2
NEIGHBOR to NEIGHBOR OCTOBER 2015 Inner-City Neighborhood Art House • 201 East Tenth Street • Erie, Pennsylvania 16503 • 814-455-5508 — A MINISTRY OF THE BENEDICTINE SISTERS OF ERIE — www.neighborhoodarthouse.org MOMMIES by Nizjanna Bryant (age 13) Mommies make you brush your teeth and make you really eat and make you put on clothes that are comfortable in sleep. Mommies make you get the broom and call you from the porch and say “honey, I need you” kissing you goodnight And tuck you in so gently barely whispering “sleep tight.” I’M IN LOVE WITH POEMS by Nizjanna Bryant (age 13) I’m in love with poems They give me thoughts I love writing them I love them a lot. They express who I am To let people understand Who I really am In the end, to the end. I like to be creative And think of a lot of things, I get the hang of writing And it really comes to me. We offer a heart- felt “thank you” to our sponsors and contributing artists. Their gifts give tangible evidence of their belief that the future rests with the children whose experiences now, mold the character of the adults they will become: Michelangelo Sponsors ($5,000) Judy Alstadt Humes Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Reed Manufacturing Vincent Van Gogh Sponsor ($2,500) Attorney Mark & Amy Denlinger ERIEZ Bill & Becky Hilbert Bill & Martha Hilbert Bruce & Nancy Kern David & Lenora Lewis Mary & Howard Lincoln Gertrude and the late John Petersen PNC Bank Barbara Pollock Lalida & Stephen Raj Al & Peggy Richardson Sharon & Shawn Rooney Maggie Stolley Jim & Mary Ann Toohey Georgia O’Keeffe Sponsor ($1,000) Kenneth & Lisa Chinsky Mary Alice & Tom Doolin Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Home Instead Senior Care Christina & Philip Katen Chris & Tom Loftus Lynn & Dale McBrier Debbie and the late Lou Porreco & Bianchi Honda RBC Wealth Management Contributing Artists Mary Lou Chimenti Evan Everhart Barbara J. Hauck Bill Hess Sue Hunter Vitus Kaiser Margaret Ann Pilewski, OSB Mitch Silver Dolores Sutula-Dray Anne T. Wirth Susan Zimmerman Over 300 guests took A Magic Carpet Ride Through the Arts on “carpets” woven on looms by the children under the direction of Barb Hauck. With the addition of a lantern and lovely floral arrangement provided by Larese Floral Design, the centerpieces joined the themed buffet decorations and food offerings to put us in the mood for the journey. A production piece featuring the combined efforts of the Hoop Dancing, Drama and Choir programs set the stage for a most enjoyable program. A performance such as this that is held just as the school year begins is only possible when dedicated teachers join with interested children to get the timing just right for the dances, the fingers in rhythm for the instrumental music and voices speaking or singing in tune. Kudos to all involved, especially Sister Peg, Program Director. Thanks to everyone who had a part in making this evening so special. Thanks, too, to all those who attended! To mark the 20 th Anniversary of the Neighborhood Art House, Sister Mary Lou Kownacki, founding Executive Director, reminded the audience that the Art House started as a dream, came to life because the dream was embraced by dedicated members of the community, and lives on in our loyal supporters, faculty, parents, and children. “Hold fast to this Neighborhood Art House dream,” she said, “Keep believing in the children. You are the kind of dreamers the children of Erie need.” Featured Artist, Franco Harris, gave a big hug to Bobbi Pollock, member of the Women’s Core Committee and winner of the Silent Auction Chalk Pastel, A Wish for You, that he had prepared under the direction of his teacher, Mary Kay Geary. Kaely Carlson,13, is a particularly talented young artist who has been an Art House participant since 2010. In recognition of her well-rounded art resume, Kaely was named Distinguished Artist and honored with a special art show. Kaely moved on to high school at Collegiate Academy this fall. After serving as emcee for all 18 of the Taste of the Arts events, Brady Louis is stepping down and passing the podium to another. As she presented him with a small gift in recognition of his many years as emcee, Sister Annette commented, “Next year, Brady, you can just come and enjoy the show!” Sullyvette Luiggi, a stu- dent at the Neighborhood Art House in its early years (1996 – 1999) and Alumnae Speaker at Taste of the Arts, spoke of the perseverance she learned during clay class with Sister Peg. She puts the patience she learned here to good use in the Surgery Department at Saint Vincent Health Center. “The Art House has positively affected my childhood, my siblings, and now my daughter, Julissa, who