Mid Year Makings: An Exhibition of Works in Progress, Opening January 30, 2009 from 5-8pm

New Urban Arts presents "Mid Year Makings: An Exhibition of Works in Progress," an art exhibition featuring work by high school students that celebrates imagination, curiosity and collaboration. See a print installation of raindrops, pinhole photographs of our city, and Bones, a skeleton that evolved from a hand-drawn illustration to a sweatshirt jacket.

Don't miss the gallery opening event on Friday January 30, 2009 from 5-8pm. This event is free and open to the public and will include many opportunities for you to join us in creative practice. Participate in our Idea Exchange...take an idea and leave an idea. Also, see and participate in the final showing of artist mentor Ben Fino-Radin's kinesthetic window installation Earth Tones.

But Wait. That’s Not All...

In response to this historic inauguration, hear Random Acts of Sound blasted through the gallery with voices from our studio describing what “change” means to them.

Also, listen to the sounds of DJ Masta J as you enjoy our winter love of ice cream floats... not just any floats, we’re talking coke, root beer, strawberry, orange with chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Choose your flavor and make your own delightful treat.

This multidisciplinary art exhibition is on view in our gallery from January 30-February 13, weekdays 10am-7pm, at 743 Westminster Street.

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Now Accepting Applications for Arts Mentoring Fellows Program

New Urban Arts awards fellowships annually to two established artists and educators in a yearlong position to (1) support artist mentors who volunteer to mentor high school students in the arts; (2) share publicly artwork or ideas about community arts practice
reflective of New Urban Arts pedagogy, and (3) be an active presence in the New Urban Arts Studio. The fellows jointly curate New Urban Arts Conversations, a public series in which unique individuals share how they integrate creativity into their personal and professional lives.

Click here to read the Fellow job description for details on roles and responsibilities.

New Urban Arts initiated the Arts Mentoring Fellowship Program in 2007 with generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, The Rhode Island Foundation and The Richard and Vera Gierke Family Fund. Fellows receive a financial stipend, studio space, and the opportunity to investigate and explore the intersection of creative practice and community practice within a nationally recognized interdisciplinary art studio.

Click here for the RFP due May 1, 2009.

Stipend $10,000/yr
October 1, 2009 - June 1, 2010
Opportunity for one-year renewal

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The Nature of Youth Mentorship at New Urban Arts, a research paper written by Harvard graduate student Elena Belle White

In this paper, Elena Belle White captures the unique relationships between artist mentors and high school students at New Urban Arts. Elena is a graduate student at Harvard's Graduate School of Education where she is a master's student in the Arts in Education program.

She finds that: The difference between working with youth, and for youth, is striking; mentorship at New Urban Arts is partnership. Several youth told stories about mentors who provided materials and an initial idea, then inquired about the youth's interests and goals. Youth reported that this practice of questioning and encouraging their input helped to open space for them to be co-directors of the learning process. 

Click here to read White's paper.

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New Urban Arts featured on NBC10

New Urban Arts was featured on NBC10 last Friday in “All About Art.” If you missed the piece, you can watch it here.

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Honors, Openings, Fellowships, Projects, and Blogs...New Urban Arts Artist Mentors and Students Are Doing Great Things!

Alumnus Adrienne Adeyemi’s work is on exhibit at AS220's Open Window gallery at 115 Empire Street in downtown Providence until January 24th. Adrienne's Sleep Study photographs show the intimacy of sleep.

"For the past two years or so, I've been photographing my friends as they sleep early in the mornings. When I first started, I would set up light s and focus on the subject's face. But the lighting ended up giving this washed out or flat feeling to the photos. so I stopped that. Now I completely depend on natural light that's coming in through windows."

Click here to see Adrienne's photographs online.

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