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Re-Membering O u r Place community art by Jan Maclean W hat m o t i v a t e s an artist to simultaneously artist, manager, publicist, facilitator, and fundraiser. But I w a s far f r o m alone; N o r t h Shore a n d w i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e staff a n d m e , facilitated the making of the ners. T h e r e w e r e a few challenges surrounding these workshops: Because w e hadn't k n o w n that w e had ban- leave t h e relative safety of h e r realm s t u d i o t o e n t e r t h e less c e r t a i n of community art? N e i g h b o r h o o d H o u s e ' s Special perN e e d s Teen C l u b became the sponsoring body, with North North main For me, the reasons are both sonal and political. A s an artist and a p a r e n t of a child w i t h a disability, I have b e e n c o m m i t t e d t o u s i n g a r t as a tool for integration for many years. T h r o u g h this w o r k , I q u e s t i o n e d integration truly means. H o w can individuals w i t h disabilities n o t only what Vancouver A r t s C o u n c i l and r e c e i v e d funding until just a f e w weeks before the s u m m e r programs Vancouver Recreation Commission additional partners. A s well, many individuals w r o t e letters of support. began, w e had t o d o s o m e very creative s c h e d u l i n g . W e also had space, but because of the limited A f t e r a year of applying for funds, w e w e r e fortunate to receive grants from both the City of North supportive both staff, w e w e r e a b l e t o o v e r c o m e these problems. Even though w o r k s h o p s w e r e at t i m e s chaotic, everyone enjoyed was the b e i n c l u d e d b u t a l s o p e r c e i v e d as f u l l contributors to the c o m m u n i t y l i v e in? W i t h t h e s e t h o u g h t s in m i n d , I began to envision a c o m m u n i t y art they Vancouver and the H e r m a n Bischoff Foundation. T h e first phase of the project to w o r k with the teens f r o m Teen C l u b t o t r a i n t h e m in l e a d i n g t h e b a n n e r - m a k i n g w o r k s h o p s in t h e community. W e used the training sessions to strengthen and build a n u m b e r of skills, including event planning, o r g a n i z a t i o n , and art making. W e taught t h e s e skills t h r o u g h drama, somewhat the were process and the participants very pleased with their finished p r o d ucts. T h e teens w e r e particularly p r o j e c t that w o u l d give t e e n s w i t h disabilities an o p p o r t u n i t y to be the p r o u d o f t h e i r r o l e as f a c i l i t a t o r s . Flexibility and g o o d c o m m u n i c a t i o n a r e k e y f a c t o r s in m a k i n g a c o m m u n i t y art project w o r k . W i t h o u t the h u m o u r , flexibility, and c o l l a b o r a t i v e s p i r i t o f all t h e p a r t i c i pants involved, the project could not h a v e b e e n t h e p o s i t i v e e x p e r i e n c e it was. A n d these are the very same dynamics that make true integration .£ in JS | | t e a c h e r s . In its o w n s m a l l w a y , t h e project w o u l d attempt to re-examine t h e s t e r e o t y p e o f w h a t it m e a n s t o be a p e r s o n w i t h a disability. A n d s o b e g a n m y a d v e n t u r e as a community artist. com- m a s k m a k i n g , clay w o r k , a n d painting. T h e training stage w a s a lot of fun a n d t h e t e e n s , staff, a n d I e n j o y e d t h i s segment of the project enormously. into M y first step w a s t o c o n t a c t m u n i t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o s e e if t h e y w e r e i n t e r e s t e d in b e c o m i n g p a r t n e r s in t h i s p r o j e c t . T h e response O u r next step was to move not only possible but probable. from these organizations was overwhelmingly positive and supportive. Full o f e n t h u s i a s m a n d e n e r g y , w e f o u n d ourselves facing o u r first and m o s t daunting challenge: funding. I quickly found out that the com- the community. Ridgeway and Lynn Valley Kid's C l u b s w e r e very receptive t o us h o l d i n g b a n n e r - m a k i n g w o r k s h o p s at t h e i r c e n t r e s (the R e - M e m b e r i n g O u r P l a c e is a nity art North Bischoff project teens project Vancouver funded and by the City the Herman of the of commuof workshops and banner-making materials w e r e f r e e o f c h a r g e ) . T h e t e e n s v i s i t e d t h e c e n t r e s in s m a l l g r o u p s , Foundation. is to promote The purpose the integration disability making North Teen in in munity artist w e a r s many hats. I w a s with a developmental the process of art through the community. Neighborhood's Teens from Special Shore Club the Needs held banner-making community Kid's Each Club workshops from for children and Ridgeway Club. celebratplace Lynn Valley Kid's banner is a self-portrait and important ing the unique each of us holds in our community. in the lobby through to of Banners are on display Theatre the Centennial August. Jan Maclean is a performance/visual She is also of R e - M e m b e r i n g artist and arts educator. artist/project Teens in "training Our Place. manager