ART BIKERS

Art Bikers join Youthnet Extravajam!

2011-09-02T16:31:00.002-03:00

On August 30th, the Art Bikers joined the fun at YouthNet Extravajam! end-of-summer celebration, offering an "award" making booth where anyone could create an award for someone else. A ceremonial podium with backdrop and artificial flowers set the stage for presentation photographs.

There was also a night time spectacle of the lanterns!

These were made in the North End Community Garden.

MAKING NOISE

2011-09-02T15:56:00.003-03:00

The Art Bikers joined YouthNet's Music week and spent an afternoon working with participants building instruments and being loud!

Martin + Jake

experimenting with intruments

The musical tree!

3D Film-making!

2011-07-28T23:46:00.002-03:00

On Wednesday July 27th we joined up with Youth Net during their Media Camp to do some filming in 3D as well as stop-film animation with the youngsters. We are just editing the footage now, but here is a sneak peek!

We'll put the video up as soon as we're done, check back soon!

Youth Project!

2011-07-28T21:12:00.000-03:00

The Art Bikers had such a fun time hanging out with the great people at Youth Project in preparation for the Pride Parade. Thanks for having us, and congrats for winning 'best community float' in the parade!

Annual Newcomers Welcome BBQ

2011-07-20T11:39:00.003-03:00

Saturday July 16th the Art Bikers brought their trailers of paint, fabric and other art making goodies to the Newcomer's Picnic held this year at the Commons. People created banners with their answers to the question "What feels like home?" Later we hung all the banners among a nice patch of trees by the picnic area creating a community-created installation that reflected many people's memories and aspirations regarding "home".

26 km Time Lapse

2011-07-07T16:15:00.001-03:00

Our 3 hour biking trip to Fisherman's cove compiled into 54 seconds. We recommend viewing in high quality.

Fisherman's Cove Advice exchange from Art Bikers on Vimeo.

Poster Making

2011-07-07T15:56:00.003-03:00

We recently worked with some youngsters through St. Geroge's YouthNet on poster making. The idea was for the kids to write a message to someone they knew in their community (such as a neighbour, their grandparents, a favourite teacher). We then went together and wheat-glued the posters to the wall of St. Patrick's-Alexandra, which is unfortunately being closed as a neighbourhood school. This was a way to say good bye to the school and hello to those who would pass by and read the messages.

We've got a jam packed next two months. Keep checking back for more fun stuff.

Fisherman's Cove July 1st Canada Day

2011-07-07T15:00:00.001-03:00

Visiting Fisherman's Cove in Eastern Passage is an annual community art day for the Art Bikers. This year we took the Advice Exchange to the community, for people of all ages to share advice with one another.

ARC:HIVE

2011-07-07T14:33:00.002-03:00

The weekend of June 25th and 26th, the Art Bikers brought their community art-making magic to the Point Pleasant Performance Series offered by Eyelevel Gallery. The only community arts activity at the event, people passing by or attending the performance series got involved with creating art and participated in ARC:HIVE- a gathering place of souvenirs, found photos, and maps collected and "manufactured" to inspire stories. We provided participants with hand-sewn notebooks to draw and write in, and once they had filled their notebooks, they could show and talk about their work to the video camera in 'The Brain' - a suspended sculptural "room" could be entered and that housed a video camera. We'll get that footage up soon!

'The Brain' a recording sculpture by Martin

Pile of notebooks made by Elizabeth, each one is different

Karen and Martin in the sunset.

Gettin' crafty.

Sharing stories

Tons of great stuff was made + shared that day. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

North End Communty Garden: Name The Garden

2011-07-07T12:31:00.003-03:00

On June 23rd the Art Bikers had the pleasure of joining members of the North End Community Garden for their opening BBQ. We were asked to help facilitate a "naming the garden" process. This was a great way for us to meet and build new relationships with the North End Walkers, kids involved with St. George's YouthNet and other members of this vibrant community. We hope to do creative art-making work with the North End Community Garden members and the Walkers this summer, so this was a great way to begin to build those connections!

The final five name suggestions were given to the Garden Trustees, who will make the final decision. We would like to say thanks for inviting us - we had a super fun time and made lots of new friends!

