The art-making process is many different things to each individual. With this in mind, the goal of The Summer Music and Art Program was to facilitate an environment where art can happen as naturally as possible. We wanted participants to bring all their creative expressions to the environment so that they could use them as tools in their arsenal when creating art.

Each week in the visual arts component, the main activity was based on reflection on the work of a visiting master artist. We had visits from musicians, illustrators, graphic artists, and fashion designers, all of whom presented and discussed their work with the students.

In order to create an environment of an open community of artists where everyone learns from one another, we made the studios open to all. Visual artists would visit the music studio and musicians would go to the visual arts studio where sometimes they were the model for the day.

Participants were introduced to new materials that became the catalysts for new problem solving experiences. Students artists were provided the instruction needed to refine their artistic and technical skills.

Week One

We worked from 3-D to 2-D and vice versa while developing a strong visual language that articulates perceived space.  We built sculptures and made charcoal drawings of them with tonal values. We also used layering techniques in drawings by creating shapes with different values.

Students artists were impressed with what they were able to accomplish in such a short time.

Week Two

We worked collaboratively with the musicians. We worked together in one large room as we all practiced our craft. We discussed the rhythm and movements of jazz music as it relates to rhythm and movement in visual arts. Students artists created mixed media drawings /paintings of “The musicians at play.” They relinquished control and suspended their judgement as they were forced to do drawing exercises that increased the likelihood of ‘the accident’ happening in their work.

The students artists were brave; they welcomed the experience. They were satisfied with the outcome despite their initial struggles with process.

Week Three

We continued to use the figure as inspiration while working with the musicians as our models to create drawings based on the theory of metamorphosis.

The students artists were all impressed, not just with the energy and movement they were able to create in their work, but also how they created feeling and interest with the layering process we used.

Week Four

The students artists made portraits by using each other as models and they made lasting connections through their shared experiences. We returned to the practice of willingly relinquishing control and suspending judgement in order to create lines with character and drawings with personality.

At the end of our experience we transformed our workspace into a mini gallery. We all came together to celebrate the great drawings, paintings, sculptures and music that was produced during the time we spent together.