This article originally appeared in Chicago Broadway World
Redmoon, the large-scale spectacle and public art group, is hosting a symposium at their new home in Pilsen on “Youth voice, empowerment, and the value and power of public space” as a culmination to Redmoon’s Youth Spectacle 2013 intervention series. On the heels of Co-Artistic Director, Jim Lasko’s return from distinguished year-long Harvard-based Loeb Fellowship, he will speak to frame the evenings event. The event will feature a keynote given by Trung Le, Principal Architect for Cannon Design’s education consultancy group, an advocate for incorporating multiple intelligences and learning styles in the design of education environments, and co-author of The Third Teacher with Bruce Mao.
Mario Rossero, Director of Arts Education at Chicago Public Schools will be guest speaker and Audra Wilson of Vocalo’s Chicago-based radio program Practically Speaking, will moderate the conversation of youth panelists, representing all partners and communities that presented Youth Spectacle 2013 Interventions. This panel will speak to their collaboration with Redmoon, the importance of youth empowerment through the action of art and voice, civic engagement, and the power, value and purpose of public space.
Trung Le is a pioneer of Cannon Design’s education practice and has an incessant passion for learning. Le is widely recognized as an advocate for incorporating multiple intelligences and learning styles in the design of education environments. As the lead designer for Cannon Design’s education group, he creates spaces that encourage inquiry and imagination and offer students a sense of what it means to be a part of a global community. Audra Wilson an attorney and former administrator/adjunct professor at Northwestern Law, is the creator of Practically Speaking radio show on Vocalo. Which is a NPR-style program that explores issues of race, culture and class from voices of those that are rarely heard exhibiting an array of fascinating topics and captivating stories. Mario Rossero is the Director of Magnet Cluster Schools and Program, Office of Academic Enhancement, Chicago Public Schools. Prior to joining the Magnet Cluster, he served as the visual art teacher at Harold Washington Elementary School in Chicago and at Shaler Area School District in Pennsylvania. Mario has collaborated on numerous art-in-education projects, from his work as an Artist Educator at the Andy Warhol Museum to his efforts as a Project Leader on outdoor interactive installations in conjunction with the Mattress Factory Museum.
“We are honored to have two forces in the art and education communities leading the discussion”, said Co-Artistic Director Frank Maugeri, “This series of community events had incredible meaning and muscle to all that collaborated and we are excited to host a night of conversation and celebrate the work created together.”
Youth Panelists will include representatives from each participating partner in Youth Spectacle 2013 including: Central Elementary School, Riverside Illinois; Family Focus and Homan Square, Lawndale; University of Chicago Charter School, Hyde Park; Audubon Elementary School, Roscoe Village; Free Spirit Youth Media, and Young Chicago Authors Teaching Artists.
Youth Spectacle 2013 was developed by Redmoon’s Nationally Recognized Neighborhood Arts Program which collaborated with over 1,000 students to amplify their own graduations, neighborhood festivals, and public ceremonies with Redmoon’s SONIC BOOM, a transformative sound machine that broadcasts live and pre-recorded voices of youth. Built through a curriculum of community poetry writing, audio engineering, and Spectacle, Youth Spectacle performed as a mobile intervention series, galvanizing community members with momentary acts of celebration and surprise, which was accomplished in collaboration with Young Chicago Authors and Free Spirit Media.
Quote from Trung /Mario still to come…here”Redmoon brings a cutting edge and engaging approach to the arts for the CPS students and teachers that bring the arts to life in a relevant and powerful way,” said Mario Rossero, Diretor of Arts and Education of CPS.
Redmoon thanks the Illinois Humanities Council for continued support of our programming and fund to this symposium opportunity for these youth to speak about their experience and Redmoon’s impact on them.
The event is free and open to the public at Redmoon’s new 57,000 sq ft. home in Pilsen, 2120 S Jefferson St from 6:30pm-8pm on June 27th. For questions or more information on this event visit www.redmoon.org, call 312-850-8440. RSVP is required at boxoffice@redmoon.org. Refreshments will be served.