What is the Seed of Benevolence?
The Seed of Benevolence is a community based art project created to inspire community involvement with those less fortunate by educating through art pieces. This project has been given the chance to be brought to life through starter funding by members of the El Paso community through The Caldo Collective. The project entails working with our cities’ various homeless shelters to meet and gather 15-20 stories from homeless individuals in our community. I will interview the people who want to share their story, the story and circumstance of how they ended up with out a home. This work aims to discover what leaves a person homeless in a family-oriented community as well as address what is to come of individuals that are displaced with the changes occurring in our city’s growth. As a token of appreciation for sharing a part of the life and their time I would like to give the interviewees a care package toiletries, a set of new clothes, and a food gift card. Concluding the interview I will exchange new clothing for an item of the individual’s clothing. I will transcribe their words on to the clothing item to create a visual representation of who they are. Their printed clothing, along with their photographs, will be exhibited in a gallery space, giving these individuals a platform for their voice. This project will impact our community by creating an awareness of one another and their journeys, taking a walk in the shoes of someone less fortunate, and most importantly to spark a sense of the goodness humanity is capable of... Hope.
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In a nut shell:
Work with homeless Let homeless tell their stories through interviews Distribute Care Packages Exchange new clothing for the their clothing Use clothing to create art pieces around their stories Use artwork to create awareness and community involvement |
Bio
MFA Art Education
U.T.E.P. High School Art Teacher El Paso Museum of Art |
I received both my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Art Education with an emphasis in Printmaking at the University of Texas at El Paso. Upon finishing my bachelor’s, I worked at the El Paso Museum of Art. Working at the museum gave the experience I needed to work in my current job of 6 years as a high school art teacher. Over the years I have had the privilege to watch my students’ artistic talents grow and have sponsored them in numerous art shows and competitions. On a personal level I have participated in various exhibitions around the city as well as an international show overseas. I enjoy the balance of being a part of both worlds. Together each roll influences one another, making me not only a better person of this community, but a better teacher and artist.
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This project is made possible
by members of the community through The Caldo Collective
“The Caldo Collective gives selected artists the opportunity to present their proposals to the community during “Frijol Feasts!” Caldo provides a warm bowl of soup for dinner guests to slurp up, while artists provide ideas to feast upon. At the end of the meal, dinner guests vote on their favorite artist’s idea to receive the funds collected from the night’s dinner donations.”