Friday, April 23, 2010

Apprentice Artist Statement

Your Life, Your Future, Your Choice


We made this mural to show the good and bad in life, and the different possibilities of what can happen. Sometimes doing the wrong thing is easier than doing the right thing. It’s important for teens to finish high school so they can enjoy life without “looking over their shoulder.” We want to keep our community safe and our youth on track.


We made this mural by first learning about the neighborhood – We had guest speakers and did research. Then we brainstormed design ideas and created “mock-ups” of our designs. Then we presented our mock-ups to our customer to get their constructive criticism. Next we redesigned the mural on a “life-sized” scale. Then we transferred our designs onto Masonite panels, and chose our color scheme. Finally we started painting the mural and added large photos to finish the mural. We worked together to do problem solving and to deal with last-minute changes.

More Pics from Mural Ramp-Up









Friday, April 16, 2010

Apprentice Career Coaching with Manpower, Inc.

Apprentices Vanessa, Devonte and Ashley arrive early for their Career Coaching session and hang out in the Manpower HQ lobby.
Apprentice Quinton reviews his Career Coaching notes before the session begins.
Apprentice Vanessa with her Career Coach Pam Brown.
Apprentice Quinton with his Career Coach Van Johnson.
Apprentice Devonte with his Career Coach Dennes Skaros
Apprentice Ashley with her Career Coach, Sue Huhn

As part of the Spring 2010 programming cycle, each ArtWorks Apprentice was paid to participate in a Career Coaching program offered in a partnership between ArtWorks for Milwaukee, Inc. and Manpower, Inc.

Each ArtWorks Apprentice was paired up 1-on-1 with a Manpower volunteer. Together during a series of 4 Career Coaching sessions, they discussed the career coaching needs of each Apprentice and decided on which 3 of the following 5 topics to cover:

1. Career Exploration – What Careers Are Available and Best For Me?

2. Learning Choices After High School – College and Other Options

3. Resume Writing

4. Interviewing

5. Basic Financial Literacy


ArtWorks is so grateful to Manpower for providing our Apprentices with these additional job readiness services!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Monday, April 12, 2010

Week 7: By Adrian Gozalez

Last Week's Tasks:
  • Picked colors for painting.
  • Planned out process for painting panels.
  • Transferred designs to panels.
  • Began painting panels.
  • Blog updates.
  • Career coaching @Manpower.
  • Informal performance feedback from lead artist.
Last Week's Employability Skills:
  • Math and Measurement-Planning out how to use images on panels.
  • Problem solving.
  • Analyzing production process.
  • Critical thinking.
  • Listening and communicating.
  • Research.
  • Professionalism.
  • Constructive criticism.
This Week's Tasks:
  • Continue production of panels, including Painting & Drawing
  • Start thinking about how to present the finished mural to the customer: Presentation? Written collaborative statement
This Week's Employability Skills:
  • All the same employability skills as last week except Research
  • Additional skills will include: Meeting deadlines, collaboration for production
Personal thoughts about the program from Adrian Gonzalez:
This is a great opportunity because I met new poeple who are unique and also helpful. My bosses help us achieve our goals. I've learned how to be open to new people.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Week 6 By Ashley Fizer

Last Week's Tasks We Accomplished:
* Finished mural mock-ups
* Began mural production by priming panels
* Picked color scheme for mural panels
* completed Career Coaching assignments given by Manpower volunteers

This Week's Tasks We Will Accomplish:
* Career coaching at Manpower
* Transfer mural designs from the mock-ups to the mural panels
* Format pictures to be used in mural
* Determine image layers (for foreground, middle ground, and background).

Employability Skills We Practiced Last Week and Will Continue This Week:
* Communication
* Critical thinking
* Initiative
* Collaboration
* Problem solving
* Constructive Criticism
* Brainstorming
* Informal performance feedback
* Project Management -- Meeting deadlines

Ashley's Thoughts About Project Progress:
I think that we are doing a great job keeping the pace of this project, even after losing another teammate. When hearing that a teammate resigned last week, it seem that this project would not get done. But every one here is keeping a positive mind and we are going to get this done successfully.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Week 5: By Devonte Blake

Last Week: Tasks Accomplished

  • Manpower- worked on first topic with coach

  • Week 4 Performance Evaluations

  • Reviewed performance goals we set on day 1

  • Payday (possible increase based on performance per evaluation)

  • Finalizing drawings to scale

Last Week: Employability Skills Practiced:

  • Keeping on schedule with tasks

  • Giving & receiving constructive criticism

  • Creative thinking

  • Problem Solving

  • Self initiative

  • Brainstorming

  • Collaboration skills

  • Listening skills

This Week: Tasks to be Accomplished

  • Blog

  • Finished 2nd Designs

  • Working on 2nd scaled drawing , thinking about color

  • Sand and Prime boards

  • Practice drawing techniques for the mural

  • Format photos to be used in the mural

  • Goal Reflections: How am I doing in meeting the goals I set for myself on Day 1?

  • Practice mixing colors

  • Feedback exercise about goals

This Week: Employability Skills to be Practiced:

  • Productivity

  • Accountability skills

  • Creativity skills

Personal Thoughts of Devonte Blake About The Program:

I've been enjoying the program so far! I am learning and practicing new and old things every week which will help me in the future. Also the additional coaching program with Manpower will help me too. Overall im loving the expierence!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Week #4 By: Ken'Drella & Ashley

Last Week - Tasks
- Presented mural design ideas to the customer
- Worked on constructive critism
- Finalized the mural design, based on customer feedback

Last Week -Employability Skills
- Critical thinking
- Public speaking
- Mural collaboration & communication
- Meeting deadlines

This Week -Tasks
- Career Coaching @ Manpower
- Pay day on Friday!
- Start mural production
*mixing colors
*image printing investigation
*priming panels
- Performance evaluations on Wednesday and Friday this week: We could earn a raise!
- Goal setting check-in: How are we doing in mastering the goals we set for ourselves on day 1?