Using the Creative Arts in Community Training Intensive June 13 – 17, 2011

2011-06-15T09:13:00.000-03:00

This week we are at the "Using the Creative Arts in Community" training with Tessa Mendel. This training is offered by the 4Cs Foundation as a follow up to the Arts Engage! Symposium last year. We are learning together with six others from the Halifax community.

Areas will we be learning about include: design and facilitation of creative art programs; participatory experiences of different art forms (including theatre, dance, music and visual arts); approaches to personal and social transformation; using an anti-oppressive framework to work with issues of diversity, inclusivity and identity in different communities... and more. Whew! - sounds challenging and interesting. We'll let you know how it turns out.

Advice Exchange

2011-06-03T23:35:00.001-03:00

On Sunday, May 29th we held our first event of this summer. A big street party was being held to commemorate Bike Week in Halifax. We set up an Advice Exchange booth to have people share their thoughts with strangers (and friends). The idea is simple: write down a piece of advice to receive a piece of advice. We made sure to document the results before people took their advice cards home with them.
Check out the photos on Art Bikers flickr!

2011-06-03T23:21:00.001-03:00

somebody's eardrums, a photo by Artbikers on Flickr.

2011-06-03T23:17:00.001-03:00

instead of running, a photo by Artbikers on Flickr.

2011-06-03T23:16:00.001-03:00

inner clown, a photo by Artbikers on Flickr.

2011-06-03T23:15:00.001-03:00

IMG_4016, a photo by Artbikers on Flickr.

2011-06-03T23:13:00.001-03:00

some sound advice, a photo by Artbikers on Flickr.

2011-06-03T23:12:00.003-03:00

invest in others, a photo by Artbikers on Flickr.

2011-06-03T23:12:00.001-03:00

you don't need to see a shrink, a photo by Artbikers on Flickr.

2011-06-03T23:11:00.001-03:00

the yellow envelope, a photo by Artbikers on Flickr.

2011-06-03T23:10:00.003-03:00

make the inside like the outside, a photo by Artbikers on Flickr.

2011-06-03T23:10:00.001-03:00

people you don't know, a photo by Artbikers on Flickr.

New season, new team!

2011-06-03T22:26:00.003-03:00

The Art Bikers team for the summer of 2011 includes; Karen Hawes, Elizabeth Johnson, Jacob Sutton, Martin Tonner, and Jyelle Vogel; with Rodrigo Hernandez-Gomez as Coordinator. We are excited to be meeting and creating community art with all kinds of folks throughout HRM in the next few months!
Stay tuned to this blog for updates on what we are doing and where we are going.
Your friends,
the Art Bikers.

Welcome Rodrigo Hernandez-Gomez

2011-05-04T10:29:00.000-03:00

4Cs Foundation warmly welcomes Rodrigo Hernandez-Gomez as the new ART BIKERS Coordinator.

Rodrigo is a professional artist with expertise in public and community art. He is very interested in research oriented educational approaches, cultural theory, and the contemporary discourses on Arts Education. Rodrigo brings fifteen years of transformative community arts experience, as well as project planning, design and coordination skills to the program. He has worked with community participants in the Men’s’ Centre for Social Re-adaptation in Santa Martha, Acatitla, in Mexico city, with youth at Toronto’s Red Door Family Shelter, and with Canadian newcomers in both Toronto and Halifax, as well as in his own practise as an artist.

We are thrilled to have Rodrigo join us to inspire the Art Bikers team and the broader Halifax community this summer.

Welcome, Rodrigo!

Join us on Facebook: Art Bikers

Art Biker: Best Summer Job Opportunity

2011-03-17T20:02:00.000-03:00

Working as part of a team under the supervision of the Coordinator and under the direction of the 4Cs Foundation Executive Director, you will be traveling by bicycle pulling a trailer full of art making materials to various neighbourhoods throughout HRM over the summer months. You are responsible for engaging with the public of all ages to encourage and facilitate their participation in free arts-based activities to meet the three goals outlined above.

Please visit: http://www.4csfoundation.com/content/job-descriptions
for full requirements, job description and application details. Please include a cover letter outlining how your expereince and education meets the requirements of the job.

