ArtJam Collaboration

Last Saturday, April 26, the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) hosted the finale event for the ArtMUSE series, entitled ArtJam. Aside from regular ArtMUSE affiliates, museum visitors were also invited to “be part of the art” by creating their own art projects during the program. The event at the museum was done in collaboration between the SBCM, SCIPP (Students and Coyotes: Instructions for Poetry and Prose) from California State University San Bernardino, San Bernardino Generation Now (an activist group focusing on the improvement and unification of San Bernardino residents), and students from San Bernardino Valley College. The two-year ArtMUSE series was funded by the James Irvine Foundation. Danny Trynoski, museum volunteer and active ArtJam member, comments on the rapid growth of the program from its launch two years ago, “It just grew from writing to art; you can’t control the creativity. We wanted to give youth the resources to express themselves.” The SCIPP organization has workshops for creative writing and was successful enough to expand outside of its original parameters to attract the involvement of numerous other community based organizations. SCIPP is primarily run by two dozen graduate students from CSUSB, as well as teachers and professors from schools in San Bernardino. There are four workshops that ArtJam focused on: theatre, poetry, photography, and a general art workshop. Pods for each emphasis could be found either outside in the activity area of the museum or throughout the museum exhibits themselves. The event started at 11 a.m. and included live music, multi-media presentations, a spray painting corner, chalk art, and plenty of creative groups to help and oversee all of the kids who were taking part in the activities. As the final event of the series, it was a time for all of the groups to come together one final time for the finale. “Everyone who has participated in our ArtMuse art-making events over the last two years can bring their own artwork. This is a great way to share your experience and inspirations from our program,” said Jolene Redvale, Curator of Education for the SB County Museum. “There will be opportunities for museum visitors to hear poetry, create their own art, and meet community leaders.”