Posts Tagged "MADLab"

Tamara Gentle: ‘Color My Future’ Coloring Book

Meet Tamara Gentle, a dynamic and talented artist who graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2023. A proud alumna of Poughkeepsie High School, Tamara has impacted the art community over the past two years. She has dedicated her time as a teaching artist at The Art Effect, where she has played a role in assisting with residencies and co-teaching the MADLab youth workforce program. Her commitment to fostering creativity and skill development in young artists has made her an important figure among students.

One of Tamara’s standout achievements includes her involvement with the Color My Future Duchess County Career coloring book. Originally, she was part of the team that designed the original illustrations for this innovative project. More recently, she took the lead on updating the content, providing illustration support to ensure the book remains a valuable and engaging resource. 

PKX Festival 2024 Highlights

The PKX Festival was a great success this year! From music performances to inspiring showcases, the energy was vibrant throughout the event. We are happy to relive these moments of creativity and community with these stunning photos from the event!

Thank you to all who made the PKX Festival unforgettable!

MADLab Students Unveil Public Art Sculpture at PKX Festival

The upcoming PKX Festival, themed “Droppin’ Jewels,” is deeply rooted in the wisdom and influence of Keli Faircloth’s grandmother, a beloved figure in her life. As an active member of The Art Effect’s programs and a vital part of the PKX Festival Committee and Youth Curatorial Team, Keli embodies the theme through her role as a knowledge keeper, inspired by her grandmother’s wise words: “Child, I just dropped some jewels on you.” This personal connection will fill the festival with a spirit of wisdom, creativity, and community empowerment, celebrating Poughkeepsie’s creative energy across generations.

MADLab students, Mahogany and Kierra Thomas embarked on a visionary project during a May sculpture intensive. Inspired by the theme of “Droppin’ Jewels,” they developed an idea of crystal-like trees to symbolize imparting wisdom. Under the guidance of artist Suprina Kenney-Troche,  the students brought their vision to life. The outcome is an incredible gem tree, ready to captivate visitors at PKX Festival.

The gem tree serves not only as an inspirational piece of art but also as an interactive installation. Festival attendees are invited to participate by hanging pieces of wisdom or advice on the tree, fostering a sense of community and shared experience.

Join us at the PKX Festival, April 20, for the unveiling of this special creation, where art, collaboration, and inspiration converge to create a truly memorable experience.

Instructors:

David Wong

Suprina Kenney-Troche

MADLab Youth:

Aiden Colby 

Ilyssa Waite

Jurenei Favours

Antonio Carrera

Anderson Casco

Skit Lucca

Jaslene Johnson

Salahdeen Hamira

Sanai Leary

Yani Gaskin

Phylea Clarke

Anayi Twyman

Nyhkaii Tissiera

Oneka Hall

The Art Effect Celebrates the Class of 2023!

This spring, twenty-nine seniors are graduating across The Art Effect’s programs and continuing their artistic journeys in college or career. Their achievements in the studio, the gallery, the classroom, and beyond are worth celebrating. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.

Not pictured: Nastajia Epps (MVP After School Program), Myelle-Sanai Johnson (MVP After School Program), Jose Marrero (MVP After School Program), Deavin Moore (MVP After School Program), Dayiana Moore (MVP After School Program), Nicholas Regini (Art Institute), Melanie Rodriguez-Velasco (MADLab), Janelle Smith (MADLab)

Samuel Bates

Art Institute

Janae Brown

ArtsBridge, National Art Honor Society

Caleb Clark

Spark Studios

Celia Drury

Art Institute, Senior Project

Shawn Elliott

Spark Studios

Katia Estrada

ArtsBridge, Senior Project, National Art Honor Society

Dalya Hanel Sheshany

Art Institute, National Art Honor Society

Self Portrait, 2020

Gabriel Kladakis

ArtsBridge, National Art Honor Society, Trolley Barn Curatorial Team

Greta Laubscher

Art Institute

Memorial, 2021

Leroy Manrique

ArtsBridge, Trolley Barn Curatorial Team, MADLab

Tracy Ortega

MADLab, National Art Honor Society

Davaine Reid

MADLab

Soledad Antonio Santizo

MADLab

Fiona Shanahan

Art Institute, Senior Project

Kisheema Spencer

MADLab

Jason Umanzor Perez

MADLab, ArtsBridge

Sheila Pinacho-Cruz

ArtsBridge

Jonathan Jerez

Spark Studios

The Contemplation, 2021

Grayson Weyant

Spark Studios

New Sunset, 2021

MADLab Mural Inspires Downtown Poughkeepsie

A mural painted by The Art Effect’s Media/Art/Design Lab (MADLab) workforce youth has been installed in the Malcolm X Park on Mansion Street in Poughkeepsie. After being neglected for many years, the park has been revitalized with new playground equipment, benches, tables, native trees and shrubs, a refurbished basketball court and bleachers– and now, public art created by local youth. The park both celebrates an icon of American history and provides a beautiful green space for community members to gather; the mural advances both of these goals, and also provides creativity and a visual symbol of Black empowerment.