Deadline for applications is April 25, 2011 by 5 pm.
Interviews will take place in person during the week of May 9 to 14th.
Apply by email to info@4csfoundation.com

No phone calls, please.
We thank everyone for their interest, but only those being interviewed will be contacted.

ART BIKERS is a community arts outreach program of the 4Cs Foundation with three goals:

•To provide spontaneous, fun, engaging opportunities for the general public of all ages to engage with young artists in free, art making activities;

•To make art an event that happens at a street and community level;

•To stimulate interest and participation in community arts in Halifax Regional Municipality.

Art Biker Essentials (Must Have):

•Own hybrid or mountain bicycle in excellent working condition

•Physically fit - you will be pulling a trailer that weighs 50+kilos.

•Urban biking experience and high level of comfort biking in traffic

•Experience working or volunteering at a grass roots community level in diverse settings

•Arts and/or performance skills- such as visual arts, dance, theatre (Skills in more than one art discipline would be highly valued.)

•Able to demonstrate art skills and foster creativity, learning and participation in others.

•Work and communicate at all times in a manner that reflects the values of inclusion, diversity, and equality across ages, abilities, gender, incomes, culture and race.

•Excellent judgment.

Required Skills:

•Outgoing, extroverted- very comfortable taking the initiative to start conversations with people of all ages.

•Quick thinking and highly adaptable in unpredictable situations

•Work well as part of a team

•Dependable : No other commitments or expectations of taking time off

•Available to work a schedule that will include days, evenings and weekends

Assets:

•Community-based arts facilitation training or experience (Arts Engage Training Intensive or Creative Arts Facilitation for Transformational Learning, Jumblies Art4All Essentials, Community Arts Practise Certificate, York University, for example) or knowledge of Community development or Adult Education values and principles

•Experience working as part of a collaborative team

•Conflict resolution skills

•Bike repair and maintenance skills

•Experience with community gardens or urban farms

•Knowledge of Halifax communities

•A language in addition to English

Three references are required with your application. At least one of these must be able to speak directly to your experience working or volunteering in the community.

Art Bikers 2011 Jobs - Coordinator

2011-03-17T19:13:00.000-03:00

COORDINATOR, ART BIKERS Program

4Cs Foundation is seeking an exceptional individual to lead the 5th summer of our Art Bikers program in Halifax, NS. This opportunity is for someone who is passionate about using art as a tool for community development and is an experienced program coordinator. The position requires you to lead a team of young community artists in collaborating with the general public (primarily children/youth and their families) in arts-based activities to inspire and create community artworks. There is the possibility of a renewal of this position in 2012 and beyond, with potential on-going involvement with the 4Cs Foundation.

•You are passionate about working for change at a community level.

•You value collaborative art-making as a tool for bringing people together, to give voice, address issues, share stories and celebrate.

•You can foster creative expression in others by facilitating their learning and engagement.

•You have solid experience with program coordination and staff supervision.

•You are dependable, reliable, a strong communicator, and a respectful, inclusive leader.

Working closely with the 4Cs Executive Director initially, you will help to hire staff and plan the summer program while connecting with established community partners. You will become the key contact and have responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of the Art Bikers program working independently and reporting to the ED. Coordination duties include scheduling (and adjusting schedule for weather) program days, purchasing materials and supplies, ensuring trailers are equipped and organized, tracking and reporting worked hours, communicating with the general public and media, ensuring the safety of the team and participants following 4Cs policies, engaging community organizations, partners and members in activities, problem solving, maintaining an operational budget, updating the Art Bikers blog and other social media, evaluating staff, and writing a final report on the program.

Contract position starts May 2, 2011 and ends September 17, 2011 (earlier end date negotiable but not before September 3, 2011)

Salary: $18.00 to $22.00/hour depending on experience.

Flexibility of schedule and a commitment to be available for the entire length of the program is required. Art Bikers generally work 7 hours per day including evening and weekend hours, for a total of 35 hours per week. Some overtime may be required. Scheduling can be affected by weather and special requirements.

Required Experience and Knowledge

•Community-based arts facilitation training (Arts Engage Training Intensive or Creative Arts Facilitation for Transformational Learning, Jumblies Art4All Essentials, Community Arts Practice Certificate, York University, for example) and at least one year work experience/project coordination experience, preferably including supervision of staff.

