Ani Hoover inspires the Center for Learning

Students at the CFL traveled to UB North in May to see the Ani Hoover exhibit. The six panels were 30 feet tall and everyone was amazed at how they seemed to go on forever. The paintings were bright and very colorful. Many students picked out a favorite piece based on color. We learned that Hoover uses stencils with spray paint and ink. Also, we learned that her color choices are based on simple life events.

When we returned to the school we started our own circle painting. Each class chose a season to base the colors in their painting. The students then filled the 9 foot long paper witih bright circular stamps of color. They also used stencils and liquid tempera paint in spray bottles to make more circles. The paint dripped down the paper just like in Ani Hoover's work.

-Laura Minor, iXpress Art Facilitator for Aspire's Center for Learning

Sum of All Parts: Part II

Some more pictures from our Sum of All Parts workshop, enjoy!

Experimenting with our base structures and materials

Cardboard shapes for stacking, hanging and who knows!

a finished cardboard painting, it will eventually be cut up into abstract forms.

Bill works on painting the cardboard

(from left to right) Bill, Jacqui, Paige, and Sarah work together

Stacey

Stacey has been working hard on becoming a more independent artist with the help and encouragement of iXpress art facilitator Jody and it's showing! Three of Stacey's pieces were chosen in a jury selection for Aspiring Artists Art and Wine Event, iXpress' annual fundraiser.

Stacey hard at work

Stacey's work in the art room (center and hanging on the wall)

Stacey works on one of her paintings

More updates on the other artists chosen to be a part of Aspiring Artists Art and Wine this year
are coming soon so check back!

Comfort Zone Cafe Mural

IT'S COMPLETE! Pictures will be posted soon but if you find yourself near the corner of Elmwood and Potomac pop into the CZ Cafe for a 'rest' and you'll see a mural completed by Co-Op participants and art facilitator Jody.

Sum of all Parts: Part I

iXpress was lucky enough to receive a grant from the Buffalo and Erie County Arts Council and along with a generous contribution from the Schwinger family we are now able to fund a major community project . We have started working on the 'Sum of all Parts'. This project will bring awareness to the community about waste, consumption and the unknown possibilities of ordinary objects around us. It will also educate the public about artists with disabilities and encourage community integration, confidence and independence within Aspire's iXpress participants.

For this project iXpress is honored to be working with local artists Ginny Lohr and Jozef Bajus. These two diverse artists are our project leaders and will guide us through to their vision of the final product. We are also pleased to say that the 'Sum of all Parts' will be holding an open workshop at the brand new Burchfield Penney Art Center on Elmwood where it will be exhibited from November 2009- January 2009! More details to come about that as we get closer to the fall.

To get the ball rolling creatively we had a workshop to play with materials and see what happens! Here are some photos from that day:

Scott and Jody drill holes in our MDF board

Just a small portion of our materials donated by Aspire staff and friends

One of the base panels assembled

Bill came right after Special Olympics to participate!

Thumbs up indeed Sarah.
Sarah flattens soda cans between sheets of fabric so no one gets hurt!

Some of our mess we made

Jacqui and Paige painting on cardboard that will eventually be cut out into organic shapes.

Check back for more updates on S of all P in the future!

Jenny

'My Birds', acrylic on canvas, 28" x 22 "

'Field and Grove', acrylic on canvas, 22" x 20"

How long have you been working with iXpress?
I’m not sure. It’s a long time. Before iXpress, I took art at School 84.

Why do you make art?
It is fun. I like working with all the different colors: blue, white, yellow, red… Pink is my favorite.

How do you feel when you are working?
Happy and good.

What would you change about iXpress if you could?
I would like more time to paint. I am sad when I have to stop.

I had a painting in the show. It was called “My Flower Garden”. I was surprised when it was chosen. I was excited.

DEC Grant Awards

Back in the fall iXpress applied for the Decentralization Grant offered in Chautauqua and Erie Counties.

Chautauqua County's iXpress is lead by Sara Michalak, she is pursueing an outdoor sculpture project related to the surrounding landscape. Her project will be implemented by our iXpress individuals in conjunction with The Resource Center.

Erie County iXpress lead by Amy Holdnack and Samantha Hamilton requested funding for a large scale assemblage project using deconstructed recyclable materials. They will be working with two local artists, Ginny Lohr and Jozef Bajus. The project will conclude with a workshop day hosted by the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

We are pleased to announce that both projects have received funding for their respective projects and we can't wait to get production underway! More news on these two amazing projects (and what you can do to participate) as they unfold.