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Project
GROW is another public art initiative of the ArtworkZ Public Art &
Design Program produced by MOCAH.
This community art project has been developed to increase the
awareness of the 5th Ward community of the proximity and
potential environmental hazards of a 36 acre contaminated waste site, Many
Diversified Interests, Inc. (MDI).
As well, this project is designed to empower the area youth by
providing them with a vehicle to voice their concerns regarding the
environmental impact, the necessary cleanup and future use of the MDI
site. Our
primary goal is to utilize this project as a catalyst for community
revitalization and empowerment.
Project
GROW provides an opportunity for the youth of 5th Ward,
particularly those living around the MDI Superfund site, to share their
vision towards the potential future reuse of the site.
Often times the children in a community are not even considered
when decisions are made for redevelopment of such properties but through
the vision of public artist, Reginald Adams, Project GROW gives the
youth a chance to speak their minds through the use of art.
Project
Grow @ Julia C. Hester House
Project
Grow KPFT Interview
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Project
GROW is a process that includes a series of brainstorming and design
workshops. Within these
workshops the youth are exposed to details about the MDI site,
including the causes of contamination, the types of contaminated materials
found, the effects of the contaminants, the process of remediation as
described by the EPA and the future reuse of the land.
This information is used to educate the youth but more importantly
inspire them to create their own vision as to how the MDI site can be
redeveloped.
There are six sites
proposed to participate in Project GROW, including: Swiney Park
Community Center, Julia C. Hester House, Nat Q. Henderson Elementary
School, Crawford Elementary School, E.O. Smith Education Center and Phyllis
Wheatly High School. Through
Project GROW we seek to reach at least 120 youth.
This
project will begin in May 2003 and will be completed January
2004. Three sites will be
targeted for the Spring 2003 and the remaining three sites will be
targeted for the Fall 2003. The
artists and writers will work with each participating site’s after
school program over a six-week period to produce the designs and
writings for the proposed mural panels.
Twenty students from each site will have an opportunity to create a
visual image and a writing expression to be transferred to the 4’ x
8’ wooden panels. Collectively,
the panels will create a 1,920-foot long mural portraying the
participating students’ concerns, thoughts, and visions for a clean,
healthy and more productive community. |
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Upon
completion, all of the mural panels will be installed along the perimeter
of the chain link fenced MDI site. The
fencing around the site will accommodate at least 240 panels, totaling
1,920 feet. Until the
completion of and during the extensive cleanup of the site, which is
projected to begin the fall of 2003 through 2004, these panels will
serve as visual barriers to the site.
The panels will also function to deter children from the area from
climbing the chain link fence with surrounds the 36-acre contamination
site.
Once
all of the panels have been installed the community and city at-large will
be invited to join the students, their families and area residents in the dedication
of the Project GROW. The
dedication will involve an exhibition of the students’ designs,
writings, archival information about the MDI site, photo-documentation of
the students at work and most importantly the murals themselves.
The
community partners and stakeholders committed to participate in
this project include the Museum Of Cultural Arts Houston, Mothers
for Clean Air, Environmental Institute of Houston, Mayor’s Anti-Gang
Task Force, 5th Ward Weed & Seed Program, Phogg
Foundation, Intrust USA Ltd, Monarch Paint Co. and the Cultural
Arts Council of Houston/Harris County.
These community stakeholders have provided financial and/or
in-kind support to Project GROW.
...
Within
these webpages you will see actual writings, drawings and paintings
produced by youth participants in the project.
> click
here for Press Release <
> click
here to watch Project Grow video clips <
more
soon...
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