After four full days of hard work, Head in the Clouds, the transformed stairwell at the Hialeah campus of Miami Dade College is completed!
I'd like to congratulate everyone who held a paintbrush, drew their cloud and contributed their opinion when we had something important to decide.
We could not have done it without Professor Jose Donis' incredible organization, moral support - and pizza! Yesenia Martinez brought us all the raw materials to make it happen. A big thank you to the custodial and security staff for their assistance - and their flexibility and patience.
As your artist-in-residence, I'd like to say it was a great pleasure to work and chat with you all. I'm really pleased with the result, and I hope our work makes a difference in the experience of moving around the building.
Please add your comments to the blog - and keep in touch!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
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Hello all,
ReplyDeleteWell all I can say was that this was definitely a great project. I was happy to be allowed a part of an art piece with a renown artist. From the pics seen here, I had a hand on the cloud that says "Inspire" on it as well as a hand on the clouds on the first floor near the exit door (facing the outside) and the wall going up to the second floor with the "cloudy arrow". LOL
I would like to thank Michelle for letting me be a part of this, and for Professor Donis for allowing me to partake in this event. I can honestly say that my two shifts were pure enjoyment, and that this was probably one of the few assignments for a grade where I pulled a double shift, because I was enjoying it so much. Not since my early high school days, (when I used to draw), did I enjoy working on a piece of art so much.
I definitely recommend the next class to work on the other stairwell.
I have walked up and down the stairs this week and have noticed alot of good responses from the students who are looking around the stairwell as they switch classes.
All I can say is definite Kudos for Michelle.
The pictures were great, but seeing the stairwell as a whole has, to me, a bigger impact. I believe that the pictures represent the imagery perfectly, but the emotion is different than when you are actually going up and down the stairs. If anyone reading this has not checked out the stairwell, I recommend you give it a glance.
Excellent job guys!!!!!
Jose D. Marin
Whew! Painting the stairwell is hard work. With the buildings corners and tight spaces, at times it was difficult to paint the wall but we managed. I am glad that I was able to take part in the Stairwell Art Project. I am kind of sad that it’s all over but everything good must one day come to an end but the wonderful memories will always live on. Working on this project was a new experience for me. I never really thought that I would ever be painting a stairwell, maybe a canvas but not a stairwell. I think that is what made this project more interesting, unique and original. It takes something unremarkable, boring, and plain and molds it into something beautiful, full of life and aesthetically pleasing.
ReplyDeleteI once asked myself what is the purpose of this project; and then as I sat in a very plush beanbag chair, I reached two conclusions. First, by making the stairwell a more inviting place, it encourages the student to take the stairs rather than taking the elevator which in turn, would create a more eco friendly environment. By taking, the stairs, we would reduce the Miami Dade College electricity bill and the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Second, by placing inspirational quotes inside the artwork which resides in the stairwell; when a student walks up or down the stairs he or she can read some words of wisdom and encouragement. The words read can turn a frown upside down, create a smile and persuade a more positive cheerful outlook on life.
I have really enjoyed working on this project. I have met new people which have taught me new things and have discovered a hidden talent. Who knew that I had a steady hand to create three dimensional letters? This project has been inspiration to create more works of art in places where we forget the importance of there existence. For example, I would love to decorate the inside and outside of tunnels, sidewalks, bridges, and maybe even the payment if it is possible. I would like to congratulate Michelle Weinberg for allowing me to be part of this great masterpiece that we have created. Last but not least, I would like to thank Professor Donis for letting us choose the option of doing an out of class assignment or participating in the Stairwell Art Project.
Hard work pays off. The pictures look great. I would of never thought clouds could become a masterpiece. I would like to thank Michelle for her hard work, time and dedication in inspiring me with this project. My cloud is in one of the pictures it read:"LOST?" Time...
ReplyDeleteREFLECTION PAPER:
Michelle Weinberg, is an artist that works in Miami. She was invited to participate in a project to better the Hialeah Campuses environment. Her ideas had to communicate with making Hialeah Green. Her proposal included written concepts about clouds being the mountains of Miami; wanting to inject some air and light into the stairwell, and her desire to set up a game-like project with many participants all contributing. But more importantly, images of the project had to be presented, so that anyone could envision the final result.
I believe the problem with Hialeah is the possible over population. We have lots of residents that don't take pride in the city and it looks bad. Also I believe lack of community involvement to help each other out to progress the city. As mention a few months ago Hialeah is known as the most boring city in the United States and that’s sad. We need to make a better reputation for the city we live in. We need to get along as well.
Many people use the stairs as a source of exercise for the day or in terms of more accessible. The sustainability of the stairwell embeds many ideas to help in the environment. Many people believe more in things when they are visible it grasps their attention. I haven't physically visited the stair well yet but I think it will give the school a face lift. Hopefully it will change many peoples mind about the environment.
Throughout this project I learned many things. One thing was inspiration. I was inspired after I understood the meaning of the assignment and the amount of people that see this stairwell day in and day out. It may reflect on many people maybe even play a part in there everyday life. These stairwell can easily sent the mood for a person and give them a positive beginning to their day.
Throughout working on this project I was able to let go of the artist and some what perfectionist some how in me. I took pride in my work and made a a priority to make it look good with the hope of inspiring others. I felt as it was a great out of class project experience and I would love to have the opportunity to help out in any other project to reflect positive outcome of my school. It not only inspired me but it made me feel as if I did a good deed as well.
Finally, I believe art is something that can be use as a universal source of communication. I enjoyed participating in this project and learned from it along the way. I never knew that something so simple can turn into a masterpiece. Simple ideas became a big picture and all fell into perspective. I am glad I had this opportunity and hope to be able to walk in these stairwells a couple years down the road and be able to share my experiences with future students of this campus.