• Minimum of three years employment in the non-profit sector with coordination responsibilities (including staff or volunteer supervision) and knowledge of community arts practice, community development, adult education principles.

•Arts and creative skills (any discipline such a visual arts, theatre, dance, etc.) preferably across disciplines.

•Ability to communicate these skills and foster creative participation and transfer knowledge to others in a respectful manner, guiding activities in an empowering way.

•Demonstrated experience working at a grass roots community level with diverse groups

•Work and communicate at all times in a manner that reflects the values of inclusion, diversity, and equality across ages, abilities, gender, incomes, culture and race.

•Excellent judgment

•Creative, innovative and positive thinking.

•Strong communication skills - verbal and written

•Must be physically fit

•Experience working with children and youth

Additional Skills:

•Workshop facilitation or adult education facilitation skills

•Ability to engage total strangers

•Conflict resolution skills, anti-oppression framework

•Highly adaptable in unpredictable situations

Assets:

•Own a hybrid or mountain bicycle in excellent working condition

•Urban biking experience and high level of comfort biking in traffic

•Experience with community gardens

•Language in additional to English

•Social media experience (blogging, Facebook)

•Payroll experience

•Own vehicle

Deadline for applications is Friday April 8th, 5 pm. Submit to info@4csfoundation.com

Please include a cover letter outlining how your expereince and education meets the criteria of the job.

Three references are required with your letter of application. Two of these must be able to speak directly to your experience working in the community and with program coordination.

No phone calls please. We appreciate your interest in applying, however only those to be interviewed will be contacted.

ART BIKERS is a community arts outreach program of the 4Cs Foundation with three goals:

•To provide spontaneous, fun, engaging opportunities for the general public of all ages to engage with young artists in free, art making activities;

•To make art an event that happens at a street and community level;

•To stimulate interest and participation in community arts in Halifax Regional Municipality.

Art Bikers Video

2011-02-23T10:55:00.002-04:00

You can watch an Art Bikers video from the summer of 2009 here: Art Bikers 2009

2010-09-09T18:48:00.004-03:00

Please visit the 4Cs Foundation website for Art Bikers news during the fall, winter and spring. See you next summer! http://www.4csfoundation.com/

Look for the Art Bikers in Bayers Westwood this week!

2010-08-18T03:04:00.006-03:00

Keep your eyes peeled for the Art Bikers around Bayers Westwood. We'll be somewhere between the field, the Family Resource Centre and Westwood Park (Barn's Hill).

Bayers Westwood Block Party this Saturday too!

Second Week in August!

2010-08-10T09:49:00.002-03:00

August is cruising by... it's time to really focus on making the most of the rest of the summer. This week, the Art Bikers will be between Bayers Westwood (working on a mega huge painting for the Food Bank) and Greystone where we'll be working on our faces project and hanging out with members of the Urban Farm through the Greystone Garden Sprouts Program and with our friends from Healthy Kidz.

Look for us in either location if you want to get involved!

Tuesday - Bayers Westwood and Greystone
Wednesday - Greystone
Thursday - Greystone
Friday - TBD
Saturday - Return Your Paper Day in Bayers Westwoood

Bayers Westwood Family Resource BBQ Today!

2010-08-05T10:43:00.002-03:00

The Art Bikers will be in Bayers Westwood this afternoon for the Annual Family Resource Centre Barbecue. We have a few great activities and there will be a lot of other great things going on too!

This event is rain or shine.

Art Bikers, it's August!

2010-08-03T10:47:00.004-03:00

We're in the first week of August which means that there are only a few weeks left in the Art Bikers' summer. It's been a great one so far and, considering we'll be going to the places below, it's going to get even better!

Eastern Passage (August 3, 5-7)
Lower Sackville (August 17 - 20)
Spryfield (August 10 - 14)
Bayers Westwood (Throughout August)

Each location will be confirmed at the beginning of the week and relies on good weather on a day-to-day basis.

Canada Day @ Fisherman's Cove

2010-07-01T17:28:00.003-03:00

The weather was really on our side today! The sun was out the whole time we were hanging out at the Fisherman's Cove Canada Day festivities in Eastern Passage. We had two activities in mind when we got there, and each of them really developed into some great interactions: the octopus and the new Canadian flag.

