The Incredible Hulk and Friends, by Lynwood Afterschool's 4th and 5th Graders

Students begin by brainstorming about their own interests and wishes, and create a list of what they would like to include in their final 9′ x 9′ collaborative piece.

Genna assesses drawing skills by asking students to draw a self-portrait or “favorite thing” which they will save in their portfolios. She then selects images from the students own imaginations to teach specific drawing skills (such as Mickey Mouse for “attitude and expression”, or the globe to teach “shading”. The Hulk became a perfect model to teach anatomy: especially of his hands and fists.)

Student’s portfolios grow with each drawing exercise, all in anticipation of drawing together on the ground.

Genna works with the students to plan the big picture, combining all of the images, and setting them in a context that tells a story.

Working from print- outs of each separate image and of the larger 9X9′ collage, students learn the gridding technique by practicing recreating their individual contributions onto larger squares on the ground.

Students form into small groups according to their interests in the final design, and practice drawing together with chalk in anticipation of…

The final day! Snap lines and drawing the big picture!

Mickey, Minnie, Mario and More by Lynwood Afterschool's 2nd and 3rd Graders

Julia Chigamba

Students then trekked out to the Passport area, where stations included African mask making with Mentor Artist Angela Baker, Italian Street Painting with Mentor Artist Genna Panzarella and indigenous Mexican Music and Dance with Mentor Artists Miguel Martinez and Ernesto Olmos.

Mexican Jaguar Dance

Youth in Arts staff also provided stations featuring Origami paper folding, Henna design and creation of a personal “flag” for each student.

At each area, students found a map showing where the art form originated and questions to answer and record on “Passports” they received at the beginning of their journey. McNear teachers and staff decided to pair older children with lower grade “buddies” in each group, so that third through fifth-graders could assist K-2 students with the activities.

Buddies working together

It was a sunny, lively and art-filled day! Thanks to McNear for joining Youth in Arts on this around-the-world expedition!

Travel the World with Youth in Arts

More Photos

Throughout the artist residency at Rancho, each class enjoys the many mediums and styles of art. A favorite is the painting of the Mona Lisa. Gesture drawing is introduced at the beginning: the students are asked to draw what they feel, not what they see. Portraiture is then discussed and head proportion and figure drawing techniques are explored as students begin to paint.

Rancho Fifth Grader combining creative writing with drawing to create Concrete Poetry

A favorite project is the cartooning and cartoon strips that each student creates. The students studied figure drawing and body movement. Expressions and character development added to the fun and expressive cartoon strips.

Mentor Artist Mark Edwards creating his own masterpiece at the YIA 2010 Italian Street Painting Festival

The residency culminates in Italian Street Painting (colorful “paintings” in soft pastels) on the school playground. Students love this opportunity to exhibit in large scale some of the wonderful techniques they have learned in the classroom. These works seem to be most expressive: students love being able to work on larger works and with the vibrant colors of soft-pastels outdoors.

The Fifth Graders at Rancho school have gained much from being involved with Youth in Arts. The program brings together the mentor artist, teachers, and students in a fun, informative, and creative residency where everyone benefits.

Blending colors

Students and teachers learning to transfer an image to the street

Lisa explained the history of Italian street painting, and the Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival, and also talked about her own years of Street Painting throughout the country.

We then headed out to the street where we practiced using the tools of the trade and experimented with a variety of techniques.

Madonnara Lisa Jones demonstrating layering colors

Marin Catholic is hosting their own mini-street painting festival at the school. All students are welcome to participate in this school-wide event. The winner of the school competition will then represent the school at the Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival to be held in Downtown San Rafael on June 12 & 13, from 9am to 7pm.

Participants in the Marin Catholic Street Painting Festival, as well as high school student artists participating in the Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival will also be able to exhibit their Street Painting designs at the “Paint the Streets” Art Show to be held at the Marin Youth Center May 14-June 14.

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Faces of the R…

2009 Youth in Arts…

By Youth in Arts

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Children's Avenue 2009

Did your little artists create a masterpiece on Children’s Avenue at the 2009 Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival? Then, it’s likely to be up online at kidstreetart.com. Many thanks to incoming Youth in Arts Board President Peter Rodgers of Montara Creative for leading the effort to photo-document all the work by our littlest madonnari (Italian for street painters)!

Children's Avenue 2009

A thousand thanks to all the sponsors, artists and volunteers who made the 16th annual Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival possible. It takes a great many people for an event like this to happen, and we are so grateful to you all!

Artist Cuong Nguyen. Photo by Brooke Toczylowski.

Photos are beginning to appear online from this past weekend’s 16th annual Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival. A gallery by YIA staff member Brooke Toczylowski is up on our Photo Gallery page already. You can also check out galleries posted by Festival Photo Team member Paul Milholland, as well as galleries by Charlie Benton (shot from a 30′ pole!) and Jonathon Jenkins. MoreMarin also sent a photographer to the event and has a gallery and slideshow posted.

A gallery of the best shots by our professional Festival Photo Team will be up on the Youth in Arts website soon. We’ll keep you posted!

Drew Gasparini, Kasie Gasparini and Keith White

`Til Dawn alum Drew Gasparini is in town from NY to reprise his original musical, Crazy, Just Like Me, in the Bay Area at The Playhouse in San Anselmo, June 25-28.

In addition to Drew, the cast features Kasie Gasparini and Keith White, both `Til Dawn alums.

Two graduating `Til Dawn seniors, Juliana Schwartz and Haley Keegan, will paint a square in honor of the show at the 2009 Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival on June 13-14. Meanwhile, Juliana and Haley are preparing for their own performance in `Til Dawn’s annual “Sprang Thang” concert on May 30th. So many chances to check out these talented young artists at work–you’d be crazy to miss them!

The Last Supper

On Wednesday, May 20, the families of Our Lady of Loretto school celebrated the art and music of their students. The evening began with musical performances from every grade: K-8. The rousing hour included favorite songs through the ages, and several recorder performances. The musical program began and ended with enchanting hand chime music by the 7th and 6th graders.

The audience was then invited next door to view the impressive art exhibition which included a work by every student in the school. The Hall was soon packed to the rafters with families admiring their children’s artwork. Youth in Arts Mentor Artist Mark Edwards was on hand to greet his students and their families. Mark worked with every student in grades one through eight, on a variety of projects. Works included learning ways of seeing shapes in a larger whole to paint the Mona Lisa. Students experimented with the ephemeral effects of impressionism while painting a beautiful bouquet, quickly and colorfully. The seventh and eighth graders used the grid technique of Italian Street Painting to collaborate on a magnificent collage of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper as well as a scene from the Sistene Ceiling.The parents provide volunteer helpers to all of Mark’s classes, freeing the teachers to actually practice the techniques learned by their students. Parents also learned as well: they will be hosting two squares at the Italian Street Painting Festival on June 13 and 14, where their children will get to practice the art of Street Painting along side their Mentor Artist  Mark Edwards.

Our Lady of Loretto’s amazing year of art could not have happened so successfully without the overwhelming support of the school’s PTA, Principal, teachers and parents.

Mona Lisa Study

Study of Impressionism

Mark Edwards, Mentor Artist