Exciting News: Tamara Kaplan named Interim Executive Director

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the naming of Tamara Kaplan as Interim Executive Director. Founded in 1997, New Urban Arts is a nationally recognized organization that provides free, summer and after-school arts mentoring programs to Providence public high school students.

Tamara Kaplan, currently the Student Engagement Coordinator and New Urban Arts’ Program Director from 2000-2005, will assume her new position on July 16, 2007. In this new role, Kaplan will coordinate the ongoing search for a new Executive Director, and provide operational leadership during the organization’s transitional period. Once an Executive Director is named Kaplan will become the Operations Manager, a newly created position to oversee the administrative, budget, and database management of the organization.

“Tamara has a long history at New Urban Arts, and has contributed greatly to our nationally recognized arts mentoring programs,” says Deborah Obalil, Chair of the Board of Directors. “Her understanding of our mission, values, and approach has been an incredible asset so far, and her leadership will ensure a successful executive transition in the future.”

“New Urban Arts is an inspiring community that offers creative learning opportunities otherwise not available to Providence high school students," says Ms. Kaplan of her selection, “It’s remarkable what the organization has been able to accomplish in ten short years, and I’m honored to have this opportunity to lead New Urban Arts during this
important time."

New Urban Arts has experienced a period of dramatic growth in recent years. Participation in its programs doubled in 2007-08 from 2006-07, and the studio facility at 743 Westminster Street has been remodeled to accommodate expanding interest in black and white photography and silk-screening. We could not have made it thus far without the generous support of funders and individuals. We are excited about the commitments made to sustain our organization over the next few years.

As Interim Director, Tamara Kaplan will report to an 11-member Board of Directors.The mission of New Urban Arts is to build a vital learning community that empowers young people, developing a creative practice they can sustain throughout their lives.

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Celebrate Change with Puppets and Poems at Dexter Training Grounds Wednesday, July 25th at 7:00pm

We are excited to announce a community-wide celebration presenting spoken word and shadow puppetry at the Dexter Training Grounds taking place on July 25th at 7:00pm. This event is sponsored by the City of Providence’s Celebrate Providence! Neighborhood Performing Arts Series.

Bring blankets and chairs for an outdoor summer spectacle for the whole family, and help celebrate “change” as New Urban Arts marks its tenth anniversary.  This interactive event features moving spoken word performances by New Urban Arts graduates, along with live shadow puppetry performances created by New Urban Arts students, artist mentor Andrew Oesch, and local writer David Colannino. Under the open sky enjoy shadow images of elaborately handcrafted silhouettes projected onto a screen, telling narratives of the absurd, describing change and celebrating personal growth.

The magical shadow puppetry performance begins at Dusk.  Prior to the performance, enjoy opportunities to tap into your own creativity and make a personal art shrine from recycled materials.

The City of Providence’s Celebrate Providence! Neighborhood Performing Arts Series is sponsored by the City of Providence, David N. Cicilline, Mayor, the Department of Art, Culture & Tourism and Providence Parks.

The Dexter Training Grounds are located at 73 Dexter Street, Providence, RI 02909

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Erik Gould Photographs Faces on Flickr

Three years ago, Erik Gould, was looking to create a new body of work for the New Urban Arts Mentor Show. He started talking with his students about taking photographs of their environment, "nothing fancy, just the 'stuff' that surrounds them daily." He picked up a studio camera and started demonstrating to his students what this "stuff" might be. A building, a bicycle, or a picture of a person. This inquiry became the Faces of New Urban Arts, a collection of photographs taken by Gould that has become a yearly rotating exhibition in the studio.

Each year since its inception, Erik has continued this tradition with a new group of students. His unobtrusive way of capturing people and their personalities can be seen in each picture. "I let people present themselves how they want to be presented," says Erik. "Because they feel comfortable in their surroundings I am able to see all sides of their personalities."

Check out Flickr to see this three year archive or come by New Urban Arts to see the new series in person.

Also, for more work by Erik Gould, look for him at www.erikgould.net

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Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston Grant Awarded To Support Programs

This summer we have been generously awarded a $44,000 Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston grant to support our programs. As part of our summer studio, a group of twelve students will be paid to participate in a Summer Work Employment Program that focuses on the intersection of arts and technology through photography.

With Jesse Banks and John Nguon at the helm, students are exploring photography from pinhole cameras to black and white darkroom developing, as well as career options
including freelance photography, medical/forensic photography, photojournalism, printing and working in labs, working for advertising, marketing, or design firms, and even education. To introduce students to these careers, New Urban Arts will invite professional photographers to visit and share their creative practice

In addition, each student will develop a portfolio of their photography created during the program.  They will learn effective ways to present themselves to employers, including writing a cover letter seeking employment, as well as developing a resume.

The support from Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston does not end at the conclusion of the summer, as this grant also supports our programs throughout the school year.

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Meet the Studio

As New Urban Arts welcomes new opportunities for our students, we also want to introduce and welcome staff/volunteers/artist mentors to our community this summer:

Jesse Banks III, Studio Manager and Summer Photography Mentor. Jesse brings seven years of New Urban Arts experience to our programs as a student alumni, artist mentor and board member. Jesse will be overseeing the daily operations, recruiting and engaging students, and supporting the daily work of staff. We are so excited to offer Jesse this position and further support his work in the studio.

John Nguon, Summer Photography Assistant. A recent graduate of our programs, John brings a great understanding of photography and love for New Urban Arts. He will be headed to University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth this fall to study art and photography.

Andrew Oesch, Archivist and Summer Artist Mentor. Before heading off with the What Cheer Brigade in August, Andrew is spending the month of July archiving New Urban Arts past, supporting the interim process, and working with students to create a shadow puppet performance celebrating Change.

Adrienne Adeyemi, Summer Open Studio Monitor/Mentor. Home from Clark University for the summer, Adrienne is facilitating Open Studio time this summer. If you are interested learning about photography or making zines, Adrienne is your lady.

Melissa Mendes, Summer Open Studio Monitor/Mentor. An artist by day, a mentor by afternoon. Melissa has been an integral part of our studio for the past year, working with young people in drawing and comics. Along with Adrienne, she is in the studio this summer to support students in making zines for our annual Zine Swap on July 30th at 5pm.

Heidi Born and Megan Billman, Summer Studio Inquiry Artist Mentors. Both Heidi and Megan have been mentoring at New Urban Arts for the past year and this summer will be leading students through our Summer Art Inquiry on Commemorative Art and Shrine Making.

Laura Cohen, Summer Intern. Laura hails from Brown University Master's Program in Public Humanities and is supporting our Summer Art Inquiry on Commemorative Art and Shrine Making.

Emily Ustach, Summer Studio Coordinator. Emily joins us for the summer after two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA at The Rhode Island School of Design. She will be overseeing our summer program before she heads off to her new position at Rhode Island Campus Compact in the fall.

For more information about our summer programs, go to www.newurbanarts.org

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