#thesavageway won an art grant sponsored by Project Art Aid’s Queen City Soup. The grant is to execute positive Clean Graffiti messages/art around high-risk Charlotte neighborhoods. Upon winning, #thesavageway partnered with Project LIFT & West Charlotte High School to make a larger, more direct community impact. As this project unfolds, #thesavageway will be documenting their experience working with the students.
On December 18, 2014 we met for round 2 with the West Charlotte High School students. Today we brought along one of our videographers, Jacob Teer, to capture our progress and record the class for a future video we are having produced.
Paula & Torrie with art teacher Mrs. Beverly Smith.
Jacob Teer – Teer Drop Photography
Since our last visit, the students have been broken into two groups and they have done some incredible research on graffiti artists and Clean Graffiti as an art form. We sat down with each group to get their feedback on the method and to answer questions. These IB art students started pulling away the layers of what Clean Graffiti could be and how they see themselves using it for our art grant. As this project is now part of their curriculum, they are required to create a portfolio piece on Clean Graffiti. Here is a small sampling of their initial research work.
Research by the students on the art form.
Next we started talking design ideas for the Clean Graffiti art grant. Every idea we heard was impactful, well thought out and meaningful to these students. We threw around the idea of pollution prevention and protecting the planet, making a statement that Black Lives Matter, and different positive thoughts in a more deconstructed form. We were blown away at how focused the students were, as well as how serious they are taking this project.
West Charlotte High School IB art class.
To sit back and listen to how this project has ignited a spark in these west Charlotte students is awe-inspiring. We always wanted Clean Graffiti to be used in a positive way, but to have first hand input on what will ACTUALLY speak to these kids is an incredible experience.
“Personally, I have taken this task seriously because we are not just creating artwork, but we are also inspiring positive actions from our peers,” stated Mathis Gales, one of the art students. His powerful words continued, “This task has been a huge blessing because this is our opportunity to give back not just to our school but our community as well. Our project has the potential to have an immense effect that will go beyond the walls of West Charlotte. . . Many people at our school don’t have someone in their life giving positive messages, and our Clean Graffiti project will provide that for them.”
Group talk about the Clean Graffiti art grant at WCHS.
Chatting with the Clean Graffiti groups at WCHS.
This project is turning into more than just a simple positive message campaign. It is challenging these students and hopefully inspiring a community. We are excited for the progress. Stay tuned for more updates in the New Year!
