ArtSeed
ArtSeed engages youth and families across 18 of Chicago’s playlots across the North, West, and South sides of the city through storytelling, music, movement, and nature play rooted in neighborhood stories. Children explore the histories and legacies of Chicago’s community-based artists to learn models of resilience and imagination. ArtSeed has three cargo vans with teams of teaching artists traveling to playlots to bring programming that celebrates Chicago artists who are engaging in critical issues in their city rooted in climate justice and community healing. Teaching artists scaffold this learning through play, artmaking, social-emotional learning, and radical imagination. ArtSeed operates as space for an accessible and nurturing entry-point for civically engaged dialogue for children and families.
Curriculum was built around the works and lives of Chicago artists reaching across Chicago’s 77 different neighborhoods. By engaging in neighborhood stories and art, ArtSeed asked young people to identify their own capacity as artists and change-makers to reframe parks as sites for growing positive self-identity, community, and solidarity.
ArtSeed is a program that was re-envisioned through the direction of Mallory Craig and Irina Zadov from its previous life as KidsMobile, a program stewardedthrough the creative efforts of Mallory Craig and Leah Woldman. Through 2015 – 2018 ArtSeed programming was made possible by the creative and dedicated work of: Maria Ambriz, Adam Bailey, Tariq Weaver, Tesh Silver, Rory Guerrera, Asuesena Martinez, Mallory Cheng.
ArtSeed continues! For more information about where ArtSeed is now visit the Chicago Park District.
Concerns for Care at Jane Adams Hull House with the CareMobile and Open Engagement
During a day of dance and protest, ArtSeed partnered with Open Engagement and Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, who offered Spanish and English language tours focused on worker rights issues important to Hull-House reformers and their immigrant neighbors. The tours culminated with a participatory ‘CareForce Disco’ workshop facilitated by artist Marisa Morán Jahn that narrated the growing movement for affordable care, domestic workers’ rights, and immigration. Marisa choreographed a march and dance that honored and included the leadership of the Illinois Domestic Worker Coalition who passed the state’s first bill to protect nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers. ArtSeed was present to encourage young people accompanying their caregivers to define what care meant for them, and to dream up together how to be in reciprocity to the labor and love that goes into care.