The I AM-Mosaic project is experiential art, which shares the creative energy around the words “I AM.” When we know who we are, we will know how to connect with others, making our community a better place for all to shine!
I AM-MOSAIC Experience - HISTORY AND TIMELINE:
Check out the links of participants with their own amazing stories! 2010 - Guatamala City - 5 day Art Project Asociación de Superación Educativa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHR0nWsZX2c http://www.superacioneducativa.com
2010-Present - Girls In Action/Girls Taking Action – Minneapolis MN http://www.giaction.org Girls Taking Action™ is a weekly project for high school girls that extends throughout the school year and is integrated into the regular school day. The project is an innovative four–tiered, curriculum-based program that strives to decrease and prevent violence among urban high school girls. The project founded and directed by Dr. Verna Cornelia Price, is staffed with certified Girls Taking Action™ consultants. The weekly project covers 4 core curriculum components: Personal Power, Service Learning, Career Building, Leadership Development.
2013 - First Step Initiative – Congo DRC – is a Minnesota-based nonprofit operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They provide small grants to women’s cooperatives enabling them to start or expand their own small businesses and improve their lives and the lives of their families. Below is a quote by founder Chingwell Mutombuis “I had one of the most profound experiences working with the women in the Congo to create the pieces that represented their beauty.” Artwork was created to honor the women and as a fundraiser.
2013-2015 An amazing experience was the linking of Henry High School girls within Girls In Action with the tenants of the Thomas T. Feeney Manor memory care facility through the I AM-Mosaic experience. A part of Heritage Park Senior Center, for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia seemed unlikely participants, but the outcome was quite unexpected. They both loved the interaction, but we saw how visiting our senses brought back clarity in old memories and events. Here is a photo our I AM-Mosaic ambassadors for this project, as well as Public Art Exibits for our year end events.
2014 - Thuwal, Saudi Arabia - KAUST School King Abdullah University of Science and Technology We were fortunate enough to connect with the fourth grade class of the prestigious King Abdullah University of Science and Technology during their unit of study on expression titled “How We Express Ourselves”. Everything was communicated virtually via You-Tube and email. Here is a sampling of the artwork. (The You-Tube videos are available upon request.)
2016 - Indigenous Peoples Task Force – Acting Ensemble. Thank-you for sharing your passions and keep creating in your own unique ways!! “Here are examples ….“Teabag Treasure” I always make myself this special tea when I feel the need to write, the used tea bag symbolizes that feeling for me.” Poem- “I wish I could put you in my shoes, have you see what I see, that when I cry at night, it becomes hard to breathe, and although that feeling should be painful and scary, that is what I needed...”
2016-2017 - Washinton Tech School. Participants loved discovering their “inner artist” which will assist them in discovering their passions and new opportunities for future careers! The I AM-Mosaic project was celebrated by creating a candle from their unique “I AM-square” and welcoming new possibilities for 2017.
2017/2018 - Somali Community Group. We met with a group of Somali-American girls @ the Sumner Library for 6 weeks. We discovered a lot about creativity and the beauty of diversity, from our group experiences and from each other. Below is a youtube slideshow of some of the highlights: https://youtu.be/8_VUVGrnJwM - Later we met at Lincoln International School. It was a wonderful experience!
2017-2018 Asian Chapter - Girls in Action provides a mentoring and empowerment group for Asian girls grades 7-12. We met at the Minnesota Women’s Building (550 Rice Street, St. Paul, Minnesota) They chose to honor the Hmong Story Cloth artwork by creating Tshirts with their I AM-Mosaic squares. We had a wonderful time creating!
