Enhancing our Community through the Creation of Public Art
"The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind. These people - artists, inventors, designers, storytellers, caregivers, consolers, big picture thinkers - will now reap society's richest rewards and share its greatest joys."
Daniel Pink, A Whole New Mind
Cheri England Coat of Arms Project AIM Center 2004
Mark Making empowers non-professional artists by teaching them 21st century problem solving skills with the goal of a more fulfilling life. For participants, many of whom face major life challenges, Mark Making provides and economic and cognitive edge in this current Age of Creativity.
By creating an environment conducive to art making as well as coaching these emergent artists on the basics of line, shape, color, and texture, Mark Making provides a safe space for the expression of the participants' inherent creativity. The end result is a public art project that benefits the participants and beautifies the local community.
Individual Empowerment Invokes pride and self-esteem, creating a sense of ownership and citizenship.
"We Speak" 2009
One of a collection of 52 paintings.
"The afternoon I spent painting my mouth, I didn't say 'I can't' one single time. At the end, I said 'I can'." - Earl, Chambliss Shelter
Visual Art Education Teaches art as a problem-solving skill: arranging lines, shapes, colors and textures until the desired outcome emerges.
Workshop photo from:
"Everlasting Flow" 2009
"My experience working on the tapestry was really mind opening, and I learned so many new things. I love art but the tapestry gave me another perspective about it." - Mei Li Zuber
Beautifying Visual Landscapes Serves to improve less attractive areas, stimulate community interaction, and promote tourism.
Detail from:
"My City 'Tis of Thee" 2008
"It is apparent by the many positive comments and strong public support we have received that the residents of Chattanooga love this mural." - Mayor Ron Littlefield
Collaborative and Teaching Opportunities Provides area artists with opportunities to teach and experience public art collaborations.
John McLeod with artist participants at the Salvation Army.
"This was the most amazing teaching experience I've ever had and a rare opportunity to give back to my community. The tiles were a poignant testament of what I have to offer to other artists." - John McLeod
We strive for:
In these first six months of operation, we have provided 420 individuals with art education, created job opportunities worth $10,000 for local artists/teachers, received funding from five foundations and major donations from four businesses/persons, and worked with 14 local agencies that serve populations including the homeless, and teens in foster care and rehabilitation. The culmination of all of this activity is three beautiful public art projects : "Slice of Life," "Homes," "We Speak," and "Everlasting Flow."
Recent Projects
“Wings II” 2010 Mural Project Latex 2200 Glass Street (Intersection of Glass St. and Dodson Ave.)
Six wall murals created by 14 girls, aged 7–14, from Girls Inc. of Chattanooga and Hardy Elementary. The images depict “guardians” who oversee and protect East Chattanooga.
Funding for the project came from Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga, the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. Other partners include East Chattanooga Weed and Seed, and Unbroken: an initiative of the Department of Education, Arts & Culture, City of Chattanooga.
"Slice of Life" 2009 16 ft. wide and 8 ft. tall Allen Elementary Wax resist on paper collage
60 specially selected artist participants in grades 3-5 used wax resist on paper technique to create images of food. These were collaged onto a steel frame. This particular pyramid is the new food pyramid which depicts the food groups vertically rather than horizontally.
"We See You Two" 2009 Painted Van
This is the fourth of four mobile murals on the second of two vans. It is the second "We See You". The first "We See You" was painted in 1999 by Calvin Donaldson Elementary Students. You can find pictures of that van here. The artist participants for this project were "some citizens of Chattanooga" who worked on the van at the Frances Wyatt Recreation Center, on Frazier Ave., at Joost's birthday party, and many other venues. The artists used paint, oil pastel, colored pencil, and interference pigments.
"Homes" 2009 10 ft. tall On Main St., across from Createhere Steel sculpture and 300 6x6 ceramic tiles
300 artist participants are homeless persons from these ministries and agencies: The Chattanooga Community Kitchen, the Salvation Army, Room in the Inn, In the His Hand Church, Union Gospel Mission, Grace in Action Ministry, Episcopal Metropolitan Ministry, and Forest Ave. United Methodist Church.Each tile is marked with an individual’s drawings and/or words used to describe his/her idea of a home, commentary on the being homeless, words of gratitude, dedications, in memoriams, and sometimes a request for employment with their qualifications.
"We Speak" 2009 52 4x8 ft. vinyl paintings Ross Hotel Building (Georgia Ave. and Patten Parkway, Chattanooga, TN)
This project was created by teens from Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults, CADAS Scholze Adolescent Center, and The Children’s Home/Chambliss Shelter. Each teen was asked to complete the phrase: “I _____”, using a word which best represented what they would express to all Chattanooga and its visitors. Using mirrors, each teen drew and painted his or her mouth articulating that word. When hung together, the paintings create a building that “speaks” words of empowerment.
Listen to a radio interview with Frances McDonald and Julie Steele
Everlasting Flow 2009 20x5 ft. Collaged Tapestry of paint and cloth Chattanooga Hamilton County Bicentennial Library
"Everlasting Flow" is a tapestry project created by Chattanooga teens for the Teen Stack at the downtown public library. The tapestry is a black and white collage of monoprints and paint-ins of images provoking a movement from past to present.
My City 'Tis of Thee 2008 50x18 ft. latex on wood Barton Ave. Chattanooga, TN
55 third grade artists from CSAS painted self portraits on the wall on Barton Ave. across from GPS. This project is a partnership of Allied Arts, the City of Chattanooga, CSAS, and Mark Making.
