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Program Spotlight  on Sew What?!

For our winter session of our ever popular fashion arts program, a group of enthusiastic Art Starts youth will learn the all important skills of pattern drafting from professional drafter Matthew Visser-Charest. Program Manager Carleen  can't stress enough the importance of learning to draft patterns if the youth are looking for a design career in the fashion industry.

"Pattern drafting is key," emphasizes Carleen, "and a real skill requiring precision.". The training the youth will receive will clearly map out the building skill necessary to make a pattern and construct their own top. The lessons will focus on attention to detail such as measuring arms bent as opposed to straight. "The kids asked why do we have to measure arms bent?" says Carleen, who is excited about the ongoing program "because no one walks with their arms straight" she tells the youth, teaching them how important the details really are. These are the valuable skills the Sew What?! training offer our youth in preparation for professional study and practice. 

As classes get into full swing the Art Starts program, now in it's third year, continues with a strong stride having notable moments such as an inspiring workshop lead by esteemed fashion model Stacey McKenzie For more on our Sew What?! program check out them out in Yonge Street Media's Civic Impact column or keep up to date with them on their youth lead tumblr blog.


Art Starts Microgrant Project Update:

Eco-Activism Art Project Upcycles Pop Bottles Into Planters

    Ananna Rafa is just in grade 11 but she isn’t – and will never be “just” anything. A wonderfully bright, creative and motivated young person living in the vibrant and diverse Thorncliffe neighbourhood, she is one of the nine talented Art Starts microgrant recipients. Ananna is a visual artist of Bengali descent, who works in a variety of media. She came to Canada three years ago and has since been using her artistic abilities to explore and express her views about the world while continuing to engage with her community through public art projects. Read more

 

My First Experience with Programs Without Walls By Mario Murray

 

It's 9:20 and I'm almost an hour early for the Creative Expressions workshop. Art Starts has run many programs in the Jane and Woolner neighbourhood but this is the first time they've offered pottery. In walks Katherine Earl (Program Director and fellow Art Starter) and to my great satisfaction she takes me on an Art Starts historical tour of the park just outside of Access Alliance where we are visiting the workshop. By the time we finish our 15 minute romp through time (and the snow) the Art Starts mosaic benches and playground convince me that Art Starts has been a catalyst for literally changing the face of this neighbourhood.

from left Leah Simms-Karp, Melissa Harendorf, Fatima Kazmi & Mario Murray We head in to the Creative Expressions program. This session the participants are training in the art of pottery with professional potter
Melissa Harendorf. I take a moment to introduce myself but I'm barely noticed as participants are already hard at work. The focus and enjoyment is palpable as brush strokes delightfully wisp across the surface of dried clay and mothers carefully put the finishing touches on last week's work.

At the program, participants complete a new creation every week and this week I was privy to learning the process of creating art with rolled out clay slabs. I was given my own piece of clay and instructed on how to prep it and shape it into something imaginative. The process was immediately enthralling and just the feeling of shaping and marking the clay felt like deep therapy.

When I spoke with the women participating they validated my suspicions that this program has incredible value to the women who participate. Qumrun a veteran of PWW programs said that in her busy life "it's amazing to get together, create and meet other women." She is happy with the program and wishes to do more. Roushon, another long time participant said that she believes the program is important because it makes her feel good, people are friendly and she can also teach her child what she has learned.

It was refreshing to see the real impact that this program is having on the
community through these two women but talking to participant Sadia was the icing on the cake. For her the program represents a tension free atmosphere that "reminds me of my childhood." She said that it helps her relieve stress, defeat depression and feel good. She made it a point to mention that the importance of the program is apparent in the fact that on this a minus twenty degree day, with errands to run, she still takes the time to walk to the Creative Expressions program. "I love it. I want it again and again" said Sadia as she anxiously awaits the results of her clay creations after being fired in the Art Starts kiln.

Speaking to the women around the craft table I was able to put the finishing touches on my own clay project before the session was over. As I worked away I thought about the lessons I was taking home. I can now see how important it is to take these moments to create. Today resonated with me and I understand why these women are here.
 


To support programs like Sew What?! and
Creative Expressions consider becoming a monthly donor by clicking the donate now button. Donations of as little as $5/month go a long way in ensuring we're able to continue with valuable programs like these.

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