BLOG: The SpART Project
Sport and Art bring people together
December 2017:
The SpART Board
February –December 2017
Throughout the year the SpART board was used in the center’s lounge area.
At various times it displayed photographs of activities, drawings made by children and interactive
questions. These were used to encourage members to think about their relationship with
sports. They included:
What is your favourite sport to play?
What is your favourite sport to watch? What do you like most about it?
Who is your favourite player? What do you like most about them?
In October and December the Art gallery at the center was installed with works made up to then.
Intermediate Taekwondo Class
Over a couple months I observed and worked with the intermediate Taekwondo class
taught by Benny Wong. I was impressed by the discipline and respect shown by these
young students. I was able to capture this on a brief video- jon gyung/respect- and a
seriesof motion and light trail photographs.
Evening Indoor Soccer
These dedicated soccer players impressed me by their attachment to the game and to each
other. As they shared their memories from this game it was clear that it created a strong bond
and respect between each other and that the sport was important to their well being and
their community. They contributed to the sporting memories video and I photographed some action motion photos with them.
Ease into Fitness and Running Club
It is impossible not to get motivated with Lynn Walters’ positive encouragement during her sessions. I participated in a number of classes and created a video to capture the variety of movements the participants engage in- call me maybe-. The TCC running club led by her also allowed me to photograph their warm up exercises using light trail photography.
Zumba for Seniors
I enjoyed participating in the Zumba Gold class led by the enthusiastic instructor Winnie
Kwok. I captured some of their steps on video -Zumba Gold- and some motion trail images.
Sporting Memories
February- December 2017
This was a yearlong project. I interviewed members and participants at he Thompson
Community Center regarding their favourite memories. I filmed 29 interviews. They
occurred in the lounge, in the work out room and during indoor soccer time. All the
stories shared were meaningful. I was impressed by the positive aspects these athletes
shared: learning about teamwork, creating friendships and a connection to the
community, benefiting physical and mental health and being a stress relief, and the
emotional highs and lows of watching and participating. As far as negatives, injuries
came up very often and dealing poor sportsmanship only a few times. It leaves no doubt
that facilities like the Thompson Community Center are critical to healthy development
of youth and the maintenance of well being for participants of all ages and their
community.
A shorter 18 minutes video was edited for viewing. However all the interviews were
edited and organized and available in longer 38 minutes video as well.
November 2017:
Sport Creations by Seniors #3: Transforming Sports Objects into Art
For our third workshop we worked with badminton, tennis and racquetball racquets.
September 2017:
Sport Creation By Seniors #2: Transforming Sports Objects into Art
This was the second workshop held. They worked with balls used in soccer, rugby, football, volleyball, golf, and table tennis. )
       
July 2017:
Coloring Sporting Animals
In July SpART hosted a coloring and playing event for young children and their family.
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Run and Paint Tent
Set up during the Thompson Community Center Family Picnic Day July 14th this tent attracted community participants of all ages. The goal of engaging people to paint a straight line while walking or running, leaving their mark to create a communal art space was well achieved. Children of a younger age were able to colour in images of animals engaged in sporting activities and attach them to the tent. )
April to June 2017:
This has been a busy second quarter. (April to June)
I worked with children in 2 spring soccer classes. With the support of their coaches we created 2 paintings using soccer balls covered in paint while practicing their shooting and passing skills. We called these Soccer Ball Path Paintings.
We also made a video of their ball dribbling drills. Motion photos were also taken.
We had fun with the pre-schoolers from the Club Room and their teachers making a video of one of their favourite games and their songs. They love to run weaving their way between a row of trees beside the community center. It took some practices to manage tree weaving running with the ribbons but they did great.
The seniors activity group had their first workshop transforming table tennis rackets and putting them on display. They were very creative and we are planning more workshops this fall to transform more equipment.
During the youth BBQ event we held Thompson community Centre T shirt Tie Dye workshop. 15 participants created their own T Shirt to keep.
Finally during this period I was able to interview and record 20 community center members regarding their most favourite sporting memories. Participants of all ages gave emotional accounts of varied events. This project is ongoing during the residency and will be edited in the last quarter.
January to March 2017:
At the end of our first quarter (January to March) a number of projects have been completed and started.
The Family Day Abstract Bocce Ball project was held Monday, February 13, In the Thompson Community Centre lobby. It demonstrated what happens when you add a little “art” to some of our favorite sports? You get SpArt!. Participants of all ages combined art making with the sport of bocce. Some of the works went then on display in the gymnasium.
Gaga ball is a game played by the children in the volleyball class. We painted the soles of their feet and they played the game on a large piece of paper. The large painting will be on display in the gym.
Electric fence is game that the children in the basketball class play. They also participated in sound recordings dribbling the basketballs. The two were combined in two videotapes that will play at the center.
Finally the participants in the in the adult fitness classes Ease into Fitness and the Ball Workout with their instructors agreed to work on a video of their class. Only those who agreeing to be video taped were filmed after obtaining waivers. The two videos were edited.
Photographs showing the motion of the participants were also taken.
Two interactive boards were put up. They asked about people’s favourite sport and players and what they liked most about them.
The Sporting Memories project has also started with a workshop at the Activate +55 Fair and a graphic recording was made for display.
Finally, an artist talk the Audience Participatory Theater play maladjusted was held at the Thompson Center
In closing here is a quote from a famous dancer and teacher Martha Graham that applies to both art and sport.
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist (or athlete) is (totally) pleased... There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others." Martha Graham
(My additions)
Also if you ask yourself the question “Why look at ART?”
Here is site that gives you some ideas.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/introduction-ap-arthistory/v/why-look-at-art
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