On April 6, 2009 the stairwell project for the Hialeah campus stairs was completed. The purpose of this project was to inhance the improvement and to better the usage of walking up and down the stair to the students’ desired location. This was planned to be done by students drawing inspirational clouds caressing every side of the walls along the staircase. Different clouds and words coming together to make these once plain an egg shell white wall look more interesting and also fun! It would improve stair usage instead of the costly and expensive elevators of the campus.
ReplyDeleteMy contribution toward this project was done by helping out in the painting process which is what took the most time to complete. Three days of straight and complete painting, various student artistic styles were added on and even one of a professional painter as well, gallons of paint and sweat. She was very patient and determined to complete this illusion of a much more improved stairwell. I was unable to see the completion and final look of the stairwell but I sure will go up on them the next time I visit the campus.
The idea of nature and common, yet simple beauty of the clouds on the gradual blue darkening color of the walls were something to look and enjoy while doing so. Images of clouds with unique shapes and even some common day shapes were drawn. A car, a mushroom, and even clods with lightning bolts on them. They all had some sort of amusement to them. Obviously it was nothing professional nor near perfect but with the variety of students’ artistic styles and even difficulty of drawing to some; seemed to be of no problem. It was all a great collaboration of hard work, sweat and will to complete the beauty of a once illusion made into reality.
After all the hard work, I’m extremely glad to say that I am an official artist. Well obviously with lots of help still needed but doing this project made me realize I don’t paint as bad as I thought I did. Its not rocket science either but patience and lots of concentration is needed. I’m glad to say I helped out in the accomplishment of this first time service to others project and thank all of those for there help. See you next time hopefully.
=]
On April 3, 2009, just when I started packing to leave to the Dominican Republic for my spring break, I decided to check my emails. I got the big notice that the stairwell project was going to be carried out while I was away! I panicked because that was not only my grade down the drain, but also a wonderful opportunity lost. All the emails said that the Saturday shifts were full and I was leaving Sunday so that the ONLY day I was available. I emailed Professor Donis and he understood so I went to the Saturday shift. Now even more… I was the only high school student there because the other Humanities students were in college, all of my people were to attend that Monday. When I got there I noticed Michelle was very welcoming and excited so that pumped me up. We got to work right away, sorting paints, looking for brushes, receiving instructions, and so forth. What I got to do was basically paint the different shades of blue but never really did my cloud. However I’m honored to know I was part of this project. I look forward to passing by the stairwell and admiring it. When painting, I accidentally painted a different color in a corner because the shades got mixed up, Michelle was very understanding and didn’t even stress it she said it would dry and everything was going to be ok!! Wheeew I thought I was going to get screamed at >.< Just that action showed me the whole beauty in this project. She wasn’t looking for anything to be perfect, in fact we skipped a color and then things still came out wonderful. At least we were making the stairwell better than it was. The white filthy walls made me sad and neutral like there was nothing else behind it, now the colors and inspiration lift my spirits up!! Just like the Doctrine of Ethos in which people would listen to certain types of music to alter their moods, this stairwell did the same for me, we turned it into something everyone can enjoy, something made by us, the students and not something too fancy or even too expensive with all the education budget cuts. This is all creates sustainability because we got off our butts to do something and not just ask for things. Everyone worked really hard and I’m very please with the outcome of it. I just hope all the other students appreciate it as much as we do, even if they didn’t put hard work into it, I’m sure they can relate to some of the quotes and they must enjoy at least one cloud because there are many many to choose from. If we were able to do this, all on our own, it sets an example on other students to be involved, either way, they do spend a great amount of time at the campus.
ReplyDeleteOsvaldo Garcia
ReplyDeleteStairwell Art Project
It was a very hot morning in Hialeah on Tuesday April 7. It was eleven in the morning and my soon to be long day was just beginning. I met up with Professor Donis and Michelle Weinberg and got to painting. When I started, most of the background was done and so were many clouds and lettering. I mainly did painting on the borders.
I touched up the borders of those who cannot paint. Also, I did some letters and filled in some clouds. I felt good because I had done something for my school. Not only did I paint but I think of it as I helped inspire people that walk those stairs every day. I am one of those people myself.
The stairs are no longer dull and boring. They can provide that extra motivation to get you through your day. They help take your mind off that horrible math class that you are about t go to and they give you the strength to do what you have to in order to reach your goal. The whole concept of the stairs is the sky. The stairs are very light at the bottom and the colors darken as you ascend like the sky.
There are also many motivational words and phrases that make you want to proceed and accomplish something. This is so much better than a regular cement wall with a flat ugly color. The stairs don’t feel like a jail cell anymore. The light colors and clouds make it seem brighter and happier. You never know, this project can maybe make somebody laugh.
As I walk to class by these stairs, I notice my work and I feel a bit accomplished because I took part in this. I hear comments about the finished product from other students and faculty and they make me glad that I chose this as my service learning project.
The Stairwell Project at Miami Dace College Hialeah Campus has been one of the projects I have been more proud of to participate in. I really think this is one the best ideas that I have seen a school create. Painting the stairwells and bringing new life into the college was a magnificent plan.
ReplyDeleteThe Stairwell Project consisted of painting the stairs into a theme. The theme that was chosen was the “Head in the Clouds” which was to represent the sky in the stair walls. We painted the backgrounds and the various shapes and designs of clouds amongst other things.
This helped me appreciate art more because I was able to create it and the reasoning behind the paintings. I also really liked how by this change of stairs it is possible to change some things. More people will take the stairs because it is different resulting in healthier and less stressed people. I think it will also motivate people to be more creative in their lives. Overall, I thought it was a great experience and I can’t wait until I see what will be done to the last stairwell.