Dec 15, 2009

First Night Children's Workshop

Art meets kids…they all meet the Bobcats and Crossroads and a generous community to produce something special for First Night and the First Ward community!

It began last week, the week of December 7, when children from First Ward Elementary and First Ward Place traveled through their neighborhood under the direction of artist Dustin Shores. By day, Dustin is a realtor with Savvy. He also teaches at the Art League in South End. Dustin wants to pursue his Masters Degree through Community Art at Winthrop. The kids took photos of their environment, capturing the experience of living Uptown and in the First Ward area, to produce art about themselves and their neighborhood.

On Monday, December 14, they will create banners and T-shirts. They will be part of First Night Charlotte as they wear their art in the People's Processional…then, the art they create will be a part of their lives again as it transforms into a mural at the First Ward Rec Center to tell the story of their daily lives and their neighborhood.

Join us for an example of art transforming the lives of kids. It’s all part of First Night Charlotte and Crossroads Charlotte.

Participants are: - Children from First Ward Place - Children from First Ward Elementary - First Ward Community Fund - Dustin Shores Photography - Charlotte Center City Partners - We have a fantastic knitter who is blind and is knitting 60 scarves for the children to wear in the People’s Processional – Orange and Blue for the Bobcats. - Charlotte Bobcats – donating T-shirts for the kids to decorate - A local silk screen company creating the banners for the kids to carry in the parade

First Ward Community Fund and CCCP are providing seed grants of $500 each. The artist is donating time – the grant covers supplies.

Timeline Week of December 7 Photography sessions with kids to capture images in First Ward for the mural (Light Rail, Arena, people, Park, their neighborhood)

December 31 First Night Charlotte – Kids participate in People’s Processional to march in the parade to carry and show their art

January Mural installation at First Ward Recreation Center

Crossroads Charlotte Crossroads Charlotte invites the community to imagine our tomorrow and act today by joining the parade in this year's People's Processional, a part of the First Night celebration in uptown Charlotte on New Year's Eve. Crossroads Charlotte is a lead sponsor for this parade, which will showcase the community's diversity and will traverse one of Charlotte's most famous crossroads, the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets. Foundation For The Carolinas is also a lead sponsor of this event.

Crossroads Charlotte is a major Center for Civic Leadership initiative that helps people and organizations imagine our tomorrow by exchanging ideas, experiences and actions that shape a positive future for everyone, and act today in small and large ways to build trust in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. For more information, visit www.crossroadscharlotte.org.

First Night Charlotte Begun in Boston in 1976, First Night is an alcohol-free community celebration of the New Year that is now celebrated in over 200 cities internationally. The celebration aims to advance the public’s appreciation of visual and performing arts through an innovative, diverse, and high-quality New Year’s Eve program that offers a shared cultural experience, accessible and affordable to all. First Night continues the ancient tradition of marking the passage of time but provides an alternative to the usual way present-day celebrants usher in the New Year (i.e., alcohol and adult-oriented venues). A program of Charlotte Center City Partners, and presented by WBTV and the Arts & Science Council, First Night Charlotte is created by and for the community.

Just like last year, the safe, affordable, family-friendly and entertaining option for New Year’s Eve will unquestionably be a family favorite. For more information, visit www.firstnightcharlotte.com.

The First Night Charlotte Committee is made possible due to the hard work of representatives from organizations throughout the community including Charlotte Center City Partners, The Arts & Science Council, Wray Ward, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Department, Wray-Ward, City of Charlotte Neighborhood Development, Hands on Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and Uptown Productions.

Categories: Arts & Entertainment, Community