The Urban Gateways Blog
February 8, 2010 :: :: No Comments
In the Classroom: Global Rhythms
In the Classroom is a new monthly feature created to give you an up-close look at Urban Gateways Teaching Artists in action. Each month, we’ll take you inside a different Chicago-area classroom, introduce you to the Urban Gateways Teaching Artist who is working there, and share with you the experiences of the teaching artist and their students.
In Fall 2009, teaching artist and musician John Knecht led a semester-long residency at Immaculate Conception School called Global Rhythms. John explored world percussion with first through fourth graders, connecting his lessons to music appreciation, reading notation, world cultures, sociology (concepts of community and identity) and literature.
The video below documents the residency through photos and the voices of students and teachers at Immaculate Conception.
Read more »February 1, 2010 :: :: No Comments
Ballroom Dance-off Brings Students and Community Together
On Thursday, February 4, elementary students from Chavez Multicultural Academy – an Urban Gateways Community School – paired up and “Danced-Off” against students from five other schools in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood.
The Dance-Off was the culmination of a four-month, after-school program called “Dancing with Class” – which focuses on building community bonds through the medium of social dance. Since October, the Chicago social dance studio May I Have This Dance has provided weekly lessons at all six elementary schools. Then the students came together for a final Dance-Off, in which partnered with both their classmates AND with dancers from the other schools.
“We have a fundamental belief in the power of social dance to build and strengthen communities, to bring people of all socio-economic backgrounds together, to do something that brings joy and strengthens respect for self and others,” said Margot Toppen from May I Have This Dance.
Read more »January 21, 2010 :: News :: No Comments
UG Launches Blog Focused on Arts Education & its Impact
Blog Features Experiences of Six Chicago-area Teaching Artists
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS –Urban Gateways: Center for Arts Education is launching a blog to bring attention to the importance of arts education. The blog, entitled Urban Gateways Artists Wired (www.ugartistswired.typepad.com), features six Urban Gateways’ teaching artists, who will post regularly about their experiences in Chicago-area classrooms.
“We want to chronicle their journey with the students, in hopes of drawing attention to the importance of the work these professional artists do and the impact they have on the children, on the schools and on the communities where they work,” said Julie F. Simpson, Urban Gateways Executive Director.
Founded almost 50 years ago, Urban Gateways is one of the largest and most comprehensive arts education organizations in the country. Each year, the organization provides in- and out-of-school programming in the literary, performing, media and visual arts to more than 100,000 young people in the Chicago-area.
Read more »January 20, 2010 :: News :: No Comments
NBC Nightly News To Feature MusicianCorps
Urban Gateways and Music National Service want to thank NBC Nightly News Correspondent John Yang and Producer Stephanie Himango - who came out to do a feature story on MusicianCorps, the new "musical Peace Corps" launched by Music National Service in four cities nationwide and being managed in Chicago by Urban Gateways.
The NBC crew visited two of Chicago's seven MusicianCorps fellows: Cyndy Fike and her students in an after-school music program at Russell Square Park, and Vernon Lloyd and the students in his Davis Square Park Band.
We don't know when the story will air, but we will keep you updated. In the meantime, here are some pics and video of the NBC shoot.
Read more »January 13, 2010 :: Events :: No Comments
New Arts Forum Meeting - February 23
6:00 - 8:00pm
Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP
225 W Wacker Drive, 30th flr Conf. Room, Chicago
OPEN TO: New Arts Forum (NAF) Members
Young Professionals Interested in Joining NAF
The New Arts Forum(NAF) is a group of Chicago-area young business professionals dedicated to promoting and supporting Urban Gateways' efforts to provide arts education to all children, despite race or economic class.
This full member meeting will feature a presentation by Chicago artist and Urban Gateways teaching artist James “Casper” Jankowiak entitled “Chatter - Artist Connectivity”. Wine and light appetizers will be provided. Current NAF members are encouraged to bring colleagues interested in joining.
Attendees MUST RSVP by Friday, February 19th as the meeting is being held in a secure building. All visitors must be added to the list and show ID upon arrival.
To RSVP, email Urban Gateways Development Manager Kristy Conway>>
Read more »January 13, 2010 :: News :: No Comments
Inside the Classroom at Andersen School
Inside the Classroom is a new monthly feature created to give you an up-close look at Urban Gateways Teaching Artists in action. Each month, we’ll take you inside a different Chicago-area classroom, introduce you to the Urban Gateways Teaching Artist who is working there, and share with you the experiences of the teaching artist and their students.
A classroom at Anderson School is buzzing with two dozen fifth graders – they’re out of their seats, talking, laughing, and moving around the room. Not necessarily the picture of a well-behaved class. But Urban Gateways Teaching Artist Jennifer Green wouldn’t have it any other way.
From the middle of the room, she suddenly shouts, “You’re in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Within seconds, the room is silent, each child frozen in a pose – some are marching in a band, some are waving to people lining the streets, others are desperately trying to hold on to giant balloons floating high above their heads. A classroom full of kids who are not sitting quietly at their desks – yet fully focused and engaged, and also having fun.
Read more »December 22, 2009 :: News :: No Comments
Thanks to All who attended Urban Gateways Benefit Concert
On December 3, three bands, one comedian and an emcee provided a bar-full of people with a night of great music and entertainment - AND they all provided Urban Gateways with donations and support.
Heave Media, which sponsored the event, named Urban Gateways its charity of choice for the benefit concert at the Darkroom. Twenty-five percent of the ticket proceeds went to Urban Gateways. The event featured the bands: All Things Lucid, Son of the Sun, and the Brian Miller Band.
Thanks to all the performers and to everyone who came out to support us!
November 23, 2009 :: Events :: No Comments
Urban Gateways Artist Presents: A Bronzeville Nutcracker
When: December 11 & 12- A Bronzeville Nutcracker @ 7pm
Where: Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago
Who: Ticket Holders ($25)
Lisa Willingham, an Urban Gateways teaching artist through the Ailey Camp, presents A Bronzeville Nutcracker, a new twist to the timeless classic. This inspiring story will take the audience on a choreographic journey exploring the infinite possibilities of movement and the true spirit of family tradition. Purchase Tickets >>>
November 23, 2009 :: Events :: No Comments
Urban Gateways Artist Presents: Made in Chicago
When: December 4- Made in Chicago @ 6pm
Where: La Llorona Gallery, 1474 W. Webster, Chicago
Carolina I. Reyes, Urban Gateways teaching artist, will present Made in Chicago, an exhibit to include 15 pieces of Urban, pop, symbolism influences of Chicago. The artwork is not based on pretty pictures but about the current events affecting Chicagoans in the "now time".
Carolina describes her style as Urban Pop Surrealism. She uses urban landscapes, photography, lines, font, science, fantasy, and female figures as the subjects of her work. Reyes’ memories, of riding her bike in the urban landscapes of Chicago and taking photographs of the gentrification process, acknowledging the lack of art in schools, and the advertisements and its affect on society has lead her to explore and communicate those experiences to her audience. For more information >>
November 9, 2009 :: News :: No Comments
Urban Gateways & MusicianCorps featured on Vocalo 89.5 FM - LISTEN
MusicianCorps is a new, national “musical Peace Corps,” which Urban Gateways partnered with to bring six fellows to Chicago. Recently, Urban Gateways Executive Director Julie Simpson and MusicianCorps Fellow Jamie Topper discussed MusicianCorps in an interview on Vocalo 89.5FM. LISTEN NOW>>