Though things in the world continue to get harder and harder, I’m taking solace in making art and participating in residencies that help young people understand how much they matter.
I recently finished my annual visits to Springfield, Ohio where I worked with teens and incarcerated youth through a residency hosted by Project Jericho. This year’s residency, titled Sketching the Soundtrack, invited Springfield Teens to create comics adaptations of their favorite songs.
Project Jericho, whose slogan is Art Changes Lives (and they really mean it), always concludes our residencies with a community celebration. This year the kids’ work was put on display in an auditorium where a silent disco was held. At the end of the celebration we watched video performances of the kids’ work.
Here’s the playlist:
Many of the teens who participated worked with tools and mediums they hadn’t tried before. So they were not only expressing vulnerability in sharing a song that meant something to them; they were going out on a limb making art that they hadn’t before. I’m so proud of all of them. This was a rich, meaningful residency, as it always is with Project Jericho. I say it over and over–they’re what health looks like.
And if you’re in the Central Ohio area, I have more comics workshops and summer camps opening up!
Registration is open for my six-week Minicomic Challenge workshop series at the McConnell Art Center in Worthington, Ohio. Wednesdays after school, starting March 19!
July 28-August 1 I’m an instructor at the Buckeye Book Camp in Wooster, Ohio.
As always, you can find more info on my upcoming appearances and workshops on my classes page.
