Meet the 2015 The Collective teens!This year we are a team of all girls... and it's fabulous! Here, we completed the web of connected interests activity and created a very colorful installation. Unlike last year, we left up the installation during the next day's First Friday for visitors to see. Curious visitors turned the corner to see the linked string and braver ones ventured inside to read the teen's interests.
Screen Printing |
Tulsa artist Steve Cluck is an insanely creative individual with an inspiring drive to enhance the Tulsa community through the arts. When beginning to plan this program I knew in the back of my mind that he would be a wonderful artist to partner with. Originally we had planned for Steve to be involved with the fashion challenge. However because of life's uncontrollable surprises, when the time came he wasn't available. It wasn't until I learned that the teens had so much fun screen printing with artist John Hammer at AHHA that I realized we might be able to work with Steve after all. Steve agreed to create a one of a kind logo for the The Collective and graciously agreed to come in during our very last session and teach the teens how to print the logo onto a T-Shirt. In the end it all ended up working out better than I had expected. The teens were able to receive one of a kind artwork, personal time with Steve, and continue to grow in their interest of screen printing. |
Reflections from the teens before saying goodbye...
After Steve left, the group came together to talk about the program. I asked them a series of questions and they took some time to write down their thoughts. At the end we shared our reflections with each other and engaged in conversation using the questions as prompts. Taking the time to hear the teens critique the program was really valuable to me. Receiving constructive criticism and encouragement will help my future planning for the next semester of The Collective in the the Fall of 2015... hopefully continuing into the Spring of 2106... hopefully.
Did you find The Collective valuable to you?
"SO VALUABLE – I didn't know Brady Arts/ Philbrook Downtown was so booming. I had no idea that AHHA, Contemporary 108, or the other art galleries were so open to the public. I also loved experimenting in new mediums/ looking at art in new ways."
"I found it extremely valuable, I did and made things I never would of tried other wise and it was all a super cool experience."
"For sure, I don’t think there are very many art programs for teens so I think The Collective is really important. It really helps teens who are interesting in pursuing art and are interested in finding an outlet to express their creativity."
"Innumerably valuable. I cannot emphasize enough its importance to Tulsa’s art community. I look forward to seeing it grow."
"I found the program amazing. There were a lot of cool new opportunities and I learned a lot and met a lot of great people."
"Did I like it? So much. I never would've known so much of the inner Tulsa art scene without it."
"I enjoyed it. I think printing is super fun and interesting. I've done stuff I probably wouldn't do outside of this class! Like, painting on wood? Yeah, probably never."
"I found it very valuable, there aren't really any art programs for teens here in Tulsa, so this is awesome."
"I found it extremely valuable, I did and made things I never would of tried other wise and it was all a super cool experience."
"For sure, I don’t think there are very many art programs for teens so I think The Collective is really important. It really helps teens who are interesting in pursuing art and are interested in finding an outlet to express their creativity."
"Innumerably valuable. I cannot emphasize enough its importance to Tulsa’s art community. I look forward to seeing it grow."
"I found the program amazing. There were a lot of cool new opportunities and I learned a lot and met a lot of great people."
"Did I like it? So much. I never would've known so much of the inner Tulsa art scene without it."
"I enjoyed it. I think printing is super fun and interesting. I've done stuff I probably wouldn't do outside of this class! Like, painting on wood? Yeah, probably never."
"I found it very valuable, there aren't really any art programs for teens here in Tulsa, so this is awesome."
Did you learn something that had a lasting effect?
"I learned more about teamwork for sure."
"I've learned that painting on wood is pretty difficult. The paints don’t mix well on wood."
"There are people that can make art and make a living all at once. It was cool to see examples of successful artists."
"I learned a lot personally. I got to do things I've never done, such as fashion designing."
"I learned how to go about connecting with communities through art – that’s a skill I cherish very much. (First Fridays rocked). Also, museums such as Philbrook are so fun to work in."
"I learned a lot about how organizing events are structured and got to learn first-hand what it was like to creatively come up with ideas and programs."
"I learned how to sew which is a pretty decent life skill to have, also just to try new things ‘cause you never know what could happen."
"I actually wrote one of my college essays about The Collective and it kind of sums up the experience – I’ll email it to you. I learned about how many opportunities there are for visual artists."
"I've learned that painting on wood is pretty difficult. The paints don’t mix well on wood."
"There are people that can make art and make a living all at once. It was cool to see examples of successful artists."
"I learned a lot personally. I got to do things I've never done, such as fashion designing."
"I learned how to go about connecting with communities through art – that’s a skill I cherish very much. (First Fridays rocked). Also, museums such as Philbrook are so fun to work in."
"I learned a lot about how organizing events are structured and got to learn first-hand what it was like to creatively come up with ideas and programs."
"I learned how to sew which is a pretty decent life skill to have, also just to try new things ‘cause you never know what could happen."
"I actually wrote one of my college essays about The Collective and it kind of sums up the experience – I’ll email it to you. I learned about how many opportunities there are for visual artists."
A Reflection
by Megan Hosmer
The Philbrook Collective was a wonderful experience for me and I feel so fortunate to have been part of it. When I was informed of a program of around ten students interested in art and its influence of arts on our community I immediately wanted to contribute to it. My parents have been taking me to museums all over the world since I was a little girl and it has always been one of my favorite things to do. The Philbrook Collective taught me that I could make my lifelong love and use it to build a career. In addition to that I was able to share my passion with incredibly talented people my age and an amazing facilitator. Through this program I was exposed to the immense depth and diversity of the Tulsa's vibrant arts community. As I prepare to enter the Art History program at the University of Tulsa my experiences with the Philbrook Collective will allow me to explore a wide variety of career options.
Stick It 2 The Man!"Come to Philbrook Downtown for First Friday and get a sticker put on your back from The Collective teens. Once you’re in the gallery seek help from everyone else to find the artwork that’s stuck to your back. When you find the art on your sticker you’ll receive a one of a kind gift that The Collective teens created for you." |
" First Friday has never been so fun!"
- Visitor
"A lot of the First Fridays seem serious and with low energy. Today the museum is full of positive energy and laughing! This project it brilliant!"
- Philbrook Docent
"After finding the artwork on their sticker people have been asking who created their gift. It's really fun to be able to point them to the artist and watch them have a conversation about why they created what they created."
- Teen from The Collective
"I really wish I had something like this to be a part of when I was 16, 17... the group is filling a need and it seems like everyone wants to be involved."
- Visitor
"This event is such a great learning experience for my kid!"
- The Collective Parent
"This is the most fun I've ever had at Philbrook Downtown!"
- Visitor
Artists Libby Williams, Danielle Wyman, Scott Taylor and Steve Cluck came to First Friday to support The Collective! |
Author
Laura Voth is the program manager and developer of The Collective.
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