Family Day with No Longer Empty...

The If You Build It exhibition, coordinated by No Longer Empty, in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem has and will be offering free family art workshops for the community. I facilitaed the first one June 28th. Below are images from the workshop. Families had a great time listening to stories and creating their cityscapes.
I look forward to the next two free fun art workshops on Saturday July 12th and August 2nd. Check out the link for more information: http://www.nolongerempty.org/nc/home/what-we-do/exhibitions/exhibition/if-you-build-it/

I read Uptown by Bryan Collier, The Tin Forest by Helen Ward, Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott, I Love Collage by me Elan and We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past by Jacqueline Woodson.

All really great books!

Paper Doll Project

When working with children 2.5 to 4 years old, its best to do things in steps and never worry about staying in the lines. I began this Lil' Studio with a book entitled, Lucille by Arnold Lobel. Lucille is a horse that's tired of being dull and dirty. The farmer's wife takes an interest in Lucille and takes her shopping. She buys Lucille a hat, shoes and dress. Lucille soon learns that she rather be herself.  

 

  

 

 In this paper doll workshop we began with coloring the clothes for their paper doll.

 

After coloring, parents cut out clothing while I hand out a 8 x 10 piece of white cardstock to create a backdrop for the paper doll. They are instructed to pick a green for grass and we create short vertical lines then we pick a blue to make swirly round lines and then they were instructed to make a home for their paper doll.

Abstract Portraits of Women

I love collage and in this workshop, participants were asked to created abstract portraits of woman. This workshop was inspired by Carrie Mae Weems, Museum Series. In the Museum Series, artist Carrie Mae Weems has her back to the viewer while standing in front of some of the world's most famous art institutions/museums. I wanted participants to think about different ways portraits could be made.

My Art Museum/ 2D Collage

In a different workshop we used prints of Ms. Weems' photographs and created our own collaged art institutions.

 

 

This one is by me, Élan


All photos by me, Élan HiArt aka Élan Ferguson

 

 

 

Paper Dolls

I am preparing for a Lil' Studio workshop next week. We will be creating paper dolls and I searched all of these different images to become inspired by the theme. I am so excited to make my own version of a paper doll. Here are just some of the interesting, beautiful and unique dolls that I had found.

Artist Jackie Ormes, more on her http://iamstyleoverfashion.blogspot.com/2014/06/jackie-ormes.html