Seen + Heard

Welcome to “Seen + Heard,” ART 180's blog to bring together the ideas and perspectives of our community -- people who believe in the potential of art to connect and communicate, and in providing opportunities for self-expression to young people who rarely receive them. “Seen + Heard” is a place where we can continue the conversation around the importance of creative development in youth and celebrate their artwork, inspirations, and stories.

For 20 years, we've worked to build a community of young people, artists, parents, volunteers, and supporters who believe in art's ability to transform lives and communities. This blog is another way we can share these voices and ensure that they are heard.

The Road to the Really Big Show

For 13 weeks, over 150 young people in ART 180 programs have been working to create art that many of them get to present at The Really Big Show on Friday, June 7 (4-9 p.m.).

In front of a crowd of hundreds, on a 20ft stage in the middle of the streets of Jackson Ward, our young people will let their creativity SOAR as they share with the entire Richmond community what their art means to them.

A Month Filled With Goodness

We have all the feels thinking back on all of the memorable moments our young people experienced last month. So we had to show ya! Take a look at some of the cool projects our young artists accomplished last month.

Restoring Local Treasures
All together is better. Our teen leaders joined forces to help one of our teens Natalia Mangaroo, 18, with her high school senior project. They gave Paradise Park, a beloved Richmond treasure hidden in the heart of the Fan, a fresh coat of paint!

Massive Resilience

Take a look behind the scenes at our Teen Leader's Massive Resilience project, a six-month long program developed by Dr. Ram Bhagat to interrogate racism and oppression through a trauma sensitive arts integration project.

Let the Sunshine Come Through

By Denise Tyler, 14

Last fall, teens in our Dreams Sculptures program at Atlas used found and recycled objects to craft mixed media sculptures reflecting who they are. Denise channeled her past experiences with depression into her art, then shared that process below.

Things I've Carried Along the Way

By Taekia Glass, ART 180 program director

As I was preparing to write this, in honor of my fourth year being on staff at ART 180(!), I revisited emails from my earlier time as a program leader and as a mentor. (Yes, I have emails from 7+ years ago. I am long overdue for a purge, but these are emails that connect back to memories that sometimes get lost.) I sorted through a few pictures and rummaged through things around my house that remind me of the years my family and I have been a part of it.

Sunlight Session

A candid conversation about the school-to-prison pipeline.

ART 180, or The Confessions of a Former Karmatini Lounge Host

by Iris E. Holliday

Planting a Seed

By Austin “AUZ” Miles, ART 180 program leader

ART 180 asked 20 past and present program leaders to showcase their work on all 160 GRTC buses, and I was one of the chosen ones. So many people ride GRTC every day. So many eyes will be taking in these pieces of art, learning about the artists who created them; and I am one of them. Being new to the ART 180 family, I was a program leader during the spring and summer of this year with Atlas. I feel so honored to be selected to represent ART 180, celebrating their 20 years of excellence.

Our First Project

By Charlie Connell (pictured: right), ART 180 Board President

Twenty years ago, on a warm July morning, I was roughing in a concept for a mural on a large interior wall of the Salvation Army Boy’s and Girl’s Club in Church Hill. This was only the second mural I had ever worked on and this one was going to be a very different -- the children from the neighborhood were going to help.

Fearless

By Kathleen Lane, Co-founder of ART 180

Easy as it would be to turn this post into a tribute, I have been given strict orders not to go there. I believe the exact words were: Don’t you dare. I will only say, Marlene, that I am so grateful to you, and to all who have supported you in keeping the vision alive—so alive—all these many years. ART 180 has become so much more than I ever imagined it could be.

Year One

By Marlene Paul, co-founder and executive director

Since ART 180 is celebrating our 20th anniversary this year (heck yeah, all year!), our communications manager Sydni asked me to write a blog post about our history and growth. It’s still funny to me that we even have a communications manager, since that used to be my job. Everything used to be my job.

Twenty Years of Encouraging Creativity to Soar

Over 20 years, ART 180 has worked with thousands of young people, inspiring change in their lives, providing them with a platform to express themselves and expand upon their creativity, and celebrating their creative development through various forms of public art that brighten communities across Richmond.

That's right we said it -- 20!