Comic Voices Mural Project
This entry has been selected as a finalist in the
Art in Public: Expressing Youth Voices in Pittsburgh competition.
About You
Location
Project Street Address
10 Children's Way
Project City
Pittsburgh
Project Province/State
pa
Project Postal/Zip Code
15212
Project Country
United States
Innovation
What is your idea? What makes your project innovative? Why is it important?
The Comic Voices project allows teens to express themselves through the accessible medium of the comic book. Teens will work with respected professional comic book artist to develop the skills needed to produce a complete story about live in their Pittsburgh neighborhoods. This six page comic will then be reproduced as large format murals displayed throughout the city of Pittsburgh and its outlying neighborhoods. The concept of a large format comic book that requires the viewer to actually walk through the neighborhoods and setting of the story is an innovative idea. It allows the viewer of the comic to experience the story first hand as told by the teens who create it. Teens will be encouraged to tell the story of their neighborhoods, and give voice to their concerns and issues. Comics are a medium which is accessible to many audiences. We will be empowering these teens by allowing them to use their creativity to tell their own stories in their neighborhoods and beyond.
Impact
What will be the impact of your idea?
The teens working on the project will have the opportunity to work with some of the nations top comic book artists. They will learn the skills and processes involved in expressing yourselves through the comics medium. They will learn to give voice through both visual imagery and written word. By creating a graphic novel that will be created in mural form they will be able to share their vision, their ideas, their dreams and more in a unique and innovative way. The graphic novel enables the artist to tackle many topics in a very accessible and popular artform. Pittsburghers will be encouraged to walk through the neighborhoods and experience the stories as they walk past the buildings and venues where the comic book murals are displayed. Artist and audience will share in the experience. The unique presentation of the message through comic murals will garner attention for both the teens messages and the neighborhoods in which they are displayed.
What will it take to launch your idea? How will you secure community support and youth participation?
The funding would be used for training of the teens, materials, printing, instructors and administrative cost. We would work closely with the city and its representative to find appropriate buildings and sites to display the murals. As a partner with the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh Joe has had the opportunity to work with the teens in the Youth Alive Program. Students from these programs as well as CAPA and other city arts programs would be presented the opportunity for participation. Joe is also open to partnering with the ToonSeum and the Children's Museum. Estimated cost would be $20,000.00.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
We are looking for ideas from people who can make them happen. Tell us about yourself or your team.
JJoe Wos is Executive Director of the ToonSeum, a nationally acclaimed children's performer and acartooning instructor with 25 years experience. Joe's career began at age 14 in Braddock, PA. The son of a steelworker, Joe knows first hand the empowering experience of cartoons and creativity. Joe is the founder of the ToonSeum, now in its second year, they have presented 20 different exhibitions of cartoon art. The ToonSeum programming has included panel discussions as well as hands on workshops for all ages. Joe Wos is also Executive Producer of the popular NORTH Comic Book Project, a comic book guide to the North Side funded by a grant from the Northside Charm Bracelet Project. Already in its second printing. It features some of the top comic artists in the region. Some of these same cartoonists will form the team for the Comic Voices Project. Joe has spent most of his life bringing the cartoon arts to children of all ages empowering them to express themselves through comics.
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 | 199 weeks ago a. b said: Aloha joe,Comic-Optimist Relief/Reality Entertainment Values!Your idea & website are wonderful! It's good to see children at the ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 200 weeks ago Jenna Lawrence updated this Competition Entry. |
| 200 weeks ago Joe Wos said: The concept is really an extension of our North project in some ways. Our goal with North was to create a comic book guide for the ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 200 weeks ago Elizabeth Moody said: It's definitely an intriguing concept, and I think it really has potential. The comic walls would really spruce up any neighborhood. about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 200 weeks ago Jenna Lawrence updated this Competition Entry. |
| 200 weeks ago Jenna Lawrence updated this Competition Entry. |
| 200 weeks ago Jenna Lawrence updated this Competition Entry. |
| 200 weeks ago Jenna Lawrence updated this Competition Entry. |
| 200 weeks ago Comic Voices Mural Project has been chosen as a finalist in Art in Public: Expressing Youth Voices in Pittsburgh. |
| 201 weeks ago Jenna Lawrence updated this Competition Entry. |
