AYB artists are stylistically, culturally, and generationally diverse. We share a social justice, social practice and activist lens that is reflected in our artmaking and teaching, including addressing inequitable art and education access; LGBTQ+ rights; systemic racism; sexism; the carceral system; the degradation of the planet; and more.
Support AYB with PRIDE!
Visit our GoFundMe page to help make AYB Summer Session 2024 possible.
We also have a supply list gathered on Amazon Lists which allows you to purchase specific supplies needed for the program.
Please read through to the bottom of this recap for the details of summer session including class descriptions and roster of teaching artists!
Thanks to ART YARD Artist Jodie Lyn-Kee Chow, in spite of hard times, we started the week focused On Joy in ART YARD Advanced studio on zoom.
Jodie thoughtfully sums up the session: “This week’s lesson “On Joy” allowed us to engage with art-making inspired by “Juneteenth”. Participants used materials and techniques of their choice that expressed joy and freedom as forms of resistance. We looked at selected works by Henri Matisse, Derrick Adams, Amalia Pica, and Mark di Suvero.
As a starting point, I briefly introduced Matisse’s “The Joy of Life” for its expressionistic and innovative use of color and figuration.
We then looked at a TATE video of Amalia Pica working on stamped works on paper in her London studio. Here the dated and ‘paid’ stamps are playfully arranged into a rich contrast of opposing colors and patterns.
Followed by Derrick Adams’ Floater Series which represented Black Joy.
Lastly, we looked at Mark di Suvero’s “Joie de Vivre”, 1998 sculpture. Adopted in 2011 by the Occupy Wall Street movement it stands as a symbol of proletariat protests.
Given these examples we came up with these artworks in class:
Emily created this stunning collage work of a figure immersed in a sunset. Going to the beach brings her joy.
Vee decided to take the joy of challenging themself by creating a self-portrait with their least favorite medium, painting. It’s amazing how much Vee’s work connected to Emily’s with its composition and color.
Hisla painted a watercolor of a personal memory of a joyful occasion, a birthday party! The gestures of the people here reflect such joy!
On the party note…I (Jodie) decided to finally make my version of a lightweight beaded curtain in rainbow colors using a previously painted bamboo stick and some ribbon I had lying around from previous projects. It brings a joyful vibe to the interior design of my live/ work space.
Jodie Lyn-Kee-Chow, Joy Divide, 2024 Acrylic on bamboo, ribbons (2 views)
Delphine’s drawing in progress of a bird in flight is in calming and joyous colors symbolizing freedom.
Delphine explains her piece: "I thought of birds symbolizing joy because I’ve always thought of flying as joyful and freeing. I want to thank the lesson for reminding everyone that even in a world often seen as violent and upsetting, joy still exists if you look for it."
Meridith loves reading and so she painted this watercolor of her books. I just love how it fills up the whole page! Plus, it’s a great image as we gear up for the AYB Year of Literacy!!
Simone’s collage expresses so much love and lightness of these caricatured buildings in the landscape in the pose of kissing.
Ed’s approach included works on paper. A mixture of drawing and collage. The first image calls to mind Ed’s joyous thoughts of his son Jacob joyfully eating pizza as a child. Ed’s second piece, like Emily’s above, revels in taking a walk on the beach.
Ed Rath, On Joy l & ll
Leah’s drawing is a bench centered in a pink field of curvy lines. The lines represent pathways and the pink background is a joyful and peaceful color.
Rachel used a joyful illustration from Briar Patch of animals in the landscape with a joyful and peaceful soundtrack Agape by Nicholas Britell "If Beale Street Could Talk".
Rachel Palmer, On Joy
Jodie’s reflection in closing: “It’s a beautiful thing to experience and create together at a time when we need it most. There is so much joy in the works here and I love the reflections and the interconnectedness we all share.”
On Tuesday for AYB Advanced Studio in person in our studio at BWAC we had a full house of talented artists (with a 60 year age span!). The exuberant atmosphere of welcome and support evident from the very first arrival. We caught up with each other as we feasted on vegan pasta and donuts, flavored seltzer and orange wine. With Liv at the helm of the music this week, we moved on from my Disco Inferno play list from last week!
I began with the announcement that this was our final Advanced Studio for the year. Initial panic morphed into excitement as I announced teachers and sessions planned for AYB Summer Session 2024. The energy and positive spirit in this group is effervescent. In that teacherly way, I scanned the room as I spoke and every time my eyes alighted on Marley (the youngest in attendance for the session) her ear to ear grin was simply joyous! I consider myself very lucky to have artists like Marley who I have known since before she was born participating in our programs.
Then we got down to the business of thinking about and making art! AYB Artist Ajani Russell put together a splendid and inspiring power point of artwork (spanning over 60 centuries!) which immersed us in the topic at hand (nod to Reg Lewis, AYB wordsmith), hands.
Participating artists had their choice of materials – watercolor, pen, pencil, marker, chalk, charcoal, and mixed media were all employed. Ajani had us begin with a timed drawing from observation, then move on to at least one more piece using any approach from realistic depictions to wild surrealistic symbolic narratives!
Ajani reflects on the session: "The class began with a presentation on some of the ways select artists have depicted hands in works from ancient Egypt to contemporary creators and what they may express through form. Artists included Auguste Rodin, Issac Micsilic, Henry Moore, Oyin, ancient sculptures from Egypt among others.
(Left to right) Auguste Rodin, The Cathedral, Modeled 1908; cast 1925, Issac Micsilic, Untitled, pastel and charcoal on heavyweight black paper; 2022, and Henry Moore, The Artists Hands, 1974
I discussed how the ways hands are crafted can reveal aspects of the subject that add to the context of the work, from their social status to emotions as well as how they can be used to deliver messages by using gestures, mudras or sign language, as part of metaphors etc. The class dove into a mini exercise of drawing their own or a peers hand to warm up, then created longer pieces using the references from the presentation.
Although hands can be considered a straight forward prompt, the range of approaches to it varied greatly. Many went in the surreal direction, distorting hands, showing movement and using color to express emotions. Others used gestures and even objects alongside hands to convey greater emotions. Jules drew a house being enveloped in a pair of giant hands grasp while Mich showed a pair of outreached hands handing off an apple. Intense lighting/ contrast also drove some of the pieces to have more dramatic finishes."
Examples of our artwork created in this session:
Ajani Russell, Hands l & ll
Lenika Silva, Hands l & ll
Taylor Branch, Hands l & ll
Liv Collins, Hands l & ll
Jailene Garcia, Hands l & ll
Sasha Jackson, Hands l & ll
Ed Rath, Hands l & ll
Dakota Jones, Hands l & ll
Shalisa Chang, Hands l, ll & lll
Cat Summers, Hands l & ll
Mich Goenawan, Hands l & ll
Sasha started critique off by getting real: “You’all are so TALENTED!”. Tangie complimented Meridith on her "commitment to contemporary art education at its finest and holding space where everyone is safe, nurtured, encouraged, treated with kindness and respect.” Liv shouted out to "My Girls (friends who have joined the ranks of AYB Artists at Liv’s invitation): I am so glad you are here at AYB!! You did a great job making art!! I just knew you would love it here!!”
