 945

Thanks Davidson's Woodlawn Middle School

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:15:00 +0000

Thirty 11 and 12 year old picked up our paintings at Gallery 3 in Wachovia's Corporate HQ in Uptown and marched them a mile and a half down Tryon Street in time for inclusion in Saturday's Art Sale and Auction. The students were entertained by artist WIlliam Dukes magic show, wrote reflective essays about the artwork, and helped wash windows in the art gallery. They were bright, well behaved, and a tremendous help!

Congrats to Fred and Liz!

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

We had to post a couple of shots of the wedding hosted in our soup kitchen of Liz Clasen, UMC Associate Director, and Fred Kelly. Liz was the earliest and most passionate supporter of the Art at the Urban Ministry Center so we owe her a special debt of gratitude. Her husband Fred, besides being a great guy, is a dedicated reporter on the "homelessness beat" for the Charlotte Observer. Throngs of people came out to a beautiful wedding on our beautiful precincts. It was an honor to be a part of the crowd to witness two such devoted advocates for the homeless and devoted life partners. Enjoy the photos of the bride and group, Rollon Washington in his tux, and the proud parents of the bride leaving the soup kitchen transformed into wedding chapel.

Provoke

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:15:00 +0000

Provoke radio is a social justice focused podcast and radio broadcast out of Washington D.C. with a national listenership. Provoke featured Art Works 945 founder Lawrence Cann. The interview describes Art Work 945 and the garden and national network of street soccer teams that the Art Works 945 program spawned. Here is the text intro from Provoke:

The world is not lacking for kind-hearted people who want to do their part to ease someone’s pain, right wrongs and make the world a better place. Bring a worthy cause to their attention and their first thought is always, “Gee, I’d like to help.” And yet… ask anyone what the biggest stumbling block is to turning that desire into action and 9 out of 10 will say, ”Getting started.” That’s why one thing that never ceases to amaze us here at Provoke is the sheer resourcefulness of those who do turn their desire into action; living lives of service to others. And we don’t just mean the resources they find outside themselves - like funding to turn an idea into a reality or the manpower to keep it going. We’re talking about inner resources. What so many people who we’ve featured over the years have in common is the ability to – as the Buddhists say – “start where they are.” They don’t see the stumbling blocks nor do they wonder, “But what difference can this make?” To steal a phrase from corporate America…they ‘Just Do It.’ And they do make a difference and they do change lives and they do… transform the world. So today, we bring you another story of someone who knows how to get things started. He is Lawrence Cann, a remarkable young man who has so many interests, well, we hardly knew where to start! Lawrence took his love for both art and athletics and put them at the service of the down and out with whom he works. He is the Director of Community Works at the Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, an inter-faith, community based center offering service and support to the homeless. He is also the President of Street Soccer USA, a national organization dedicated to bringing awareness to the plight of the homeless through, yes, soccer. But that’s only half the story! What have art, soccer and the homeless got to do with each other? Tune in and find out! Accompanying Lawrence’s story are the compelling and inspiring self-told stories of two of Lawrence’s formerly homeless soccer stars, Tim and Hoover. Available 8/26/08.

Many thanks to producer Claire Hartman and long time Provoke fan and art enthusiast, Lauren Cranford.

Are the Homeless Who You Think They Are?

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:55:00 +0000

Check out the pics from our new show at Gallery 3 on The Green in Uptown.
The title of the show is "Charlotte from Another Angle, Are the Homeless Who You Think They Are?"

Everyone remarked that this was a much more engaging show than the last exhibit in the gallery. When they found out our artists were using Art as a strategy for overcoming homelessness, that they were homeless themselves, they were shocked.

Enjoy the pics, show is up until Sept 12.

Holiday Art Show Launches Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:57:00 +0000

(The image here is of one of Reggie McCleod's many sales at last week's show. Titled "Pop in a Box," it places one of Reggie's signature characters in an ambiguous position. The piece was purchased by a close friend of Ray Chislom, the artist of the street who inspired and counseled many in Charlotte before he was killed by a car last year while he was crossing the street.)

