Kids Paint Monster Mural for ''Unbroken'' Community
The City of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture (EAC) announces "Wings of Change" created by East Chattanooga youth and facilitated by Mark Making at the East Chattanooga Community of Christ. The team will be wrapping up the mural project on Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of North Chamberlain Avenue and Glass Street.
Mark Making strives to enhance the community though the creation of public art—empowering non-professional artists by teaching them 21rst century problem solving skills with the goal of a more fulfilling life. Participants are provided individual empowerment and visual art education; for the city, beautification of visual landscapes; and for local artists, teaching opportunities.
This is Mark Making’s first mural project in an Unbroken community. Unbroken is a community-based initiative headed up by EAC and partners engaging youth in communities across the city to build literacy and address social issues through the arts. Unbroken is creating movement in East Lake, East Chattanooga, North Chattanooga, and other neighborhoods across the city.
EAC Administrator Missy Crutchfield says, “Through partnerships with artists and community organizations like Mark Making, EAC and Unbroken are connecting the dots and engaging youth in Unbroken communities across the city—this is the first of many Unbroken partnerships and programs that will be unfolding in East Chattanooga.”
Co-designers Dennis Palmer and Frances McDonald agree that, “We will be guiding a group of 20 young artists between the ages of eight and 21 through a process of creating an angel theme on two walls—with an eventual ‘canyon’ indicating protection and hope for a neighborhood currently awaiting economic revival.”
Other project partners include the East Chattanooga Community of Christ and the Glass Street Neighborhood Association. Dennis Palmer and Frances McDonald will be joined by artists Carla Guerra and John McLeod in facilitating the mural project.
For more information about the mural project and Mark Making, contact Frances McDonald at (423) 605-5257.
For more information about the Unbroken youth initiative or the City of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture contact Melissa Turner (423) 425-7826 or turner_m@mail.chattanooga.gov.
