April 29th, 2008 by: Ashley Cecil Email this to a friend
My first ‘Open Doors’ project: a group mural at the Center for Women and Families
Since last summer’s Kentucky Remembers! Project, I’ve fallen in love with facilitating the creation of collaborative, community art. After returning from that youth camp, I began actively pursuing a way to continually run such projects. To make an incredibly long story short, the end result of my efforts took the form of accepting a position at the Louisville Visual Art Association as a program coordinator. The arts outreach program is called “Open Doors.” The mission of the program sounds like it was scripted specifically for me:
Open Doors is an umbrella program of classes and art enrichment experiences designed to give a voice to under-served populations including the at-risk youth, refugees and immigrants, senior citizens, victims of domestic abuse and more. Our projects are designed to pair local professional artists with groups who have limited access to the visual arts to collaborate in creating works of self-expression. Projects are tailored to meet specific needs of each population and serve to enrich not only the individual participant, but the community as a whole.
Artists who lead our programs are passionate about facilitating the realization of creative talent and offering tangible tools for communication, engagement, leadership and positive change.
So, while I’m continuing with all of my other various endeavors mentioned on my blog, I’m also overseeing an incredible group of talented visual artists bringing their expertise to people rarely exposed to the arts (much less engaged in the art-making process).
Of course I could never be tied to a desk chair as a full-time administrator. I split my time between coordinating all of the Open Doors projects and facilitating my own. Currently, I’m at the Center for Women and Families working with a small group of victims of domestic violence on an 8′ long mural that will hang in the lobby of the Center’s main office.
Introducing the women to the visual arts included meeting them at the Louisville Visual Art Association to see the Liz Quisgard exhibit. I was expecting quick drop-ins from the women, but ended up spending 2 hours with them altogether answering their questions and chatting about their reactions.
After several weeks of preparatory exercises to get them comfortable sketching and thinking visually, we starting on the canvas. I took each woman’s photograph and projected the image onto the canvas for them to trace. Next, they began filling their silhouettes with images from their sketches books.
A group decision was made to jointly create a background that symbolized unity and interconnectedness. We talked about puzzle pieces, which lead to the idea of a using a tessellation of figures. The women also decided to paint the tessellation the colors tied to domestic violence awareness (purple and teal) and the pink to symbolize femininity.
Once again, I’ve been blown over by the progress and investment in the project. I think they’ve surprised themselves just a little as well 
We’ll be wrapping up the painting this week and focusing on the community celebration/dedication of the artwork at the Center. I will certainly keep you posted about this event since I know these women would be overwhelmed by a strong turn out to honor their accomplishment and gift to the Center.
Do I still have any Courier-Journal writers subscribing to my blog (hint, hint)?
10 Comments
April 30th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Ashley, this is incredible! What a cool project, and what a beautiful piece, both aesthetically and spiritually. I especially love the poses each artist has chosen to shape her silhouette into.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:01 am
WOW, powerful project. Thank you for doing good work, all of you!
April 30th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Sounds as if you have fallen into your niche with this project and by the way, that mural is stunning. And getting art to the people who need it’s healing powers the most is so crucial and you are doing it. It truly is our link to Spirit and while doing it…sometimes we are lucky enough to actually feel the Presence. You are such a Teacher and I love knowing you. I’m thankful for you and all that you are doing.
Peace,
Mille Fennig…you Dallas friend
April 30th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Wow!! I’m blown over by the incredible talent the women have exhibited!! Way to go, program coordinator!!! Maybe we can talk about some type of collaboration with the Somali Bantu women of Americana Fiberworks (hint, hint)???
Looking at the pictures of the women in the process of creating their mural, I am reminded of how therapeutic the creation of art is…which makes me think I really do need to learn how to knit, or make jewelry (my new kick!!), or find some type of creative outlet…
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that your first Open Doors project is a resounding success! Congratulations!!!
Diana Church
April 30th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
You are all so sweet! These women really have done an amazing job and it’s an honor to work with them. Hopefully I’ll see those of you who are in Louisville at the unveiling.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:29 am
I’m an artist/ elementary art teacher and I love your blog, as well as seeing this painting in progress- the final product shows just how accessible art can be to every person- even if untrained in it. Gorgeous!
May 5th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Ashley, what beautiful work. It’s so rich and compelling. I think you have a real gift for guiding others in telling their stories visually.
Makes me want to go back to school (to finish Fine Arts degree).
Next time you need a volunteer, let me know.
May 6th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Thank you so much Becca and Erin! The project was really a lot of fun and the women became very invested in the final product. I’m looking forward to the upcoming unveiling.
May 6th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I’m so glad to see your blog! The artwork is very beautiful. The programs you do are an inspiration. Its great to see how much visual art can help others. Check out my blog its lists ideas visual artists can use to help others such as orphans and the hospitalized.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Very Beautiful Work, And site is also nice..
Superb..
Carry on..
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