The Art Works Holiday show was featured on channel 9 and drew visitors from all walks of life. Sales totaled around $2,000. Reggie McCleod, Joe Robinson, and Kasimu Pate registered as top sellers. The great collaboration from mentor artists like Johnnie Mae Murray who came back to us to help out and the introduction of new energy from the likes of Carlton and Frederick added impetus to the notion of permanently keeping our gallery open for sales to the public during normal UMC hours. This week's show in particular surprised and engaged volunteer group passing through the center in ways they had not anticipated. Congrats to all who helped out.

Nutrition

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:52:00 +0000

Olga Sheridan, a nutritionist from Russia spoke to 18 members of our community about how the food we eat affects our body. She maintained an audience for and hour and half, fielding questions about antihistamines, genetically modified foods, water quality, diabetes, etc. Many thanks to Olga for her time and energy!

Art Works Artists On A Roll

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:30:00 +0000

Detail from "Don't Get Caught in the Rain" by Joe Rob, a carving that sold at the Amazing Grace Art Show this week.

A core group of artist have been meeting every monday to map goals for themselves and to generate more cooperation and collaboration among program participants. Kasimu Pate, Johnnie Mae Murray, Frederick Hall, Michael Blackwell, Willie Gray, Reggie McCleod, Ray Isaac, Ron Miller, Santonio Williams, and Joe Rob have been the regular attendees.

This same group of artists have been a part of three shows this week. The Amazing Grace exhibit at St. Peter's church organized by Kathleen Gill which now moves to South Park, The Covenant Presbyterian Alternative Gift Fair, and the Church of Light Art Exhibition. Joe Rob sold out his portion of the Amazing Grace Show, and Michael Blackwell, Johnie Mae Murray, and Reggie McCleoud each sold paintings this week.

Additionally, Reggie McCleod secured a commissionof four paintings for the County's new DSS office at the newly Renovated Freedom Mall. Art Works 945 will also have a permanent display of rotating paintings at the site.

Art Auction 2007, a sneak peak

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 03:11:00 +0000

Please attend, 5-7 at 945 N. College Street on Sat. Oct. 13!

Two by Joe Rob, one a carving, and the other the invitation and poster piece as seen in Uptown.

Two abstractions, one controled by Ron "Pop" Miller, and another full of raw energy by Mathew Jules

Two others by Reggie McCloud

A city-scape by Juanita Crowder, an intreaguing painting of perspectives by Michael Blackwell, a detailed butterfly by Willie Gray, a patientedly crafted and symetrical piece by Kasimu, and much much more if make this Saturday!

The Art of Reggie McCloud--new paintings

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 03:03:00 +0000

This is just a sampling of the twenty some paintings Reggie has prepared for the show. Reggie is one of the artists who has come through our program and is now pursuing his art seriously as a means of supplemental income. Reggie dreams that some day he might be able to live off his art.

Fifth Open Mic of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 02:43:00 +0000

The above picture shows the open mic on friday Oct. 5 "emceed" by artist Joe Rob. The first open mic goes back to the openning of our Art Park for competition before the US Street Soccer Cup. That was also the first performance of the Jeff Woods Band here at the UMC. Jeff's band couldn't make if Friday but that didn't stop over 25 performers from sharing their songs, poems, and dance moves. Pictured her an eager crowd awaits Jason's virtuoso skaa inspired folk rhapsody. In the other foto our poetess clad in in white is surprised by the dramatic, slow rolling approach of a train!

Crossroads Charlotte and Beverly Cowan

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Thu, 17 May 2007 15:57:00 +0000

Community Works 945's own, photographer and Poet Beverly Cowan, was selected through audition as one of Charlott'es 16 voices that have created pertinent community theatre for the Charlotte Community. See info below.

But first a photo of Beverly (at left) with guest Danish volunteer, Natja Rosner.

05/16/2007 - 05/18/2007
Voices of Charlotte May 16-18
CRC Presents "The Voices of Charlotte" May 16, 17 and 18
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee presents Community Theater / Theater About Community
Premiere: May 16, 2007 8:00 pm
Additional Performances: May 17 & 18, 2007 8:00 pm
Where: Central Piedmont Community College, Pease Auditorium
"The Voices of Charlotte"
Experience Charlotte in a way that captures and questions who we really are--written by community--performed by community--an experiment in theater--an experiment in community building.

The Art Park opens

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Thu, 17 May 2007 15:07:00 +0000

Check out these pictues from our Art Park Openning.

