Public Art Projects
Storytellers Teen Documentary Photography Program
Since 1996, Crealdé has offered 17 programs in diverse Central Communities, from urban Orlando to rural Bithlo and Geneva. Storytellers features a ten-week documentary photography class, giving students ages 13 to 17 an opportunity to express themselves in pictures and oral histories, while exploring their cultural heritage, neighborhoods, families and friends. The finished project is exhibited in the teens’ home community and then travels to galleries statewide as part of Crealdé’s permanent collection. The most recent Storytellers XVII program engaged students from the historic west side New Smyrna Beach community, in partnership with the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum.
Storytellers XVII was funded by grants from the St. Margaret Mary Outreach Fund and the English Speaking Union, together with a sponsorship from Crealdé supporter Jane Poche. Thank you for making this program possible!
“Thanks for inviting the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum to partner with the Crealdé School of Art for the Storytellers XVII project. Peter did a fantastic job in mentoring and instruction the students in visual and narrative storytelling through traditional film-based photography. The students learned a great deal about the educational power of collecting oral histories from with own community. This project was a dream come true for our Museum Director, Jimmy Harrell.” — Ann Harrell, Board Chair, Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum, New Smyrna Beach
Neighborhood Pride Mural Projects
Since 2000, Crealdé has produced seven privately funded murals throughout Central Florida. During these eight-week classes, young students ages 10 to 14 collaborate to create a public mural in their own community, helping to beautify as well as increase awareness of important themes such as non-violence, education, family and cultural heritage. In addition to the young painters developing their own styles and individual modes of expression, the program helps bring segments of the community together for a hands-on, shared experience.
Most recently, Crealdé and the Hope CommUnity Center dedicated the Esperanza/Hope Mural. Working with international artist Alberto Gomez on his 25th public mural, an intergenerational group of 50 community members created a 16’ x 8’ mural depicting themes relevant to west Orange County, such as Immigration experiences, the community’s farmworker history, family, and religion.
The mural was funded by a grant from Walt Disney World’s Helping Kids Shine program.
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Monument Builders
Through Crealdé’s Monument Builders program, young sculpture students and their communities collaborate with instructors to construct a permanent outdoor piece of art in their neighborhood. Themes include cultural heritage, non-violence and drug-free living. From 2001 through 2003, a total of five large outdoor sculptures funded by a grant from the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation were completed and dedicated at the Callahan Community Center, Pace Center for Girls in Downtown Orlando, the Winter Park Community Center, and at the offices of the Farmworker Association in Apopka. In 2008, a collaborative Memory Wall public art sculpture was constructed with internationally renowned artist Mr. Imagination in front of the Hannibal Square Heritage Center.
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Contact us to bring our Public Art Projects to your community.