In 2019, the idea for the mural was initially conceived by Scenic Hudson, MASS Design Group, The Art Effect, and project lead Ernest Henry from the Hudson Valley Re-Entry Network. This team consulted with local residents of all ages who frequent the park, and decided that the mural would become a collaborative project; community members would paint a Kente stripe design (inspired by the traditional Ghanaian cloth that has become a symbol of African and African-American identity). However, this plan was interrupted by the pandemic.

Fortunately, MADLAb youth were able to complete the mural using the art and design skills they had learned in the classroom. Their hard work ensured that the project remained a collaborative endeavor, and added youth voices to the design of an important community resource. The finished mural includes a portrait of Malcolm X and an inspiring quote from the human rights leader: “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

The Malcolm X Park is now more welcoming than ever. This mural is yet another example of MADLab’s commitment to creative placemaking– the practice of shaping a neighborhood, both physically and socially, by local residents. With projects like Scenic Hudson muralWe Are Poughkeepsie mural, community clean-up days along the Fall Kill Creek, and now the mural at Malcolm X Park, MADLab youth are connecting with more community partners and deepening their positive impact on the places where they live and work. 

Click here to learn more about MADLab and apply for the summer session beginning on July 5.

Apply for Spring Break Workforce Intensives

The Art Effect is now accepting applications for the 2023 Spring Break Intensive sessions of its workforce development programs, Spark Studios and MADLab. Students ages 14-19 who live in Dutchess County are welcome to apply. These sessions will address important themes that are relevant to young people’s lives and teach valuable transferrable skills. Students who successfully complete all 25 hours of a workforce intensive will earn a $100 stipend.

MADLab Intensive: Becoming a Professional Artist
April 3rd- 7th, 12pm-5pm each day
45 Pershing Avenue, Poughkeepsie
Learn how to become a working, exhibiting artist! You will learn how to write an artist statement, prepare your work for sale, navigate making websites and social media brands for your art, and how to starting making money as an artist.

Spark Studios Intensive: Public Art Projection
April 3rd-7th, 12pm-5pm each day
489 Main Street, Poughkeepsie (Trolley Barn Gallery)
Talk back to media messages! In this intensive, you will work alongside Reel Exposure featured artist William Koenig-Vinicombe to understand media literacy and representation. Decode the ways films have shaped you, then learn to remix and re-edit video and media pieces! Finished videos will be featured in a public projection at Reel Exposure this May!

Arts for Healing Workshop at Vassar-Warner Home

In December, The Art Effect’s MADLab students helped facilitate an incredible Arts for Healing workshop with residents of the Vassar-Warner Home. The workshop involved two sessions: “Abstract Painting” and “Intergenerational Illustration”. In the first session, residents experimented with abstract painting techniques; in the second, The Art Effect’s Media, Art, Design Lab (MADLab) students listened to stories of residents’ favorite holiday memories, then went on to illustrates these memories into a picture book holiday gift for each resident to keep (check out the book below)!

Expressing themselves through the soothing power of painting, the residents translated powerful emotions into a visual medium. Unexpected choices were an integral parts of this process; mistakes were transformed into poignant works of art.

When the workshop finished, 100% of participants reported a “strengthened sense of self” and 75% of participants said their stress level decreased and sense of optimism increased.

MADLab students spoke one on one with residents during the “Intergenerational Illustration” workshop. Each resident shared a favorite holiday memory and the students used the skills they’d cultivated in the MADLab program to bring this memory to life with unique illustrations.

Classic winter experiences like building snowmen or gathereing with family for a special meal were included, as well as distinctive memories like the first snowfall on a farm or a special holiday trip on a train. Each story was rendered in a student’s unique style, then compiled in a book which was gifted to residents. The book can be viewed online.

Whether the Vassar-Warner Home residents created their own paintings or shared their stories with MADLab students to generate collaborative works of art, The Art Effect’s Art for Healing workshop is now yet another holiday memory to be cherished! Learn more about The Art Effect’s Arts for Healing program here.