A Show of Artists
What is an artist? Though not an objective answer, I believe an artist is someone who expresses a unique part of themselves. It could be done in many forms – from how they bake a cake, to how a soccer ball is kicked, to how an idea is painted on a canvas. Anyone who puts a unique aspect to something they do, is an artist. And though it sounds easy, being an artist requires taking a lot of risk. It requires owning one’s individuality.
In downtown Franklinton, at Wild Goose Creative there is a show currently up called, “Us.” That show is made up of young artists, all owning their individuality. Some own it through depicting their hopes and dreams. Others show who they are through their skills and techniques. Whether it’s a focus on their ideas, their culture, or anything that might have opened their creative gates, it is a show about them: the artists.
Who are these particular artists? I asked Jeremy Hollon, Associate Director of Community Partnerships at CRIS CC (Community Refugee & Immigration Services Community Connectors) to answer that question and a few others about the show. CRIS was one of the honorees of ROCS' champions of social justice award this year.
CI: Making sure I have this right: The show at Wild Goose Creative is called “Us”, and it encompasses work by students that are part of the Art-Club at CRIS Community Connectors?
JH: That is correct. We have various art-clubs [within 10 school districts] of elementary, middle, high school and graduated students and this particular show is pulling together artwork from those within Columbus City Schools Community Connectors (CC) art-show. Students named the exhibit “US” (which is actually the same name of our gallery last year) because they want to be inclusive as possible to all who are showing their work.
CI: What is the goal of the Art-Club?
JH: The goal is to be expressive in a safe-space. Art is a great way to get to know our students, especially those who are still learning English as there isn't a language requirement for Art-Club. Students also get some exposure to different mediums, take field trips to meet actual artists in the field, and see representations in/ around Columbus. Many times art is just referred to as a hobby or something fun and even childish so wanting to show our students it could be a career, but also using those skills and thinking will benefit them for the rest of their lives and in any space they are in.
CI: Are there a lot of these types of shows with the art-club and or/ other CRIS CC artists?
JH: Every year we try to have at least 1 show, and usually at Wild Goose for our art-club artists. We work with Wild Goose and pay for the exhibit time, but also ensure that our artists are getting 100% of their sales and neither CRIS nor the gallery are taking any %. Also any unsold art can be featured in our office or if a pop-up appears which we have done in the past at Yellow Springs, the Hilltop Arts Festival, as well as, a CRIS open house. Or the artwork can go back to the student and we have very long conversations about what it means to sell their work, but also the importance of what happens when we don't sell our work and that it isn't a failure or negative reflection on the artist. So a lot of work goes into something most don't think twice about as we know many of our artists are first timers and a lot of energy and emotion go into their work, so an equal amount of work goes into the culture of art.
CI: What is the hope/goal with these shows?
JH: My biggest hope is students feel seen and given opportunity. The Columbus art scene is very small and sometimes exclusionary to new artists, first-time artists as well as minority artists. Also, I really want Columbus, Ohio, the country and world to stop seeing our students as "refugee" or "immigrant" and see them as artists. I don't want people to come to the show expecting trauma to be on display or our students being token moments for them but rather see their art, their vision, and let the artist dictate what their own narrative is and be an individual.
The show at Wild Goose includes work from the partnership between ROCS and five CRIS CC artists, who visited this year to share their culture and skills with the students. Watch a video about this collaboration here. Each artist worked with a bird group to complete a project of their making, weaving aspects of themselves, their culture, and their art into completed pieces.
The Chickadees worked with artist’s Isabel and Neftaly to make drums and learn about Venezuela’s music and dance. Miriam worked with the Warblers discussing Haitian architecture as well as teaching art techniques the students could use in representing what they call home.
Diana and the Vireos made ceramic plates, of Mexican design, which they later ate a shared meal off of, and Karla worked with the older groups, Tanagers and Ospreys, discussing important issues facing Puerto Rico. These students then made signs depicting issues that were also important to them, such as ending pollution and LGBTQI A+ rights.
The partnership between ROCS and CRIS CC has been a meaningful one, and this is the third year it’s taken place. I asked Jeremy to speak a little on how the partnership has gone this year and his role in it all.
JH: Every year it just feels a little easier, a little more engaging as we continue to learn best practice on both sides. I feel Red Oak continually opens their doors and allows so much freedom/ flexibility and support that sometimes I forget this is a specific program. I think Red Oak students really engage with our artists and make real connections and love that our artists can explain their own past/ narrative/ future and not be limited to things mentioned above like being a refugee, or immigrant, or displaced person.
CI: What is your specific role at CRIS in relation to the art show and ROCS partnership?
JH: I am essentially the artists Uber driver. I work at finding students who I think would enjoy the project, are comfortable at discussing themselves and have a level of art ability that could work within the elementary scope of students. I get them ready to come to Red Oak and then support them throughout the project, but really don't manage them, but just let them know I am around to troubleshoot or help grow ideas. [We] keep the project very vague so they (and Anne) can work together on original ideas opposed to just pre-creating things and plugging in the artists. I absolutely enjoy watching our artists grow throughout the project. Usually in the first meeting they are very timid, shy and a little uneasy, which is completely understandable as a classroom full of elementary students is intimidating to anyone, and then by the time our project is done they know specific students, hear their stories, feel confident in their art but I also see a lot of pride in getting to be their culture/ countries representative and getting to be that educator.
The show is up at Wild Goose Creative through the end of April: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays from 10am-6pm.
-Celeste Irving , ROCS mom