Consejo de Artes y OJA se Unen por los Niños

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — La oficina de asuntos juveniles de Oklahoma (OJA) recibió una subvención del Consejo de Artes de Oklahoma para proporcionar a los niños a su cuidado una oportunidad práctica para aprender los fundamentos del arte de pintar a través del instructor de hip-hop basada en Oklahoma City, Ángel Little. Niños en Tecumseh y Manitou ya han participado y aprendido diversas técnicas para compartir ideas, expresar emociones y comunicar una visión a través del arte del graffiti.
"Es importante alentar a nuestros hijos a hacer cosas más grandes y mejores que nunca hemos imaginado," dijo Little. "Pero, ese aliento no solo viene en forma de palabras. Demostremos que verdaderamente nos importa cuando pasamos tiempo con ellos y le ofrecemos el beneficio de nuestras experiencias y co
nocimientos, para que ellos puedan construer el de ellos".
Si bien las herramientas han cambiado, el arte “graffiti” data de tiempos antiguos. La caída del arte del graffiti moderno se atribuye a la obra de un artista llamado " Cornbread" a finales de 1960 en Philadelphia. El uso de este medio de expresión y de identidad es una parte fundamental de la cultura hip-hop. OJA se complace en asociarse con el Consejo de artes y Little para hacer possible esta oportunidad educativa.
"Las Artes son únicas en su capacidad para atender muchas necesidades en nuestro estado", dijo Amber Sharples, director ejecutivo del Consejo de Artes de Oklahoma. "Ofreciendo apoyo a la oficina de Asuntos Juveniles de Oklahoma sobre la cultura del Graffiti, el Consejo de Artes de Oklahoma puede eficientemente amplificar la labor de dos agencias del estado para satisfacer esas necesidades. El proyecto se espera ejecutar hasta febrero

Arts Council and Juvenile Affairs Partner for Kids

Oklahoma City.- The Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) received a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council to provide kids in their care with a hands-on opportunity to learn the fundamentals of graffiti art from Oklahoma City-based hip-hop instructor, Angel Little. Already, kids in Tecumseh and Manitou have participated in class discussions and learned various techniques for sharing ideas, expressing emotions and communicating a vision through graffiti art.
Marqus Butler, OJA program manager, explained that the project “symbolizes OJA’s commitment to a Positive Youth Development (PYD) philosophy for young people in our care. For many young people, graffiti has been associated with negative community and individual experiences. The project demonstrates how something assumed to be negative can become a positive reflection of interest and skills.”
After participating in the classroom experience, the kids were given an opportunity to submit drawings and compete to assist Little in spray painting a mural at the OJA state office. Several students will be selected.
“It’s important to encourage our kids to do bigger and better things than we’ve ever imagined,” said Little. “But, that encouragement doesn’t just come in the form of words. We show that we care and are truly invested when we spend time with them and offer the benefit of our experiences and knowledge so they can build on that.”
While the tools have changed, graffiti art dates to ancient times. The dawn of modern graffiti art is often attributed to the work of an artist named “Cornbread” in the late 1960’s in Philadelphia. The use of this medium for expression and identity is a core part of hip-hop culture. OJA is excited to partner with the Arts Council and Little to make this educational opportunity available.
“The arts are unique in their ability to address many needs in our state,” stated Amber Sharples, executive director of the Oklahoma Arts Council. “Through offering support for the Office of Juvenile Affairs’ Graffiti Culture in Oklahoma program, the Oklahoma Arts Council can efficiently amplify the work of two state agencies in meeting those needs. We applaud the vision exemplified in this program, and we look forward to learning how young people are empowered and inspired through this experience.” The project is expected to run through February