ARTCORPS Expectations

Artist Advice

The artists will be trained as well as possible, but a lot will be left to work on independently in the field. Discovery and innovation are key words for artists’ work. The type of person best suited for this work will be

• Enthusiastic

• Independent

• Adaptable

• Creative and organized

• A team worker

• Assertive

• Able to forfeit creature comforts

• Fluent in Spanish. (few years of Spanish in high school does not qualify)

The Four C's.

• Cooperation: Don't forget! This is teamwork with the host organization.

• Communication: Stay on track. The goal of this program is to use art as a communication tool.

• Creativity: Use your art creatively and use as many local materials as possible.

• Culture: Incorporate the local culture, ideas and traditions. Involve the people with your artwork.

In addition, we advise the artist to:

• Ask yourself: how much do you want to be in control? Can I work even if I do not agree completely with the message?

• Inquire about stories and legends and incorporate them into your medium;

• Locate the artists in the community who like to tell a story, to be an actor, to paint. Involve them so that they can involve others. It is important to have the audience actively participate as much as possible. Try to find local individuals who are artistically inclined and train them to take your place once you are gone;

• Use available materials for art supplies. For example, paint brushes can be made from coconut fibers;

• Leave something tangible behind: a trained artist, a song, a painting, a way to use local materials;

• In general, have a plan of what you would like to do before you go, but be ready to change it drastically.

• Be creative!

Examples:

• Make toys with recycled materials;

• Create a soap opera story with sequels to be followed at the next village;

• Mime a message and include some local culture: ex: Mayan design instead of white face.

As an exercise, think about how you would address the following issue: The people of the village have a deficiency of iron in their diet. This diet consists mainly of maize, rice, and beans. The visiting agriculture team wants to convince them to have little home gardens in which to grow leafy vegetables. They also have to be convinced to include these vegetables in their family's meals because they are not used to eating them. Some villagers, if not all, will need to come to the local clinic to have a before and after hemoglobin test. The agronomist wants to offer workshops in the village about soil conservation (green manure), intercropping, and organic fertilizers. Workshops are boring. How would you help the agriculture and the health team work to improve the women's diets and convey their environmental message?

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Artist Information > Placements Available > Artist Requirements > Artist Application > Advice for Artists > Reports from Other Artists
				Artist Advice The artists will be trained as well as possible, but a lot will be left to work on independently in the field. Discovery and innovation are key words for artists’ work. The type of person best suited for this work will be • Enthusiastic • Independent • Adaptable • Creative and organized • A team worker • Assertive • Able to forfeit creature comforts • Fluent in Spanish. (few years of Spanish in high school does not qualify) The Four C's. • Cooperation: Don't forget! This is teamwork with the host organization. • Communication: Stay on track. The goal of this program is to use art as a communication tool. • Creativity: Use your art creatively and use as many local materials as possible. • Culture: Incorporate the local culture, ideas and traditions. Involve the people with your artwork. In addition, we advise the artist to: • Ask yourself: how much do you want to be in control? Can I work even if I do not agree completely with the message? • Inquire about stories and legends and incorporate them into your medium; • Locate the artists in the community who like to tell a story, to be an actor, to paint. Involve them so that they can involve others. It is important to have the audience actively participate as much as possible. Try to find local individuals who are artistically inclined and train them to take your place once you are gone; • Use available materials for art supplies. For example, paint brushes can be made from coconut fibers; • Leave something tangible behind: a trained artist, a song, a painting, a way to use local materials; • In general, have a plan of what you would like to do before you go, but be ready to change it drastically. • Be creative! Examples: • Make toys with recycled materials; • Create a soap opera story with sequels to be followed at the next village; • Mime a message and include some local culture: ex: Mayan design instead of white face. As an exercise, think about how you would address the following issue: The people of the village have a deficiency of iron in their diet. This diet consists mainly of maize, rice, and beans. The visiting agriculture team wants to convince them to have little home gardens in which to grow leafy vegetables. They also have to be convinced to include these vegetables in their family's meals because they are not used to eating them. Some villagers, if not all, will need to come to the local clinic to have a before and after hemoglobin test. The agronomist wants to offer workshops in the village about soil conservation (green manure), intercropping, and organic fertilizers. Workshops are boring. How would you help the agriculture and the health team work to improve the women's diets and convey their environmental message? > Placements Available > Artist Requirements > Artist Application > Reports from Other Artists

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