 |
|
 |
Art Jam: Food for the Soul
(The Ontarion, University of Guelph newspaper) by Kit Malo Imagine a world where people of all ages are free to sing, paint and create however they want to. Imagine a school gymnasium, full of treacherous physical memories of the past, turned into a warm, inviting place. Imagine all the people, living life in peace. Sound improbable? Welcome to Art Jam. When you first walk into Torrance Public School, you might not believe what you see. Walls covered with art, balls bouncing on the floor, tea and jam being offered in a comer stuffed with cushions and chairs. And the best part is that the creations are not the masterpieces of dead, white European males, but of everyone in our community. The premise seems simple. Five bucks gets you three hours of creating and playing using recycled materials. It's like being in art class with a free-loving hippie teacher. But unlike school, the facilitators, (all local artists), don't mark anyone's creation. All people have valid artistic things to express, and Art Jam's atmosphere helps adults relearn the value of their creative side. Interspersed with physical games, the evening's creating has a theme, but the rest is up to the artist. I never thought it would work. There were people old enough to be my mother (damn, that's old!) getting their hands covered with glop, experiencing the world directly through their senses. Sue Richards, the project coordinator, describes the situation as, "serendipitous. Them's realty no other word that fits." I would tend to agree. These people are not the same tweed-wearing, luggage-toting crowd I see out an the streets daily. They're having fun, and I feel like screaming "I love adults." I never feel that urge, ever. Maybe I'm getting sick. I went completely insane the first time I arrived, covering my body and others' with paint. No one laughed at me or told me I couldn't get severely dirty. I was in heaven, and the goddess was Sue Richards. Her vision and grant proposal has transformed a school no longer in use to a haven for people that have always felt uncreative and unimaginative. Holding the Jam in Torrance Public School is an ironic takeover of an institution that tries to suck out creativity as soon as possible. My early memories of art class are horrible. Kids that were deemed "inartistic" got sent to the back of the room, ordered to hum multiplication tables till math time. Art Jam deconstructs the notion of "artsy fartsy' vs. the world by challenging our views of who can create art. That answer includes everyone. Richards seems to be the perfect person to deliver this message. Her creativity is something that was encouraged and fostered every since she was young. She exudes joyous confidence about her project and life. From constantly decorating her house throughout childhood to moving out on her own at eighteen, Richards' independent character motivates people to unwind and relax.. All ages are welcome as well. Children and adults share supplies here in a way I've never seen before. Just as kids watch in awe at grown-ups acting silly, so too do adults begin to feed off the energy that the children bring to the group. Richards plans to have workshops for classes of kids as well. These sessions are designed to start creative freedom outside of the classroom early, giving students an inner confidence about expressing themselves. Richards' face glows with enthusiasm as she talks about this project. Her vibrant nature is impossibly contagious, a gift that helps people around her feel instantly comfortable and unafraid to be themselves. This energy and warmth is fuel for the government funded fire of Art Jam (Did I just write government? Did anybody see that?) "I've always been able to get people to do crazy things, Richards admits. Her friends are used to parties where Elvis impersonators show up, everyone's name has been changed, and all present have to have an open mind. "I've seen grown people screaming and howling,'" she laughs. "If you aren't prepared to have fun, I'd rather you'd not come." This phrase seems to be an Art Jam requirement as well. At the beginning of my session, Petir and Dean, two local artists, explain to the group that having fun and being brave are what the night is all about. We introduce ourselves with make-believe names, instigating an element of imaginary play from the start. One woman and her daughter were known respectively as poo and butts. "That helps you get into a free, creative space," acknowledges Richards. "You'll see her an the street now and always call her poo. This gymnasium is a space where everyone can forget the outside world, errands and work for three hours." People seem to have no problem forgetting the outside world. A man known only as "Rain Rural Route #4" told me that he, "is never embarrassed. Ever." These inspiring attitudes are exchanged all night till we feel closer as a group on a creative level. I could talk about how Richards got the grant or how Art Jam came to be. But for me, the point is that it's here, and open for anyone who wants to be brave and have fun. This is the stuff that heals society's aches and pains. Art Jam is food for the soul. For more information, contact Sue Richards at 767-0142 |
|
| contacts | | Art Jam television | | partners | | mission | | home |
Definitely a must for all communities. |
|