Expressing Themselves Through Art
by Natasha Mayers
As part of my artist in residency program with Peace Action Maine, I
recently completed two projects at Portland West, a social service agency
that has been in Portland's West End since 1971, committed to serving the
community's families through its youth, literacy, and outreach programs.
The Learning Center at Portland West provides Reiche and King School
students a safe haven to work on homework, computers, and special projects.
I worked with 14 girls ages 6-12. Most of them are Somali, Congolese,
Ethiopian, and Sudanese. They designed and painted a lively and colorful
mural about themselves and their cultural traditions. There are masks,
animals, African textile designs, foreign words, and beautiful
self-portraits hanging on the wall of the Learning Center. Take a peek
through the window at 181 Brackett Street.
Sam Carlo, their Sudanese teacher, provided enthusiastic, caring leadership
of the group, and participated in the painting, along with several other
adult volunteers, including artist Jamie Mandrake, who added wonderful
African designs throughout the mural. Donna Richards, the director of the
Center, and Carlo organized a celebration for the week of February 23. It
gave the students and their families a chance to see the mural and paint
together.
I also worked with Youth Building Alternatives, a program involving 16-24
year olds who have either dropped out of high school, been committed to the
Maine Youth Center, or are on probation. The students get their GED's and
counseling and learn job skills while constructing low-income housing. I
worked with small groups to create murals which have been installed
throughout the space at Portland West. One mural, "The Road to Success," is
15" x 24' long, installed along a ceiling beam. It depicts the obstacles the
young people have encountered in their lives. It is filled with images of
brick walls, ladders, baby bottles, corporate logos, fragmented faces,
shattered dreams, storms, screams, and signs asking for help. It ends with
positive images of the carpentry tools they use every day and a message in
graffiti style, "the world is waiting for you." Three other murals were
completed on music and graffiti and "everyone do-their-own-thing" themes.
In mid-March, I will be facilitating the painting of self portraits by
children from linguistically and culturally diverse fifth grade classrooms
at the Riverton School in Portland. Margy Burns Knight, author of many
acclaimed children's books such as "Who Belongs Here?," will help the
children tell their stories.
We are looking for teachers/schools (or other institutions) who are
interested in hosting an exhibit of the portraits and accompanying stories
for one week during April-December 2004. This is a great opportunity to
bring the richness of Maine's growing diversity to your area of the state.
You can play a part in assuring that we live in communities that appreciate
and respect all human beings. If you are interested, please contact me at
natashasiena@gwi.net or 549-7516. (Volunteers are needed for all phases of
the project and exhibit. Join us in this exciting work!)
Peace Action Maine is very grateful to the Maine Arts Commission and Maine
Community Foundation for funding the Artist-in-Residence program for 2004.
Back to Peace Talk Index, Spring, 2004