My Art, My World (PJ Summer Arts Camp 2009)

June 22, 2009toJune 25, 2009

Monday, June 22

Excitement was in the air as 38 teens, 7 artists, and Project Jericho staff arrived early this morning at the Performing Arts Center. They knew that they would be working on creating a music video to premiere on Friday, June 22 at 6:00pm in the Kuss Auditorium. It was time for Project Jericho’s Summer Arts Camp 2009, “My Art, My World” to begin!

The day began with Aurelia Blake leading group activities with all the campers. It was great seeing the whole group together and starting to get to know one another! After some brief introductions of the artists and staff members it was ready to get down to business and break off into smaller groups!

Each of the four color groups, with group leaders Michael, Cory, Becky and Andy, began their trek around to each of the weeks concentrations: dance, music, visual art and videography. Getting a taste of what each genre of art had to offer will allow each participant to select a concentration to focus on for the remainder of the week.

Dance is being led by the “J-Team,” JC and JD, professional dancers. They will be working with the dance group to learn a hip-hop dance routine that will accompany the song for the music video.

The song which will be used for the video will be created by Michael Kelsey and the participants of the music focus group. Michael will be working specifically with the music group to create the verses, but everyone will be involved with the chorus of the song.

Every music video needs a backdrop and we are happy to have professional artist Deb Housh helping our visual art students create one! They will be working throughout the week to create a backdrop for Kuss Auditorium, where the performance will take place Friday.

Finally, the music video would not be possible if we didn’t have a film crew led by Marisha Mukerjee and Scott Dawson. Learning different angles, working with lighting, and how to edit the film will be their group’s top priority.

After the “around the world” sessions filled with dance, music, visual art, and videography was complete, it was time for lunch! Sitting outside in the shade while enjoying a picnic style lunch was a great way to become reenergized before the busy afternoon began!

The afternoons of each day consist of two one hour sessions where each group will get to explore different types of art a bit further and more in depth. Michael Kelsey will be working with the groups on the chorus of the song while Aurelia Blake will be helping the groups on their writing that will be used for portions of the song. Eliza Waggoner, artist and Project Jericho staffer, is leading a session on screen printing where each participant will get to create a one of a kind t-shirt to remember the week. Finally, LaJuan Lane, a participant of Project Jericho’s EXODUS will be leading a session on the art of stepping.

With day one coming to a close, it was time for each participant to choose a concentration to focus on the remainder of the week. Participant Anthony Mitchell expressed his dilemma, “I had a good day. I liked everything and it will be hard to pick just one.” On the other hand, some know exactly what they wanted to focus on. George Hall said, “I want to do film because I’ve done it before. I’m excited to learn more techniques. It could be turned into a career.”

It is astounding to think that one day of camp has already flown by. Leader of the Purple group Becky expressed her feelings from the day; “I am already excited to see some of the kids have opened up even on day one. I can’t wait to see them progress even farther as the week continues on.”

Tuesday, June 23

This morning kicked off with some fun in the sun, as members of Project Jericho’s Summer Arts Camp played “ice-breakers” under the trees outside the Kuss Performing Arts Center. A half hour later the campers were bright-eyed and ready for their next activity. Teens left their color groups and broke off into the four concentrations of music, visual art, dance, and film that they had “auditioned” for yesterday.

It was time to get started on the final music video presentation! The “J-Team” met with a variety of teens to teach a dance routine to music by Michael Kelsey and campers. They worked hard in the studio for 2 ½ hours and looked amazing! Their energy and creativity never ceased.

While the dancers were getting down with the beat, the film crew came to record some behind-the- scenes footage…and get acquainted with their cameras! Scott and Marisha held an interactive film class discussing the technical and creative aspects of film that took them to various places in the building. When asked why she enjoyed film as her concentration Witney Gounder explained that, “filming is like putting your mind into something other people will see.”

Meanwhile, the music group never slowed down. They split up into three groups, one group worked on lyrics with Aurelia, another picked out a beat and played instruments, while a third group worked on recording. You could hear the music coming through the studio doors and staff members are already tapping their toes to the rhythm and singing the tune in their heads! Ronda Mitchell excitedly announced that she loved, “getting a chance to play the buckets and create music.”

Finally, the visual arts crew worked hard on brainstorming and creating a fabulous backdrop with Deb. This crew might have the messiest job in the creation of the music video; they painted the canvas in the heat of the back of the Performing Arts Center-but never slowed down!

