Saturday, July 25, 2009

Eden Manor Senior Center



2009-present
Project:
Located at 
3121 Fruitvale Ave. in Oakland, CA, Eden Manor is a senior home for the memory impaired. Led by artist Kristi Holohan, ACE Arts offers a class on the First Friday of each month. 
Participants engage in fine arts activities as well as social interaction. The works are hung on site as well as at local public centers. To volunteer please contact Eden Manor at (510) 533-3923 or ACE Arts at 415 420 8028/ace.arts.eastbay@gmail.com

Challenges of Champions (Part 1)


 2009
Project:
Through the combination of three art components: Letters (words), United Front (warriors), and Portraits of Champions (windows) Kristi Holohan curates a community collaboration to tour Public Locations in Oakland.
 
Installed by volunteer team: Lhamdari Batmumkh, Adoni Ogbe, Kristi Holohan, Elisa Ofria, Ed Huang, and Marvin McMillian. The show opened in January and was in large attendance from College Park LPS students organized by teacher and mentor Steven Day.
Installed by volunteers at RPS Collective, Elijah Pfotenhauer, and Kristi Holohan. The work was seen as part of Oakland's Art Murmur
250 Frank Ogawa Plaza:
 
Nestled in official public buildings at Frank Owaga Plaza Challenges of Champions was installed in the Atrium on the ground floor. Volunteer installation team included Lisa Ruscioni, Megan McCrary, Maia Steward and Kristi Holohan
Seen at Studio One's First Friday, Challenges of Champions was warmly received by Oakland's Public Art Studio.
Logo/Anemities :
You can purchase hand printed Challenges of Champions tote bags, and tee-shirts for a donation. Each piece was hand crafted and totes are made from recovered materials. The works were produced in collaboration with Rock Paper Scissors Gallery Printshop by ACE Arts volunteers.
Press:

Letters


2009
Project: 
A collection of anonymous letters written in dedication and memorial.
The letters are anonymous correspondence from citizen towards victims (both survivors and those slain) and families of victims involved in Oakland homicides.  The anonymity of the writings allows for a great amount of emotional outpour. The works are uniformly written in pencil on a single page lined school paper
.Collection:
The letters are collected through anonymous posts on Craigslist, through open mailings with residents, and by working with staff, participants, and YEPs (Oakland’s Youth Employment Program) at Dimond Park, in Oakland.  Student participants in school 
classroom presentations at the Fremont High School campus’ Media Academy have written additional letters.  Letters are continually being collected as an interactive component during Challenges of Champion’s 2009 Art Tour (scheduled throughout the Bay at a different location each month). As of July there are approximately 200 letters. 

Appearences: 
Letters to the Victims is part of the Challenges of Champions Tour, which visually and communally reflects on Oakland homicides.  The exhibit has been received coverage and mention from the following: KQED, KGO radio and other ABC syndicates, The Oakland Tribune, The Eastbay Express, and the Eastbay Monthly. The work continues to show through the bay area and is scheduled for the entire year 2009. In addition, the letters will be shown at 2009 Power to the Peaceful Festival in San Francisco as Part of ACE Art’s Oakland School 4 Peace exhibit. 

Publication:
It is our intent to create a publication of the original works and distribute the booklets to the Oakland Unified School District, as well as through various public community settings such as Oakland Public Library and The Parks and Recreation System.  The program will continue to collect letters throughout the publication as an opportunity for community grieving. We are seeking contributions towards these efforts. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. 

United Front (a memorial to Oakland's Slain in 2008)


Fall 2008-2009:
Project:
Created with participants from Oakland Parks and Recreation's Radical Roving Recreation (at Mosswood), through guerilla art's tables temporarily set up in in East Oakland and by participation at Oakland Art and Soul 2008. 
125 pieces of recovered wood were cut and shaped into representations of those who have been lost to violence in Oakland in 2008. The works range in size from 5" to 15" tall.  Scrap cuttings were donated by Economy Lumber paints were donated by Laurel Ace Hardware. The works were made from wood, acrylic, paint marker, and spray-paint.
Appearances: 
United Front was seen at 2008 Power to the Peaceful. The works are also part of a larger exhibit titled Challenges of Champions which is touring public spaces including galleries, parks, and public buildings for the year 2009.
Press Coverage:
Volunteer:
To volunteer with installations and/or promotions please contact ACE Arts at ace.arts.eastbay@gmail.com or by calling 415 420 8028

Sausal on my Mind


Fall 2008:
Project: Lead by artist Kristi Holohan, creaded with Dimond After school program, Brete Harte Middle School volunteers with subject guidance from Friends of Sausal Creek and support from Oakland Parks and Recreation Aquatics Department, as well as with help from park passer-bys and artist volunteers Taylor Goode and Elijah Pfotenhauer. 
The work demonstrates the native plants and animal species of Saual Creek Watershed.
The work was created with acrylic and spray-paint. The informative mural lives at the entrance of Lion's pool in Dimond Park.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Putting the Pieces Together

                                                             
Fall 2008
Project Background & Description:
On June 16th 2008, at 1:30 in the afternoon, shock tore through the close-knit community when bullets struck two well-liked youths who were starting an exciting summer vacation. Horror ran through neighborhood friends and families.18 year old Edgar Torres was fatally struck. The gunfire was aimed towards Nicol Park, where many children were at play, and the youths hit by bullets were awaiting a bus. The bus stop sits directly in front of the park. The devastation has left the neighborhood in an unspoken boycott of the park while memorabilia for the slain youth, Edgar Torres, is enshrined around the area

    

In an effort to rebuild, heal, and strengthen our community, members of the neighborhood, the local NCPC (neighborhood crime prevention council),  ACE Arts and family of Edgar Torres created an installation in Nicol Park. The work, titled:

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER takes the shape of four puzzle pieces. Each piece visually represents a variety of elements of a healthy lifestyle:  family, exercise, education, and neighborhood diversity. The work has been painted by the community and dedicated in ceremony to the families of those affected. The work was supported by Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation, ACE Arts, and through contributions from the community. 

Friday, July 17, 2009

CACTUS planters

Summer 2008
Project:
Led by artist Kristi Holohan about 50 youth at Dimond Summer camp program created plant pots with a city motif. The participants then added soil, succulents and love to the masterpiece containers.