Gift For Teen Art Installation at Cincinnati Children's
Internationally Known Artist to Collaborate On Project With Area Teens
CINCINNATI -- Time Warner Cable has donated the lead gift toward the creation of an art installation designed by area teens in a project led by an internationally recognized professional artist.
"Together for Teens: Power of Art" is a collaboration between between Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and ArtWorks, an arts-based employment and job-training program for youth in the Cincinnati area. Cincinnati Children's and ArtWorks have joined forces to encourage teens to create art that will express the teen experience and be displayed at Cincinnati Children's new Teen Health Center, which is scheduled to open later this year.
"Our gift towards this project reflects Time Warner Cable's overall commitment to arts education and to reach children and teenagers in creative ways," says Jennifer Mooney, vice president, public affairs, Time Warner Cable.
Over the next few months, staff from ArtWorks will meet with the Teen Health Center's Teen Advisory Board and other teen focus groups to identify various media and concepts. Internationally known artist Stephen Powers will lead the project, spending the summer months with area teens and ArtWorks staff to produce works of art for display throughout the Teen Health Center. As apprentices, the teens must present a resume or portfolio and go through an interview before they are selected for the program. At work, they adhere to clear job performance standards.
"Our vision is to expand this art display in both scope and size to include multimedia presentations, short films, painting, sculpture, literature and performing arts captured on film," says Thom Speakman, business director of the Teen Health Center.
"Projects such as this leave a lasting testament to the creative voice of young people while challenging teens to think outside the box, work in teams, learn to communicate effectively and make a real difference in the community - all while learning valuable life and job skills," adds Tamara Harkavy, executive director of ArtWorks.
Stephen Powers is considered to be the leading figure in today's street art scene. His style, using brushes and paints instead of spray paint, makes his "graffiti art" unique. "When Cincinnati Children's and ArtWorks asked us to bring in one of our artists, we immediately thought of Stephen," says Christian Strike, director of a new, local, avante-garde creative and production company that is collaborating with Cincinnati Children's and ArtWorks. "We knew the humor and vibrancy of his work would resonate with the teenagers visiting the Teen Health Center."
The goal of "Together for Teens: Power of Art" is to raise $200,000. So far, $160,000 has been raised. In addition to Time Warner Cable, major contributors include the Toyota Motor Corporation, Comair and the Patricia A. Vance Foundation. To contribute to the project, or for more information, contact Thom Speakman at 513-636-7534.
Cincinnati Children's is a 426-bed institution dedicated to the pursuit of perfect healthcare. It is the only pediatric organization in the US to receive the prestigious Pursuing Perfection grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation ranks third nationally among all pediatric centers in research grants from the National Institutes of Health. The Cincinnati Children's vision is to be the leader in improving child health, through patient care, research and education.
Contact Information
Contact: Jim Feuer, 513-636-4656,
jfeuer@chmcc.org
