Urban Arts Mentoring Program: Student Feedback
Students participating in the Urban Arts Mentoring Program explain the program's benefits:
- "A simple yet complex skill I have acquired was teamwork and effort. This truly says a lot about someone who is originally anti-social. This program has allowed me to express myself how I see fit. I am able to express myself and use my talents in connection with others. My attitude has changed about working with several people at once…it can be done."
- "In order to come up with some of the designs, we had to explore the history of this neighborhood. We studied the Native Americans that once inhabited this area. Another activity or field trip that helped us to understand the neighborhood was the speaking and also listening at one of their meetings. We were able to hear what the people living here liked and disliked."
- "The Urban Arts Mentoring Program has increased my knowledge of mosaics and murals in many ways. I learned how to make beautiful, intricate mosaics and create art in different forms of media."
- "The program increased my knowledge of mosaics because I did not know anything about nippers, grout, mortar, and things of that nature. When I was informed that mosaics were made from tile, I was very ecstatic."
- "This program has a lot of benefits. First off, I am getting paid to do what I love. We have the perfect role model as our boss, an artistic mogul Byron Peck. Second, I enjoy the company of the fellow artists and the different programs we get to take advantage of are great."
- "This experience helped me to keep our community clean, and I did not know about the Aquatic Gardens in Kenilworth. I also learned that you can find the prettiest thing in the ugliest places."
- "The artists served as role models because they had skills that I felt I should acquire. They were just people I felt I could look up to."
Through the program, students develop an understanding of and appreciation for public art:
- "Public art is work that can be seen by all and is for all. The public art we have created has helped the residents gain a greater sense of pride for their surroundings."
- "Public art is the beautification of places, facilities, or residences that appeals to the public eye, even in the simplest form. From flowers to murals, public art can impact a community by raising the spirits of the residents. Public art builds bridges for other community organizations to expand and be known. Once the impact is shown, it acts as a green light for other forms of community beautification."
- "Public art affects everyone. It shows you the brighter sides of the neighborhood or the world."
- "My definition of public art is art that everyone can see. It can affect the community because it will inspire other people to create masterpieces instead of being out on the streets."
- "Public art to me is a portrait of the city."
