Gary Simmons Collaborates with Young Creatives from Artistic Noise in New York
‘Create Your Voice’—a Learning initiative amplified beyond the gallery walls
On the occasion of ‘Gary Simmons. Thin Ice,’ on view at our Wooster Street location in New York, and as part of the gallery’s ongoing learning initiatives, Gary Simmons has collaborated with young people from Artistic Noise, an organization committed to enriching the lives of system-impacted youth through art making.
Continuing his own history of community-based programming, Simmons invited 12 young creatives between the ages of 14 and 22 from Artistic Noise’s Art & Entrepreneurship program to take part in a public art project titled, ‘Create Your Voice.’
Simmons invited the group to produce a layered design reflecting the multifaceted nature of their unique identities. During four art making sessions at Artistic Noise’s studio space in Harlem, participants reflected on the ways in which community, popular culture and their own lived experiences have influenced who they are and who they hope to become. The artist expressed to the participants that when creating art, the real story might be found within the imperfections we make and have.
‘You have to allow yourself to be more forgiving with your mistakes… this is the place where that happens. Allow your work to move and flow—you’re gonna be happier with the journey that way. That’s where the art, the really good stuff, is.’—Gary Simmons
Together, the participants created a special playlist using song lyrics that resonated with them to make their paintings. Through the use of text and blurred images, each participant took inspiration from Simmons' artistic practice and how he views himself as a visual DJ. Their individual compositions were brought together to form one collaborative poster design that has been wheatpasted throughout New York City’s neighborhoods.
Listen to the accompanying playlist below:
About Artistic Noise
For over 20 years, Harlem-based nonprofit Artistic Noise has created visual arts and therapeutic programs in collaboration with young people whose lives have been impacted by the juvenile court system, foster care system and mental health care systems. Via courthouse-based alternatives to incarceration programs, drop-in therapy programs and large-scale mural projects, Artistic Noise supports young artists in their community to express themselves creatively, work collaboratively, build community, manifest visions of their futures and develop a variety of leadership skills in the process. Artistic Noise’s paid Art & Entrepreneurship program works to develop the creative abilities of system-impacted young people ages 14 – 22 years old through an exploration of a variety of hands-on art-making techniques.
Learn more about Gary Simmons, Artistic Noise and Hauser & Wirth’s Learning initiatives.
Images: onwhitewall.com
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