This Weeks -Employability Skills
- Listening
- Constructive Critism
-Production & Planning
*how we will work together to get work done

Comments from Apprentices about the program:
When presenting the idea's to the customer, I did not think they would like any of the ideas that we came up with. When they said they actually liked it and they felt they had a hard decision to make, it made me very proud. I really feel good about myself and my teamates. Very glad I was part of this project. I'm psyched!!
-Ashley Fizer

Last week after the big persentation to the customer when my HEART came out of my STOMACH my only thought was getting to Manpower and working with my Career Coach. I'm Very Excited!!!!!!!!
-Ken'Drella Keeler

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Pictures of the ArtWorks Apprentices

The Apprentice Team (left to right):
Adrian G., Vanessa J., Ashley F., Quinton W., Kendrella K., Katie Van Velzer (Lead Artist), and Devonte B.
Vanessa, Kendrella, and Adrian present their mural design ideas to the team
Lead Artist Katie Van Velzer listens to Quinton and Ashley's design ideas
Devonte, Ashley and Quinton present mural design ideas to the team
Adrian, Vanessa, and Kendrella share mural design ideas with the team

Monday, March 15, 2010

Program Week 3: By Vanessa Jones & Quinton Washington

Program Blog-Week 3
By Vanessa Jones and Quinton Washington

Last week the team accomplished these task(s):
  • We had 2 Guest Speakers that helped us learn even more about crime and violence -Thank you Mariano Quiles & Pastor Rodney Campbell!
  • Each team created 2 design ideas for the mural.
  • Each team shared their 2 design ideas with the team for critique.
  • We met Meghan Koven for Career coaching at Manpower, Inc. Each Apprentice was paired up with a volunteer from Manpower who will serve as their Career Coach.
  • Each Apprentice received informal performance feedback from Lead Artist Katie Van Velzer. Katie told us what she thought we were doing well, and what she would like us to work on as her employee.

The Employability Skills we practiced in Week 3:

  • Communication
  • Construction criticism
  • Branding yourself
  • Collaboration
  • Brainstorming
  • Professionalism

This week our team will accomplish these following task(s):

  • Teams will be "changed up" to finish team design ideas for the mural.
  • Teams will critique each others' mural design ideas.
  • Teams will develop a presentation for each of the designs created.
  • Apprentices will "pitch" {convince or persuade} all their design ideas to customer.
  • Apprentices will see if they are designing ideas the customer wants for the mural.

The Employability Skills we will practice this week:

  • Public Speaking
  • Critical thinking
  • Collaborating
  • Problem Solving
  • Customer Service
  • Constructive Criticism

Monday, March 8, 2010

Safe Place Mural Blog: By Adrian and Tyrone

Accomplishments from Week 1:
  • The first day was employee orientation. It was good information. We met everybody. It was kind of boring but we learned a lot of things.
  • For the rest of the week we learned about Safe Places, crime data analysis, how to use compass, and different art styles.
  • The employability skills we practiced were: Communication (talking and listening), working together/collaboration, geting to work on time, filling out time sheets, and customer service.
Program Plans for Week 2:
  • We started our program blog and got our uniforms on Monday.
  • This week we will also begin career coaching at Manpower, Inc., and we will receive informal performance feedback from our manager Katie.
  • We will continue to learn art techniques, and will begin to critique each others' work.

Our thoughts about the program so far:

  • A team picture will be posted soon!
  • So far the programs seems alright (Tyrone), Katie and Meghan are cool (Adrian), but we don't really know what to expect (Adrian and Tyrone).

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Safe Place Mural Program Begins March 1st!



In collaboration with Safe & Sound, Inc., and Wisconsin Community Services - Project Excel, ArtWorks youth apprentices will work together under Lead Artist Katie Van Velzer to design and produce a one-of-a-kind indoor mural that will be installed at Project Excel. The mural theme will addresses the difficult choices teens currently face in Milwaukee communities, as well as the results that come out of these choices.

Over 65 high school students applied for this 8-week paid apprenticeship, and we are thrilled to be working with the following 8 youth:
  • Devonte, New School for Community Service
  • Ashley, Riverside University High School
  • Adrian, ALAS High School
  • Ricardo, Grandview High School
  • Kendrella, Milwaukee School of Entrepreneurship
  • Vanessa, South Division High School
  • Quinton, Washington High School
  • Tyrone, South Division High School

The Safe Place Mural Program began on March 1st. Apprentices will begin the program by learning about crime statistics unique to Project Excel's location and their age group. They will then use this information to inform their design ideas for the mural. These designs will be "pitched" to Project Excel and Safe & Sound leadership and a finalized design will result. Only then will the apprentices actually begin the mural production.

Since 2001, ArtWorks has been utilizing paid apprenticeships in the arts as its method for training high school students in highly transferable 21st Century employability skills. ArtWorks serves youth who already face significant barriers to employment, such as underperformance in school, disabilties, and a lack of resources or mentors.

If we want our young people to become productive contributors to our communities, then we need to help prepare them for the job! Current Apprentices set performance goals for themselves on March 1st, and their performance will be tracked and evaluated using real-world processes and methods. They will additionally receive one-on-one career coaching, thanks to ArtWorks' partnership with volunteers at Manpower, Inc. The whole point is to expose these high school students to the world of work, and put them on a path to employment success.

Stay tuned and watch this program progress! Each week, ArtWorks Apprentices will add information to this blog to reflect on their experience, to assess their adherance to the project plan, and to prepare for the work week ahead.