Well-Wishes for Taliq!

By now, most of us have seen the news or heard about the young man in Killeen Texas, Taliq Davis, who is fighting a courageous battle against an aggressive brain tumor. Taliq's mom, Tanisha Davis requested for people to send him birthday cards for his 10th birthday to lift his spirits during this difficult time. A group of very conscious students created cards and well-wishes to send his way and joined with people around the world to share love and light.

One of the core principles of Urbanartzlive is that children are naturally creative, and love to respond to other children in need. Sharing art with others is a way to give of ourselves that doesn't carry a high price tag, just a caring heart!

We continue to send Taliq and his mom the best. If you would like to send a card to Taliq, you may do so at this address:

Taliq Davis

c/o Tanisha Davis

5106 Donegal Bay Ct.

Killeen TX 76549

This is also a great Service Learning project!

Wish List!

Everyone has a wish list! This group of 6th graders had a special assignment: To make a wish with these elements: A cartoon/animated/anime/ or video game character, a color, and a location (city or country) They had fun with this:

I Wish . . .

I wish I was a princess, in New England, wearing a frilly pink dress, chatting with Queen

I wish the Simpsons would turn green and move to Paris, Texas.

I wish that the Blue Man Group was in New York being blue like the sky and black like the night.

I wish the Purple Pekka was in New York City.

I wish Stewie Griffin was my neighbor and wore a pink dress.

I wish Stewie in Family Guy was in NY so I could meet him. I also wish that Stewie’s clothes and overalls were zebra color. Zebra color meaning black and white stripes.

I wish that I was a blue Smurfette and all the other Smurfs would chase after me in Paris.

I wish that I would see Santa Claus on red Christmas Eve in New York.

I wish that the pilgrims would come on Black Friday and celebrate all around New York City.

I wish that I was Superman, flying in my red cape from Staten Island to Brooklyn, so I wouldn’t be late for school.

I wish that in China, people will sell authentic pink Hello Kitty products.

I wish that for my birthday present I will get white Hello Kitties from America.

I wish that on Christmas Eve, every little girl in America will get a pink Hello Kitty stuffed animal.

I wish I was blue and yellow with Minnie Mouse while swimming in the Dead Sea.

I wish I was Spongebob in a yellow suit in Las Vegas.

I wish I was Kirito holding Asuna’s hand while watching the bright blue sky in London.

I wish I as in the land of anime watching the blue sky in Paris with Natsu.

I wish I was Black Wing Armor Master in a rainbow place, also known as New York.

I wish I could make a black burrito out of Kirito while eating a Dorito in the city of Mexico.

I wish that I could go to San Francisco with Minnie Mouse, and ride on an orange cable car.

I wish that I could go to Starling City and meet the Arrow on a green roof top.

I wish that I was Alice in Wonderland riding a rainbow unicorn with a minion and the Mad Hatter.

I wish I was Goldilocks in Russia eating golden porridge.

I wish the sky was always blue and that Garfield cat and I could have a week with no Mondays in Santa Fe.

I wish that I could meet Percy Jackson in China. I would want to ride in a blue car with him and have fun.

I wish that I was yellow and blue eating lunch with Mickey Mouse in France.

I wish I could travel to England with Misaki in a purple helicopter.

I wish I had a blue cap with a picture of Big Nate on it, and if I did, I would be living in Paris.

I wish that Mary Poppins would come from North Carolina and let me ride on her gold and black umbrella.

I wish that Peppa Pig would come from London and let me ride her flying car.

Love...Think Again!

If you think that a 6th grader can't tell you anything about love, think again! This is a group project by 6 young ladies who loved to talk. They told me what they wanted to say, and I wrote it on paper. The students decided where each line belonged...I was only the scribe.

Love is a gift

and what you do with it can be your own personal curse.

True love is the key to your heart

and your heart unlocks your life.

Love is valuable

it cannot be bought with cash

but with faith.

Love is strong if you have a big heart

Some love can be fake and also ugly

Looks are not always the way you find love.

Love can complete life

Let love come to you

because if you go chasing it

it may never be yours.

And...Even More Words..

   Kids have a lot to say...if we listen. I was working with a group of students who didn't like to write a lot (except for a couple of them) but they had lots to say about everything. I decided to let them tell me what they wanted to say, and I wrote it on paper. They were the authors, and I became the scribe. This is one of their group projects:

    It reads:

Everybody has problems that upset them in many ways.

Sometimes problems make you feel lonely

and seeing angry faces make you feel unhappy.

Abandoning negative things can make a better future

And a happy ever after.

Finally, proudly sticking up for what you believe in

can change someone’s life.

(6th Grade Students - NYC)

Anti-Bullying Artwork!

Every writing workshop begins with a five minute free-writing exercise in which students may write about any topic that they feel strongly about. When they choose a writing project in later weeks, students may either select a new topic, or continue working on one of their free-write drafts. This is an anti-bullying poster started by one 6th Grade student who was very reluctant to participate at the beginning, but he found something to say in his own way that was very detailed and profound:

Poetry and Spoken Word!

     This slideshow is from a Poetry and Spoken Word project I facilitated with Middle School students in at a NYC Public School. A very dedicated group of students bravely put their thoughts and feelings on paper, and shared them with a large audience. Several students also displayed artwork that accompanied the theme of "I Am"...If you don't have a "I Am" statement for the world, the world will tell you who "You Are". The group shot is edited for student privacy.

                                   

Stay Healthy, Be Healthy! Promoting Healthy Lifestyles Through Science and Art

     This 8-Week workshop offers participants fun opportunities to learn age-appropriate health concepts through hands-on scientific experiments, creative expression, and group discussions. The Be Healthy, Stay Healthy curriculum teaches students how to begin taking responsibility for their own health, and how to protect the health of those around them. By combining concepts from science and art, students are quickly engaged in the program and become active participants in the learning process.    
       

          Objectives of the workshop are: Health awareness and health-promoting behaviors such as handwashing, proper nutrition, dental care,stress management, and personal safety; group cohesivesness through hands-on scientific experiments;creative self-expression through topic-related theatre games and dramatic play, and healthy lifestyle changes that will positively influence family members, peers, and their communities.

Introducing... UrbanArtsLive!

    After several years of working with children in the public schools, I have a developed a program that will introduce children to art while learning how to stay healthy and happy.


   Through creative arts workshops, students in Grades K-5 are inspired to learn positive ways of self-expression and healthy living in a safe, fun, non-competitive environment. Students are encouraged to find their creative voice through four exciting workshops: Urban Arts Live!(TM) (Creative Dramatics); Art 4 Joy (Creative Art & Art History); Young Writers Workshop ( Writing and Poetry); and Be Healthy, Stay Healthy! (Health & Wellness) Additional benefits of these workshops are: Developing the use of imagination -Increased decision making and problem-solving skills -Increased self-esteem and consideration for others -Improved individual work habits and cooperative skills -Increased social awareness and responsibility Each six-week workshop meets twice weekly, and ends in a culmination presentation for invited guests. UrbanArtsLive! (TM) is a great way to learn about the wonderful world of art!

     Each 6 to 8 week workshop meets twice weekly, and ends in a culmination presentation for invited guests. Workshops can be held in classrooms, community centers, churches, group homes, or in any space that can safely accommodate a group of 10-20 children. All workshops meet the California VAPA and Language Arts Standards. Prices are per child and include all supplies and materials.  Please feel free to check out my slideshow of past children's art projects I have facilitated. I can be contacted at: Urbanartslive@gmail.com. I hope to meet with you soon!