By the time lunch came around all of the 37 teens had made leaps of progress in their projects and headed out to picnic under the trees. After lunch everyone gathered back into their four color groups and followed their group leaders to their next artistic adventure. The afternoon was spent in two different, one hour sessions, of focus areas they had not been to yesterday.

The day drew to a close as groups met to wrap up and discuss their experiences from the day. The staff members, campers, and professional artists are all excited to see the project off to a spectacular start! These past two days have certainly flown by in a blur of fun, hard work, and discovery. We can’t wait until tomorrow!

Wednesday, June 24

Another day has come and gone at Project Jericho’s 2009 Summer Arts Camp, “My Art, My World.” No one can believe it’s already the middle of the week! Each group has made tremendous progress on their artistic projects.

This morning the campers shed their sleepy eyes with a quick breakfast, a few games in the fresh air, and a strong step rehearsal on our very own Kuss Auditorium stage. The teens stomped out whatever beat the step leader, Lajuan, shouted out for them to perform. We were all impressed with the how well the teens already knew the moves. Then it was off to work, work, work!

The film crew continued learning about their cameras and different aspects of film in and out of the classroom. They could be spied throughout the hallways of the Performing Arts Center, lying low in the dance studio, or circling the musicians. The videographers have been capturing every spectacular moment of progress throughout the week.

The musicians kept up with their fast tempo of progress and worked hard playing instruments and singing throughout the morning. Several campers, including Ronda and Zach, brought their own musical instruments from home to add to the variety of sounds seeping out of the Turner Studio doors. Emily could be heard in the studio saying, “I like the rhythm and the feeling of music. It makes me feel happy.”

Visual artists kept up with the pace on the dock while studying silhouettes of people in movement. They began the day with discussing art and learning new techniques. Their new knowledge was then put to the test as they painted the silhouettes that had been chosen for the backdrop of the music video. Rachquel spoke for every artist when she exclaimed, “I like getting messy with the paint!”

The temperature rose in the community room where dancers worked hard moving to the music. They put their movement to the song Michael and the music groups have been working on, and the piece has already come along nicely. The song combined with choreography by the “J-Team” resulted in a unique artistic twist.

Hungry blossoming artists scattered the lawn of the Clark State Performing Arts Center by lunchtime. But it wasn’t long before the campers got restless and eager to proceed to their various other classes.

Eliza continued screen-printing with Monday’s groups and produced beautiful Project Jericho Summer Arts Camp T-shirts. The Tees had the camp logo on the front and individually created artistic designs on the back. Ronda integrated her love of music and visual art. She held her shirt up while explaining, “I made mine a music stand and notes because I’m into music.”

LaJuan kept steppers busy upstairs with new moves and beats. The steppers professionally followed his whistle cues and stomped out the beat in strong unison. The teens were eager to learn new sequences and continue working on their routine that will be seen at the 6pm, free half hour, performance this Friday.

Aurelia sat and continued brainstorming with teens about lyrics for the song. She enhanced the campers with different writing styles. Each camper has their own personnel journal that they carry to each art session where they can often be seen recording ideas, poems, or pictures of their busy day.

Michael kept the music flowing with campers in the Turner Studio this afternoon. The campers took their own initiative to create a drumbeat using overturned buckets, tubs, and trashcans. A few others crowded around the microphone to record the refrain of the new song.

It has certainly been another busy day here at the Summer Arts Camp! The arts have come alive in every corner of the building this week and it is a joy to observe the excitement and discovery on every face!

Thursday, June 25

The level of excitement was astounding because today was the day to shoot the music video for “Fly Away.” After a quick breakfast and some warm up games it was time to get down to business.

Everyone gathered in the Kuss Auditorium and took their places to begin filming. The visual art crew worked with Dan Hunt, PAC Tech Director, to perfect the lighting that would illuminate their stage set masterpiece. The dancers and musicians took their places front and center of the stage. Those behind the cameras were eager to start shooting from various angles. The audience, filled with Project Jericho staff clapped and encouraged the participants on stage as they perfected their performance take after take. After numerous successful runs, the film crew was overjoyed with the footage they collected.

Exhausted from the shoot, campers were reenergized with lunch before they headed off to their last set of afternoon activities. Chorus practice, step dancing, writing and screen printing came to a strong finish. The campers were excited about all they have accomplished and are ready to begin final preparations for Friday’s 6pm performance.

See you tomorrow at the Kuss auditorium, 6pm!