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The Words of an Intern

May 31, 2013

My name is Jarek Sparaco, I am a graduating senior at the Boy’s Latin School of Maryland. Though I’m typing this on the eve of my graduation, I find myself surprisingly relaxed where I should be excited and perhaps even agitated. I have a terrible habit of fidgeting, particularly scratching at the nail of my right thumb, but even that is negligible. My best guess as to why I’m so relaxed is because of the art studio I’m in currently. It’s called Make Studio and I’ve been interning here for the past two weeks (May 22nd-31st), which gave me invaluable insight into the creative minds of developmentally disabled adults. I watched as the artists developed before my eyes, always trying something new with the undying support of the staff throughout the day. Though my time as an intern there only lasted six days, I feel the experience was more than worth it. Not only did I learn various useful things about artwork, such as how to prime a canvas or take apart a frame, I also learned more about what it feels like to be a contributing part of the community. Make Studio recently had some of their artists make artwork for an upcoming theatrical performace called “Baby Universe”, which looks a bit like a crossover between Star Wars and the Muppets. I was inspired by the artists around me to make a contribution as well, and this is what I came up with-

This artwork is a big step for me because for the first time I am projecting my artwork out into a broader community, hopefully it will be featured with all of the other Baby Universe artwork.

In addition to the contribution to the Baby Universe collaboration, I was also happy to make a contribution to Make Studio’s Sketchbook Project sketchbook. Along with the other artists here, I drew on both sides of a small piece of paper which will be put into a small sketchbook to be displayed in a traveling art museum of sorts. Again, this is a great way for me to get my art out there. Quoting the website that sponsors the nationwide project, the Sketchbook Project is like “a taco truck but with sketchbooks.” The link to that website can be found here. Coming away from this internship, I can definitely say that it will be easier for me to put my art out for a wider range of people to see and I can also see myself considering looking into the profession of art therapy when I attend MICA in the Fall.
RESIDENCY PREVIEW

May 19, 2013

by Danna Rooth

Here’s a quick in-process snapshot from my work as pilot resident / visiting artist for May and June:

“Gothic Influence” [in process] by Danna Rooth, watercolor and graphite on paper
This concept is based on collaborative conversations with Make Studio artists, particularly Make Studio’s premiere Goth artist Bess Lumsden. Check out her page on our website: Recent work by Bess and I’ll be posting more images of the finished piece soon (hopefully).

Make Studio artists, staff, interns, and volunteers are also working collaboratively on the The Sketchbook Project, so stay tuned for more sweet pics coming your way!
Kristin on The Importance of Making

May 17, 2013

I contacted Make Studio in the weeks before graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art in May, 2012 and began interning for them that coming fall. I am now writing this on the anniversary of my graduation, one year after I first wrote Make Studio. Now, I’m not going to lie, the first year out of undergrad hasn’t been an easy one, in fact its been filled with many questions about my future, my interests, what I should do next, where I should go next, why did I go to art school during a recession…? These questions still haven’t all answered themselves (and who knows if they ever will), but in this past year and my time working with the artists at the studio, one thing has absolutely been confirmed for me, and that is the importance of making. The practice of making broadens our horizons, enriches the value of our day to day, and provides us with a physical reflection of ourselves in the world. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, the importance of making, of growing, of changing or challenging your ideas of what you think you can do or can’t do, is immeasurable.

It’s easy to get lost in our routines. It easy to get lost in self-consciousness and lose our relationship to making- and it’s easy to spend more time thinking about making than actually using our hands. For me, what has been so inspiring about spending time here at the Make Studio is being able to witness these artists’ commitment to their studio practice. That commitment has benefited them and all the people around them. They greet each new piece with absolute sincerity and push themselves to try things they have never tried before, to grow as artists and to grow as people. At the same time, they are professionals, constantly editing out work for the public from the work that is for them, exercises and sketches. As soon as they finish one piece they move on to the next, letting go of that preciousness that for artists can be so debilitating. This process isn’t easy, but such is the nature of making, and their commitment to that process is infectious. I am sad to be leaving Make Studio as an Intern this month but am very excited to be back as a volunteer and support in the future.

Kristin McWharter
Margie, The Sketchbook Project, and art as a means of living a life

May 15, 2013

“This is inspired by me liking birds a lot. Dogs are also a favorite.”

Our studio community is collectively creating a submission for The Sketchbook Project, a traveling library of sketchbooks that anyone can join. (Our participation is facilitated by the Maryland Federation of Art, in celebration of their 50th Anniversary!)

