Today was our second workshop on the mall. It seemed as though many more people stopped to inquire about BICAS and the workshop than previously. I think our simple set up (with only one table instead of three) was more effective andconcise. The project was also simplified, yet moreopen ended at the same time. We made bracelets, headbands, and belts out of bike inner tubes. There was no sewing necessary (simplifying the supplies) although some needles and thread were provided.Erin, Shana, and Emma brought examples, templates, and inspirational photographs. We discovered that if the figure eights were cutlarger and from the thicker rubber they would lay flatter. I made a bracelet using the template and tied a bike part at the end to toggle through a hole on the opposite end. People that did not have time to participate seemed intrigued by the idea and surprised that BICAS even had an art sector. Both non-participants and thosethat stopped to make something seemed interested in joining the Friday workshops. People were also excited about the auction and it helped to have the action flyers this times. The majority of people that stopped by and took a look at the items on the table commented on the stickers we had laying out. Most people thought they were really funny and would read them aloud to their friends.

Meetings and New Directions

The grant group has a new direction that I think we are all excited about. After having a few meetings, our group has come to the consensus that we will write a grant for the next ARE 420/520 class to help with the costs of running workshops. I feel good about this direction because I feel more informed about our class, and more confident in being able to articulate what we need, versus articulating the needs of BICAS. It makes a big difference being part of the group we are writing for instead of being outsiders. Working through the Research part of the CRAFT method, by interviewing people and finding out what is important to them, in preparation for writing the grant is an important step, and writing for the class will allow us to do this part. It’s neat to be able to have a dialogue with our fellow classmates, and I look forward to hearing about what everyone has experienced and what they feel would make the workshops even more successful for the next class.

The grant group has planned to ask the other groups for feedback on Thursday, and we have scheduled a meeting for next Tuesday to continue writing the grant to reflect our new goals.

Week of the 15th Goal

Mainly, I'm trying to work on my written reflection and getting my hours of experience in. I'm hopefully going to BICAS this Friday and really that's all that I need to do. I'm thinking about teaching another workshop at BICAS for the hours also so I have more to write about in my reflection. We'll see!

On Sunday, I helped Brittany with the workshop that she planned at Ben's Bells. I thought that the workshop was a great success. We had several kids and their families come by and paint flowers that are going to be a part of the bike charms as well as members of our class. The participants painted the flowers and then this week Ben's Bells was going to fire them and give them back to us so that we could make little baggies with all the materials to create their bike charm, which they were to pick up at BICAS. This workshop got people involved in the all souls procession and we got them to come back and see what BICAS is and hopefully they will want to be involved in future workshops...Brittany and I were also able to create some pieces that can be donated to the art auction as well.
Ashley

Coconut lattes incite progress...

Whitney and I met at Shot in the Dark Cafe last week to start the writing process of the Wells Fargo Grant. We got an amazing amount done and were really happy with the results so far. We got an idea from Marissa to specify the grant to support our own class workshops that we do with BICAS to get materials and supplies to further our class mission as a whole. We are now changing direction and I'm pretty sure the writing will be easy enough to change to keep our progress on the grant writing while supporting our own class and BICAS!

Product

Everyone be sure to update your portfolios, you just made a charitable contribution (in the form of artwork) to a community based arts organization!

The result of the October 22 3-D workshop was a series of works, mostly candleholders, for the BICAS art auction.  Every one of them was a fabulous creation and I am sure that they will all be sold. 

 It is important to note however, that original ideas are hard to come by (even when sculpting with bike parts) and although we didn’t know it, our work was highly derivative, with one notable exception, and that was Angie (photo not available).

KUDOS TO ANGIE!



The Joy is in the Journey (aka Process)

The Workshop Outreach committee hosted its first BICAS workshop on October 22.  Attendees included almost all committee members, as well as members of the art auction committee. 

We all had a great time pillaging and assembling!

PS AND GETTING...