Using a lot of similar techniques and approaches as our previous 'faces' project, we used paints and pastels to cover every piece of scrap wood that we brought. Once everything dried, we put everything together onto some long strips of wood that we used to shape the legs. The legs were attached to the octopus' head.

The sheet we had prepared for the sheet started out looking something like this (you can see just a few marks so far):

We used masking tape to make the outlines of the current Canadian flag. Once the tape was on the sheet, all we need to do was cover it with colours!

This was a great project to run alongside the octopus activity. If someone wanted to participate for a short while, they could use pastels to make a few marks in a few minutes and then continue on to other activities and attractions. Because the flag was a collaborative activity, no matter how much or how little someone contributed, the flag was better for it. A few people would come back again and again over the course of the day and they always commented on the great progress of the flag. The final reveal was documented in this video:

[sorry- we're having some technical difficulties with the video]

It's such a great sight to see the masked lines pop out of all the colours.

All of that sun also made for some great photos. Check it out!

Events This Week

2010-06-28T09:46:00.000-03:00

Tuesday - Ice Cream Social with the Bayers Westwood Family Resource Centre

Wednesday June 30th - Sackville Library Summer Launch

Thursday July 1st - Canada Day Celebrations in Fisherman's Cove

Watch for follow-up posts for each event... photos, feedback and more!

THE LAUNCH IS TODAY!!!

2010-06-26T08:32:00.003-03:00

The Art Bikers Parade is on June 26th, 2010. Join the Art Bikers at any point along their route:

Victoria Park (approximately 11am),
Spring Garden Road Library (11:30am approximately),
the Grand Parade (1:30 approximately),
and the South Common (2:00pm).

Helmets and safe riding required!

Art Bikers LAUNCH! Saturday

2010-06-23T10:48:00.006-03:00

On June 26th (weather permitting) the 4Cs ART BIKERS will be joined by friends for a bike parade through the downtown core and surrounding neighbourhoods launching the 4th year of the Hali-famous “taking art to the streets” summer program. Stopping along the way, the Art Bikers open up their trailers full of art making supplies offering fun, free art activities to everyone who wants to join in!

After three years of outrageous success and growth (over 3000+ children and community members making art together) Art Bikers return with their magnetic enthusiasm to spend loads of time in the community bringing children and their communities together to explore creativity and art-making at a neighbourhood level.

The Art Bikers Parade is on June 26th, 2010. Join the Art Bikers at any point along their route:

Victoria Park (approximately 11am),
Spring Garden Road Library (11:30am approximately),
the Grand Parade (1:30 approximately),
and the South Common (2:00pm).

Helmets and safe riding required!

Arts Engage! Training Intensive and Symposium 2010

2010-06-14T01:23:00.012-03:00

The Art Bikers will be taking part in Arts Engage this week. The training intensive begins bright and early Monday morning and runs all week. The Symposium begins Saturday.
For more information, check out: http://www.artsengage.com/
info@artsengage.com

The Gottingen Street Storefront: COMPLETED!

2010-06-11T19:23:00.005-03:00

We don't sell anything out out this space - it's just our workshop. But I can't think of what to call it, if not a storefront. No matter what it's called, it's finished. Shiny and new:

Alison shot this video from across the street after we installed the new Art Bikers sign on Tuesday afternoon.

More Information About the Art Bikers

2010-06-11T19:18:00.004-03:00

http://www.4csfoundation.com/content/4cs-art-bikers-program

For more information about the 4Cs Art Bikers program, contact:

Terri Whetstone, Executive Director
4Cs Foundation
www.4csfoundation.com
Suite 204, 5663 Cornwallis Street
Halifax, NS B3K 1B6
(902) 422-4805

Fresh Paint!

2010-06-08T10:04:00.001-03:00

We're back! And we are putting a fresh coat of paint on the door to our Gottingen Street workshop. The trees are gone - replaced with "Dazzle Camo."

It won't be long before the new sign is installed too!

Art Bikers 2010

2010-06-07T09:54:00.000-03:00

We have created a blog!