has been a summer participant for the last three years.” Taste of the Arts 2015 Nizjanna made an excit- ing discovery this year, she ‘fell in love’ with poetry! Her desire to share her enthusiasm with others found the perfect opportunity at Taste of the Arts. Anyone who visits the Art House and looks at the pho- tographs taken by Lourdes Jasso’s students on display can clearly see that snapping a picture and photography are not anywhere near the same thing. Why do ¾ of the students attending the Art House choose to take Digital Photography? Let’s find out by asking Mrs. Jasso to respond to a few questions. Mrs. Jasso, how did you get into photography? Why do you like it? I went to a vocational high school and picked photography just to pick a major. I made a pin-hole camera out of a cardboard box and saw the paper develop in the darkroom with just chemicals. It was like magic! Since I just did what I was supposed to do in school and at home, nothing more was expected from me. So when I had the SLR 35mm camera with manual setting, it was all me! I had full control of what the outcome was going to be. Not just taking the picture, but exposing it right, developing the film, printing in the darkroom (for 4hrs at a time to print one print right). For the first time I was being challenged and loved how through photography I was able to express myself without having to really explain who I was. I love it because I am not good with words and I hate how everything needs an explanation and a photograph just speaks for itself. Do you think that your involvement with photography had an effect on your future? Yes indeed! I saw how my photographs where actu- ally giving me opportunities, like going to college. I am the only one in my family with a college degree, so I think I did ok. Considering all my options in being a Chicago inner city kid, it did keep me out of trouble and helped me develop my creativity and confidence. The photographs that your students take are real works of art – not just taking a picture. How do you teach them to be able to do this? I tell them the truth, not everybody wants pics of pretty flowers. I tell them they have to photograph everyday things from a completely different vantage point. Your students photograph the most unusual things, finding beauty in the ordinary. How do you get them to “see”? I use the “ant’s point of view.” I have them lay on the ground and they look straight, side, up, side and down. I tell them that hundreds of people walk through here all the time and think they know what this neighborhood looks like. But they surely don’t go through the neighborhood seeing it from the ant’s point of view. Why do you teach the children to figure out their own camera settings instead of just using the auto setting? How successful are they in doing this? Those who have cell phones and cameras don’t really take the time to think when they photograph that way. This way, they learn control, patience and confidence once they see the outcome of the hard work. No it’s not easy or successful all the time. If they see they have no pictures to print, they keep on trying. There is simply no giving up. Besides taking the photographs, what else do the children need to do to get a good finished product? They need to absorb all forms of art to train their eye to see what appeals to the eye and what doesn’t. It’s hard for them because it’s sometimes boring to just sit and look at art. But eventually they begin to see shape and design and the effects of light. You have taken the photography students on field trips. Where do you like to go? Why? I take them to the beach on Presque Isle; most have never been since they don’t have a car and no public transportation to get there. We’ve also gone to the Erie Zoo, Jerry Uht Park and Glinodo Center. The excitement of being in a new place is always a great way to get great photographs from them. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us? Yes – WYSIWYG. Photography is: What you see is what you get. No explanations. Focus on Photography Mrs. Jasso guides stu- dent artist Shane W. (age 13) as he photo- graphs the ordinary to get an extra-ordinary image. The above photo taken by student pho- tographer Joseph S. (age 11) From an Ant’s Point of View Destiny (age 13) Lynne Elia and Mary Alice Doolin, co-chairpersons for Taste of the Arts 2015, had a preview of the wonderful art contributed for the Silent Auction. Both women dedicated their time and talent to help bring this year’s theme, A Magic Carpet Ride Through the Arts, to life. Their commitment to the success of this major source of income for our work with at-risk children is much appreciated.
