WESTFIELD – The Performance Project, a Springfield-based arts organization, in partnership with the Department on Youth Services’ Stabilization Unit at Westfield Youth Service Center recently unveiled a new artwork created over four months by young men at the program. The artwork is the culmination of a 4-month Visual Arts Residency led by Artists Rosa Ibarra and Julie Lichtenberg, and Facilitator, James Arana.
The Stabilization Unit at the Westfield facility is a unit that provides a stable environment and utilizes a positive youth development model, engaging youth from across the state, that are involved with the juvenile justice system, in educational programing, clinical work, recreation and the arts. Through the collaboration of residency artists, program administration, staff members, and the young men on the unit, a beautiful piece of artwork was created, that will forever be enjoyed.
The Performance Project, directed by artist Julie Lichtenberg, has created numerous murals and performances in Springfield through its artistic and leadership development programs with youth. This Visual Arts Residency, and the Mural Project are collaborations between The Performance Project, CHD, Men’s Resources International, and the Department of Youth Services and is supported by Commonwealth Corporation.
Since 2000, The Performance Project has engaged in collaborations in Hampden and Hampshire Counties creating original theater with the First Generation Youth Ensemble and visual art with the Mural Project in Springfield.
Artists Rosa Ibarra and Julie Lichtenberg, along with facilitator James Arana, began meeting three times a week with a group of young men at the DYS Westfield Youth Service Center beginning in February. With the guidance of Ibarra, the group spent the first three months building skills in painting and generating ideas and images, and then they began to paint a seven and a half foot diameter Mandala. The Mandala design, created by Ibarra, incorporated all the ideas and drawings created by the group.
Staff members at the facility participated in the painting process as well, and youth and staff formed a creative community with a strong spirit of collaboration.
The Mandala will travel to the statewide Department of Youth Services Showcase in Boston, “Share Your Art Share Your Voice” to be held in the theater district.
Quoting one of the young artists, “I hope that when people look at our painting they see the beauty in it and they also think about the struggle that we are go through in our lives.”
While the Mandala painting itself is a highly detailed and beautiful as an artwork, Lichtenberg, Director of The Performance Project says, “We hope that this painting is a testimony to the beauty, skill, and potential of the young men who created it, and a reminder that while a young person may be incarcerated, it is imperative that we continue to nurture and encourage their strengths, and emphasize the positive. I believe that every individual, given the opportunity, can shine brightly.”
In addition to the Mandala Unveiling, the Westfield Facility is celebrating the installation of another artwork, a collaborative painting called. “Big Hands” The Big Hands piece was worked on by as many as 50 people. The painting was conceived and begun in a mural class at the Pioneer Valley School of Performing and Visual Arts in Hadley, in 2012, and then the painting was continued by residents of CHD’s Community Adolescent Treatment Center in Springfield, and was finally finished by members of The Performance Project.
Using the arts, The Performance Project finds ways to respect and highlight youth members’ individuality, life experiences, cultures, and creativity.