The Art Park reclaims space and visibility on Tryon for the human side of homelessness that was lost in the new buiding construction.
Among it's many features the Art Park serves as a street soccer pitch and an Ampitheatre.

The park was made possible through a UNCC Chancellor's Diversity Grant as well as the great collaboration between people on the street and the Architecture and Activism Class taught by Linda Samuels at UNCC's College of Architecture and coadvised by Frances Hawthorne at UNCC's art department and Lawrence Cann, director of Community Works 945. Many thanks to COA's dean Ken Lamba for supporting the class and the project.

The park feaures the use of recycled tires as benches and donated lockers that provide needed safe storage for over 100 people who are homeless.
Thanks to Eric, Nathan, Stephanie, Matt, and Andy, the students who worked on the project as well as Rollon, Ray, Mohammed, Michael S. and B., Beverly, Wade, Courtney, Amil, Pop, Scott, Joe Rob, and many many more who should be named here.

The Parks' opening was last wednesday and shortly there afer the first edition of the Joe Rob Show Open Mic was help on Friday. This weekend the first street soccer game will be played there as part of the US National Homeless World Cup training weekend.

SFI7

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:14:00 +0000

Last Saturday artist Michael Blackwell (pictured here left at the UMC) and Joe Robinson (pictured below with Lawernce Cann and Linda Samuels at SFI7) traveled a short ways to UNCC for the “Structures for Inclusion Conference” at the College of Architecture. The conference website reads: Each year, Design Corps, in association with a local nonprofit organization or school, hosts its Structures for Inclusion (SFI) conference. Each SFI uniquely exposes attendees to both pathways to pursue alternative community-based work as well as evidence of the impact or influence of such work. From its inception in 2000, the dual mission of SFI has consistently been 1) to showcase design efforts that reach out to and serve a diverse clientele, and 2) to provide information on alternative career paths available to students and young designers. Las year the conference was hosted by Public Architecutre and Urban Ecology Institute in San Fransisco. http://www.designcorps.org/SFI_Conference.htm

The theme for this year was “High Impact: Positive Change Through Design/Build,” SFI7 will focus on the growing interest in design/build as both an academic and a professional methodology.

In addition to being part of Linda Samuels Presentation which described her activism work through the Mobile Studio and our current project at the Urban Ministry Center, Joe Rob and Michael attened sessions by the following groups (just some of the many presenters--see the center photo from the Museumof the Mardi Gras Indian whose director spoke about post Katrina reconstruction).

Steve Badanes is nationally recognized for designing and building innovative projects--from homes to playgrounds to public sculptures. He is an expert on energy-efficient building techniques and speaks on the social responsibilities of architects and the role of architecture in building communities. Steve is a founder of Jersey Devil, an architectural firm comprised of skilled craftsmen, architects, inventors, and artists "committed to the interdependence of building and design." Jersey Devil architects/builders live on-site during construction of their designs, which are known for energy-efficiency and innovative use of materials. At the University of Washington, Steve holds the Howard Wright Endowed Chair and leads design/build studios that have focused on community service projects for nonprofit organizations in the Seattle area. Steve attended Wesleyan University for undergraduate studies and Princeton University, where he received his Master of Architecture.   Heavy Trash is an anonymous arts organization of architects, artists, and urban planners, Heavy Trash creates large, disposable art objects that draw community and media attention to specific urban issues. By explaining a particular urban problem and suggesting a solution, Heavy Trash seeks to provoke dialogue among citizens. Heavy Trash's work has attracted local and national media, ranging from The Los Angeles Times to The New York Times and Adbusters.   Patrick Rhodes, in 2001, formed Project Locus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, to design and build community structures in areas of need, and to develop his growing interest in teaching. Since that time, he has worked in communities across the country including Los Angeles, Boston and Baltimore and has worked with design professionals, students and academic institutions across the country. After Hurricane Katrina, Patrick began working through Project Locus in New Orleans to aid in the rebuilding process. During the summer of 2006 with 35 student volunteers, he designed and built the House of Dance and Feathers Mardi Gras Indian Museum and Community Center in the Lower Ninth Ward. Now teaching at Tulane University, Patrick will continue his work in New Orleans and elsewhere through engaging students in the development and construction of spaces in poor and underserved communities. Patrick is a 1996 graduate of the University of Florida architecture program, and earned his Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture in 1999.   Ronald Lewis is the founder of Tupelo Street Neighborhood Association, established in 1992 to maintain the quality of life and upkeep of the neighborhood. Ron is also a Folk/Traditional Craft Artist in the Social and Pleasure Club Tradition, an historian and a youth educator specializing in hands-on and visual teaching methods. In 2003 he founded the "House of Dance & Feathers" neighborhood museum and educational resource center for cultural history of Social and Pleasure Clubs and Mardi Gras Indians, Lower-Ninth Ward Neighborhood History, and Musical history. In 2004, he was awarded both a Certificate of Appreciation and Congressional Recognition, "in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community, from William Jefferson and a Certificate of Merit from the New Orleans City Council.   Justin Lee worked for various architectural offices in New York and Boston before joining the Renzo Piano Building Workshop in Genova, Italy, in 2005. He has worked on the new California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, the Port Development Project in Oslo and the Trans National Place in Boston. He collaborated with the MIT Media Lab (Senseable City Laboratory) on the Tsunami Safe(r) Project on the design of the Tsunami Safe(r) House and participated in the research trip to Sri Lanka in the summer 2005 to research the post tsunami conditions and oversee the construction of the Tsunami Safe(r) House prototype. Born in Hong Kong in 1975, Justin earned his Bachelor of Arts with honors in studio arts from Wesleyan University in 1999, and his Master of Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2004.

