Unveiled!

Check out the final result of all the hard work by JAMS apprentice artists over the spring session. The totem project, "Reduce, Reuse, Remember," was unveiled to great acclaim at the Lawrence Earth Day celebration on April 19. Some of the pieces will be auctioned at What Floats Your Boat, a Van Go fundraiser held at Clinton Lake Marina on June 21. Please call Van Go (842-3797) if you'd like to attend this event and get your hands on one of these beauties. By the way, the outdoor shots are by Van Go friend Tyler Lindquist of TJL Photography.

Day 32: Fabulous finish

On this last day of the the spring 2008 session of Jobs in the Arts Make Sense, we invite you to play a sappy instrumental tune in your head and view this montage of art projects reaching completion.
















As the day wrapped up, artists reflected on what they learned during the proess, and Midori took home the final Employee of the Week honor.



Thank you for following our journey! Remember, the project--"Reduce, Reuse, Remember"--will be unveiled April 19 during Lawrence's Earth Day celebrations. Also, Van Go is working on a showing at a new art gallery in Greensburg, Kansas. Check here or www.van-go.org for updates on where to view the art in person!

Day 31: Say green!

You know the end is nigh when the JAMS session busts out a group photo. Thursday will be the final day of the JAMS project, and we'll bring you non-live coverage of all that transpires. In the meantime, Lawrencians should mark their calendars for noon, Saturday, April 19, at South Park-- the big unveiling of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!!!

Day 30: Good clean fun

The eco-sculptures may go down as the messiest JAMS project in history.

Day 29: Countdown to finish!

It's the final week of the spring JAMS session, and apprentice artists have begun painting symbols and narratives onto their sculptures.

Their stories, represented visually through found objects and imagery, cover deep topics both positive and negative. Kyle's piece is topped with a fork and spoon, to represent consumption. Matt conjured a movie reel from found objects, because his dream job is as a movie editor. Sierra incorporated a bottle to symbolize hope flowing as water. Kayleigh tackled alcoholism with a two-sided totem-- one part coherent, one part messy-- to reveal the duality and self-destruction of people facing the addiction.

Day 28: Coming into view

The JAMS artists have come a long way. They started with two-dimensional paintings exploring nature and personal symbols. Now, their huge, three-dimensional sculptures are shaping up, and the end is in sight.






Also: Virtual high-five to Matt for his stellar on-the-job performance!

Day 27: Re-cap

We're sure you've read every post since Day 1 of the current JAMS session, but allow us to re-cap, in case you were out with the flu, on vacation or lacking Internet access at any point since mid-February.



Who: More than twenty young people, ages 14-21, from Douglas County, Kansas, are earning hourly wages to create artwork through the Jobs in the Arts Make Sense (JAMS) program, recognized nationally for its awesomeness (seriously, it received the fancy Coming Up Taller award in 2006).

What: The current JAMS session has youth learning about and examining environmental issues, as well as considering their place in the world. They're creating totem pole-esque sculptures of "found objects" to symbolize personal stories and visions. Along the way, they receive job training, counseling, life skills and other support (plus those hourly wages).

When: JAMS sessions happen at Van Go every spring, summer and fall. The current, eco-themed session will wrap up April 10, and the final art project will be unveiled April 19, 2008.

Where: Van Go is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and inhabits a large warehouse space currently undergoing big-time renovations!

Why: Van Go uses the JAMS program to accomplish its mission-- to improve the lives of high-needs youth using art as the vehicle for self-expression, self-confidence and hope for the future. JAMS participants aren't hired for their art skills. They're hired because they face economic, mental and/or academic struggles. Van Go is the only area organization aiming to meet their needs with comprehensive (and fun) services!

Day 26: Dash of color

The next step in the sculpture process is to spray-paint the paper mache coating. Some artists are choosing to leave certain objects (say, a mini-basketball or a wagon wheel) exposed and unpainted, to highlight the wild components of the structures.

Day 25: In the muck

On Monday, JAMS artists used paper mache to create an outer coating for their sculptures of newspaper, cans, bottles, shoes, light bulbs and other found objects. Many articles of clothing were sullied in the process, in spite of the JAMS work aprons.