Day 24: Birthday lift

Week 6 wrapped up with a birthday celebration for Macio, who--in Van Go birthday tradition--got a lift from his fellow artists.



Also, props to Kayliegh on Employee of the Week.

Day 23: Morale is high

Van Go staff report no fewer than five Van Go youth expressing something to the effect of, "I am so excited about my sculpture and can't wait to finish and show it!"*

*Not made up for P.R. purposes. We swear! The artists are really into their eco-project.

Day 22: Vision of things to come

Check out art director Cathy's sculpture, which is in the process of being spray-painted. All the artists eventually will paint their sculptures and incorporate imagery from those vertical storytelling paintings we showed you earlier in the program.

Cathy's piece is made of rolled-up magazines, glass jars, bottle caps, pipe pieces and other treasures.

Day 21: What's in a name?

We're back! Spring break is ovah, folks. Only three weeks left to complete the current JAMS project--sculptures made from junk yard fodder and adorned with symbols of the artists' worlds.

BREAKING NEWS: We have a proper name for the art project! After much discussion and suggestions from the JAMS youth, contenders ranged from Eco-Divas (too cute) to Green Teens (unclear). Here is the winner (drumroll....):

Reduce, Reuse, Remember: Our Stories in Recovered Trash and Memory.

An eco-art project by any other name would still look as sweet, but we dig the new title.

Van Go stuff

Want to know more about Van Go Mobile Arts, the nonprofit organization that operates the JAMS program? Go to www.van-go.org. You can find out about past JAMS projects, who works here, or the complete overhaul the Van Go building is experiencing (often spicing the Van Go day with sounds of jackhammers and a light perfume of toxic chemicals).

You will probably agree that Van Go is soon to be world-famous, not unlike your local burger joint's curly fries.

JAMS artists return Monday, March 24, so peep us then!

Day 20: Time for a break

Wow, week 5 of the spring JAMS session is over (way to score Employee of the Week, Sierra). The eco-sculptures are coming along quite nicely--each day, they're adorned with another glorious touch, such as a discarded bike wheel or a rusted-out fondue pot. For now, though, the artists are off to enjoy spring break next week. Please check in next week anyway-- we'll update you on other Van Go stuff, such as building renovations and the mighty staff!

Day 19: Just another day on the job

Van Go might be the only place in the world today where someone was sawing into a rubber tire.



One JAMS artist fancied a piece of tire for her eco-tower, and Mr. Jim offered some help. Then a few more people offered some help. Still, the tire persevered and remains intact.

Scorecard:
Tire - 1 / Van Go - 0

Please check back for updates on this continuing battle.

Day 18: Sculpting

Those totem-ish towers we've been showing you are beginning to morph into creative shapes. Art instructor Cathy gave artists the freedom to interpret their vertical creations as they see fit, so some are ending up with appendages and wild off-shoots.

Day 17: String theory

In keeping with the current JAMS session's environmental theme, artists read The Earth Game, by Pam Conrad, about how individual actions have real effects on the planet. Taking a page (so to speak) directly from the story, artists connected themselves by wrapping twine around their fingers. When one person tugged, everyone felt the effects.

Artists then shared things they would change about their behaviors, and placed their corners of the twine on the floor. The final challenge involved stepping point-to-point to exit the newly formed twine-agon without bumping into others. The real-life idea is that we each follow our own path, which in turn affects the paths of others. We are all connected, including Mother Earth! Or, in the words of Lauryn Hill (and Diana Ross, and probably a lot of Buddhists), "Everything is everything!"

Day 16: Totally totem

The fourth week of Van Go's spring JAMS session wrapped up as artists completed their vertical story paintings. (In case you're just joining us, these paintings include nature symbols of the artists' identities and views of the world.) Here they are, coiled into mini-totems!

Now, on to the big daddies... These gigantoriffic bases, made of wood, cardboard, newspaper, glue and cement, eventually will be adorned with found objects and painted with symbols explored through artists' vertical paintings.

In other news, Sam took home the prize for Employee of the Week. He also found out he was accepted to not one but THREE prestigious art institutes, which is his post-graduation plan. Artistic skill is not a requirement for working in JAMS, but Sam happens to be one artsy-fartsy fellow. Congrats!

Day 15: Random shots

Kayleigh's FBI hat inspired a challenge during the group meeting of JAMS artists: Give FBI new meaning.
Daiyna offered "Female, Black and Intelligent." Nice!

Once a week, JAMS-ers learn about big life issues--everything from domestic violence to nutrition--through Life Skills sessions led by Van Go social worker Maren and community members. Today's visitor was Marcia, the director of Headquarters Counseling Center. She talked to the artists about personal crises and how to get help. Thanks for stopping by, Marcia!

Day 14: Structure

In addition to 14- to 18-year-olds in the JAMS program, Van Go serves older youth, age 18-21, through the Life JAMS program. Life JAMS focuses on the unique needs of that age group: employment, housing, college, finding the right path. Life JAMS pitched in with the spring JAMS project (which, in case you're just joining us, involves personal, totem-like structures pieced together by "found objects" that might have ended up in a landfill... currently known as "Eco-Divas") by creating the bases for the structures. A carpet roll and a little newspaper.... Voila! It's all firmly planted in a cement foundation.

Day 13: Picture stories

The fourth week of JAMS kicked off with artists dictating the story behind their vertical paintings. Van Go staffer Jane got the amazing tales down on paper. Maybe the artists will stick a copy inside their sculptures?

Check out Jeremy's story, and the painting that represents it:

"My painting represents me as a life form with other life forms growing within other life forms. I’m developing and learning, changing. My roots are strong and provide shelter and strength for other living beings. I may have my faults and my weaknesses but when I die I want to have changed the world."