Consultant at the Healing Arts Initiative
As a consultant at the Healing Arts Initiative (HAI), Rojas conceptualized and implemented framing workshops for adults in day centers with mental disabilities. Participants were taught art handling practices, mat cutting, and framing of art work. This workshop was funded with a $15k grant from Capital One. She also developed and implemented a graffiti workshop for high-risk youth in foster care in the Bronx.
As a consultant at the Healing Arts Initiative (HAI), Rojas conceptualized and implemented framing workshops for adults in day centers with mental disabilities. Participants were taught art handling practices, mat cutting, and framing of art work. This workshop was funded with a $15k grant from Capital One. She also developed and implemented a graffiti workshop for high-risk youth in foster care in the Bronx.
“Supporting the 21st Century Artist: Adult Education & Workforce Development”
Artists today need competencies far beyond their own media; they need to be able to function and respond to a technologically oriented world. Recognizing this shift, HAI asked me to help develop a pilot workshop in Exhinition Skills for members of the Saturday Arts Studio, a program serving adults with mental health conditions. Thirteen participants met over eight weeks to receive practical experience in framing, art handling and preparing artwork for exhibition. Over the past 4 1/2 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with many of these individuals, but never have we had so mich fun and learned so much! Studio member Girl Negron spoke with me about her experience:
“Throughout my life I have paid a lot of money for framing. Had I known how to frame my own work I could have saved all that money. We learned about the technical part of how this gets done and how much work goes into it. People don’t realize the amount of labor that goes into framing. Now I recognize tools I never knew before — their names, what they’re for and how to use them.”
Thanks to Capital One Foundation, HAI will offer two four-month apprenticeship courses next year: Exhibition Skills, which will build on the pilot program offered in 2012 and Digital Multimedia Skills, which will provide practical experience in digital media. We will produce prints, learn how to maintain and run an online gallery, and frame and ship artwork. Every person who successfully completes the program will receive a certificatie of completion qualifying them with competitive skills needed in the changing world of art.” - Alex Rojas, HAI Teaching Artist (Winter 2012)
Artists today need competencies far beyond their own media; they need to be able to function and respond to a technologically oriented world. Recognizing this shift, HAI asked me to help develop a pilot workshop in Exhinition Skills for members of the Saturday Arts Studio, a program serving adults with mental health conditions. Thirteen participants met over eight weeks to receive practical experience in framing, art handling and preparing artwork for exhibition. Over the past 4 1/2 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with many of these individuals, but never have we had so mich fun and learned so much! Studio member Girl Negron spoke with me about her experience:
“Throughout my life I have paid a lot of money for framing. Had I known how to frame my own work I could have saved all that money. We learned about the technical part of how this gets done and how much work goes into it. People don’t realize the amount of labor that goes into framing. Now I recognize tools I never knew before — their names, what they’re for and how to use them.”
Thanks to Capital One Foundation, HAI will offer two four-month apprenticeship courses next year: Exhibition Skills, which will build on the pilot program offered in 2012 and Digital Multimedia Skills, which will provide practical experience in digital media. We will produce prints, learn how to maintain and run an online gallery, and frame and ship artwork. Every person who successfully completes the program will receive a certificatie of completion qualifying them with competitive skills needed in the changing world of art.” - Alex Rojas, HAI Teaching Artist (Winter 2012)