Art Park Pics, the project develops

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:29:00 +0000

pictures include, Rollon, Willie,Tony Kelly, Beverly Cowan, Frances Hawthorne, Joe Rob, Scot Hamilton, Amil Livingston, Pop Miller, Dave and Michael McGregor

A Closer Look

noreply@blogger.com (StreetSoccer945) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:13:00 +0000

Painting on the floor of the street soccer pitch out back of the Urban Ministry Center is continuing to feed off itself. Art Works 945 artists and Writing Group members have taken the lead inspiring many others in the community to join in and make their mark on this wonderful project. Pictured first is Scythe Fewell with his decorated square that includes his poem "I Will Not Lose" that is now permanatly stained into the concrete. Pictured also is Beverly Cowan's "I Believe" and lastly a tribute to street soccer . Those reading in the Charlotte area, please come down and have a look!

Architecture and Activist Project on Track

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:34:00 +0000

The Architecture and Actvism Class has already made a huge impact at the Center. Early on in the planning meetings, storage came up as major need among participants. Here you see neighbors at the Urban Minsitry Center and students unloading lockers that the class recruited from Raleigh. UMC staff developed plan for the fair use of the lockers and they have been in full use almost since the moment of their arrival.

Other photos show the commuity at work using concrete stain to create a patchwork style mural on the cement ground. The mural not only delineates the boundaries for street soccer, but it creates a grid pattern that can facilitate the yoga class now taking place indoors, and can help divide space up for future art sales and garden markets. The folks sitting on the tires (soon to become a soccerwall-seating bench-planter box multi-faceted structure) are professor Linda Samuels and some of her students.

An open mic is scheduled tentatively from 4-6pm on May 9th to celebrate the completion of the project. You can also go to www.coa.uncc.edu to register to attend the "Structures for Inclusion Conference" where Linda will give a brief presentation on our project this saturday. Besides that, it promises to be a fascinating conference. Check it out and we'll see you there.

Poetry Live! by Beverly Cowan (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:58:00 +0000

Schedule this week

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:45:00 +0000

Community%20Works%20945%20Schedule%28march18%29.doc

Step 2: Pouring Concrete

noreply@blogger.com (StreetSoccer945) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:05:00 +0000

Ray Ray, Roland, Rob and Matt Jules with the help of many others helped spread and finish the concrete that poured out of the Harris Concrete truck. Our thanks goes out to Dee Harris and Harris concrete for their contribution. Next we are onto laying out the grid and getting on with some painting.

