ArtLab Summer Intensive Session 2011

Learning Lab with Creative Resident Kevin CurryWho: PlatteForum Creative Resident Kevin Curry + ArtLabWhat: Sculptural and conceptual workshopsWhen: Workshops begin June 15 - August 9, 2011From adolescence our psychological development is intimately tied to the concept of home, yet why is it that so many of us struggle to define it? Rather than shy away from such rigorous analysis the ArtLab interns have once again turned to the creative process in order to make sense of the infinite complexities that make up such a personal space. Beginning with the most fundamental senses—sight, smell, and touch—they will ultimately come together to create a dynamic installation that compliments the work of  Creative Resident Kevin Curry. Students will explore the sculptural process and begin to visualize their definitions through symbols, creatures or imaginary images.  Underlying his work is the belief that out of the once disposed you can re-create the original object itself in a whole new light and add unique value.Create! Don't Hate. Who: Metropolitan State College of Denver: Communication Design Department + ArtLabWhat:Create! Don’t Hate. A design initiative pairing youth with college mentorsWhen: Workshops begin June 21 - August 9, 2011The 2011 Create! Don't Hate (A national initiative through Design Ignites Change) project is lead by Lisa Abendroth, Professor and Communication Design Coordinator with the support of Peter Bergman, Assistant Professor and Kelly Monaco, Assistant Professor.  This summer’s program will revolve around the theme of HOME. Specifically, we will be exploring what the sensory experience of HOME means to each of the students. Through the framework of design students will create responses to the theme through sound, smell and touch. Each one of these responses will be conducted as experiments where all the work is an in-progress exploration of this most familiar of personal spaces. Our goal this summer will be to create responses through each sense that are then located in the public space of Denver. This work will be documented over the course of the summer and will be included in a published journal which each participant will have as a take-away from the experience.  To see past Create Don't Hate Projects please look in archived ArtLab sites.

Words that Stick.Who: ArtLab!What: Student directed project with the goal of giving students a voice in their communityWhen: Workshops begin June 21 - August 9, 2011In a time where cynical indifference and conformity seem to describe our time, the ArtLab youth are once again turning to the creative process for political empowerment. Working alongside the Alfredo Reyes, PlatteForum’s Denver Foundation Intern, who’s duty is to expand their thought process within the framework of the liberal arts, they are exploring the concepts of self-determination and self-identification, while in the process expanding their definition of what constitutes the political. In time, they will take to the street and inspire others to so the same by way of sticker art and spontaneous physical expression.

The project itself is entirely driven and organized by the students themselves with minimal direction from the staff. Individually they were given the opportunity to develop their own political narrative, but collectively they must come together to design a unifying template and strategically implement an effective method of delivery to the public. In the process they will have developed essential “real-world” skills ranging from writing project proposals to budget management.