Schedule for 3/12-3/17

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:39:00 +0000

Monday.doc

Feature on Art Works 945 Artist

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 23:30:00 +0000

Annie Gurley was featured in the widely read local magazine Creative Loafing.
See the link here:

Step 1: Jackhammering

noreply@blogger.com (StreetSoccer945) — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:35:00 +0000

Breaking ground on street soccer pitch, art park, and ampitheatre

OFT is Chosen

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 05:58:00 +0000

The group OFT of the Urban Ministry Center auditioned for and were chosen to perform 3 songs at Queens University's Black History Month Program on Febuary 28th is Sykes Auditorium. The program begins at 6pm. OFT writes and mixes their own music about their experiences in the Art Works Studio. Please check them out.

Success!

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 05:34:00 +0000

Zenas Fewell is pictured hear in the bedroom of his apartment. The medals on the wall are trophies for speech (Zenas attended a school for the deaf in New Jersey); the others are soccer and hockey medals. Zenas's art which is always infused with words from his poems can be found on every wall of his new place. Zenas, or "Scythe" as he styles himself, has had a great year. 12 months ago at the age of 19 he was camping out in the woods and visiting the Room in the Inn program. He's been in his apartment now for 8 months. He started painting with Art Works and joined our soccer team nearly 20 months ago. Zenas, a veteran of last year's Homeless World Cup, still visits Community Works to play soccer and to participate in our writing group. Attached here in an exceprt fom a recent poem which sums up his positive demeanor these days.

from "Break da chains"

IM ALREADY FREE,
IVE BROKEN DA CHAINS,
AND I WANNA BREAK MORE,
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE SPACES IN THE WORLD WHER I CAN BE FREE,
LET ME RIP THAT GATE OF YOUR FENCE SO YOU CAN COME OUT,
STOMP YOUR FOOT AND SHOUT,
LIKE YOUR IN SOME KINDA PARTY HOUSE,
I CRAVE FOR SO MUCH I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE MORE DO I WANT,
LET ME BREAK DA CHAINZ,
MY HUNGER IS SO STRONG,
I CANT HELP IT
THERES SO MUCH GOOD STUFF AROUND ME THAT I SEE,
AND I WANNA GET IT,
BUT I CANT SNATCH WHAT NEEDS TO BE MINE IN ONE SHOT,
IVE BROKEN DA CHAINS,
I WANNA BREAK MORE,
I WANNA FEEL LIKE I WAS A SUPER ENERGETIC KID,
I WANNA FEEL LIKE I ATE TONS OF MARSHMALLOW SMORES,
I WANNA GO HELL YEA,
AND JUMP AND PUT MY HEAD THROUGH THE CEILING AND LAND MY GOOF ASS ON THE FLOOR,
I WANNA BREAK MORE CHAINS ,
TEAR DA ROOF OFF YOUR LONELY SELF IN THE DARKNESS,
AND GET THE SUMMER SUN TO DRIVE YOU BAZOOKAS,
JUST KEEP YOUR CHIN UP,
YOUR BORN TO BE WILD,
LOST OUTTA NO WHERE ,
I DONT KNOW HOW TO PUT UP WITH MY OWN SMILES,
YEA!
BREAK YOUR CHAINS ,
AND MAKE THE GOOD LIFE OUTTA YOUR OWN PAINS,

Architecture as Activism (class done in collaboration with CW945--syllabus attached

noreply@blogger.com (CommunityWorks945) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 05:41:00 +0000

Linda Samuels, professor of Architecture at UNCC, took the initiative to work with Community Works 945 to create course called "Architecture as Activism." I actually had the chance to travel with Linda in her "Mobile Studio," a dark room on wheels which she developed and has used to take semester long classes on the road, investigating the role of roads play in architecture and society. Linda took me in the mobile studio to see a fascinating project called the rural studio ( www.ruralstudio.org ) developed by genius-award winner Sambo Mockbee at Auburn Universty's school of architecture. The project links architecture students to impoverished communities in rural Alabama. In the first projects, students not only designed but built housing out of new and recycled materials for folks living in substandard housing. Go to the website and plan a visit to Montgomery for the rural studio and lots of civil rights history.

The trip has informed our vision and hopes for what the class Linda designed can accomplish here at the UMC. Presently the group is looking at the outdoor space on the Tryon end of the train station. Come hear their design presentation after several weeks of meetings with the community the final wednesday Febuary from 9-12.

Check our the class syllabus heresyllabus%2007.doc