Sketchbooks are a fave of Margie’s, she avidly fills them at home and at the studio. And she was on a roll today with our book, filling 3 pages, front-and-back, rather than just one.

Interestingly, Margie elected to only fill her pages with images even though she often includes words– poetry, mainly– in her own sketchbooks. Yet her singular focus on this project today was a reminder of several wordy artistic aphorisms that are borne out at Make Studio on a weekly basis.

Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.

—Andy Warhol

I paint for myself. I don’t know how to do anything else, anyway. Also I have to earn my living, and occupy myself.

—Francis Bacon

Everything I do is completely original—I made it up when I was a kid.

—Claes Oldenburg

I am interested in art as a means of living a life; not as a means of making a living.

― Robert Henri

We highly recommend you get your own sketchbook, fill it with your images and/or words, and share it with just us, your fave city, or the whole world!
JOE SQUARED last friday

May 3, 2013

thanks to everyone that came out for our reception to close out the April exhibition hosted by Joe Squared at Power Plant Live! A good time (and delicious pizza) was had by all…
TOOTHED DUCK

April 17, 2013

Today, the faves were a real mixed bag!

Topics included:

– our new program packet

– Baltimore Raven sightings

– photo restoration projects

– ducks and other birds with teeth
3 STOOGES & COUNTRY TUNES

April 10, 2013

Gary shared a fave today that we all (Danna, Chris, Louis and Jill) enjoyed. It was a Three Stooges episode called “An Ache in Every Stake” and our *explosive* laughter was a nice end to the work day for the Wednesday crew.

Louis also played some of his musical favorites! Selections were from his extensive knowledge of country classics: Patsy Cline’s Crazy, Tammy Wynette’s Stand by your Man, and Dolly Parton’s Jolene.

…and meanwhile, true to her usual form, Christina chilled out to a nice word search:

What’s YOUR fave this Wednesday? Stay cool, Baltimore!
APRIL

April 5, 2013

AUTISM Acceptance / Awareness MONTH

Some of Make Studio’s artists, whether they identify as “autistic” or as “a person with autism”, would like to share their thoughts about disability, creativity, and…

FAVES, of course !

L O U I S M I D D L E T O N

“Autism awareness. It is about behavior. Something you feel like. I draw pictures. That’s it.”

G A R Y S C H M E D E S

“Everybody has differences of opinion, but you should respect other people’s differences. This is sometimes hard for me to do. I kind of don’t like hate. Acceptance is okay. I always ask people, “What do you like better: Cats or Dogs?” because I’m worried that cats get too much hate. Sometimes my art might have to do differences or opinions. But it’s funny! Because I’d like to make a drawing of movie critics that happen to be animals- like a tiger and a bear as a pun on Siskel and Ebert!”

T O N Y L a B A T E

Autistic people are rejected from jury duty. I’m glad that people with autism are rejected from jury duty because it’s kind of like being rejected from the army. You can’t have a disability. Positive qualities would be that I’m creative and funny with a great sense of humor! Yes, I draw. I compare my family and friends to characters from the Wizard of Oz and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
PIZZA TIME

April 3, 2013

G E T A P I E C E

…or two. Or ten !

from MAKE STUDIO and JOE SQUARED

at the INNER HARBOR during the month of APRIL

Offering award-winning coal-fired pizza that has been named “one of the nation’s top pizzas” by both Food Nation and Food Network Magazine, family-owned Joe Squared is known for creating an eclectic atmosphere that appeals to all ages by offering free music, great art, and deliciously unusual food and drink.

Throughout April, a selection of recent pieces by Make Studio artists will be displayed at Joe Squared’s Inner Harbor location. Chef Joe is excited to show the work of these artists because, “We consider the arts in Baltimore to be vital to the strength of our community. And what a perfect way to support emerging, local artists– to pair their work with enjoying time with good food, drink and friends!”

Joe Squared will be offering the MAKE ART PIZZA on their menu all month long, with a portion of the proceeds going to support Make Studio.

Friday, April 26, 2013, 5-7PM we’ll have a closing reception to celebrate the show (RSVP appreciated). Our work is on view until April 29. For more, please contact us at 443-627-3502 or info@make-studio.org.
INTRO TO BESS

March 29, 2013

BESS ( aka CIEL Phantonhive ) writes:

How about just some thoughts about my work at first? Yeah. OKay. My work is very dark and creepy. It’s not pink and cute and sweet-sy and bubbly. I know what you’re going to say! But, you’re a girl and you’re happy!? Just because somebody is happy doesn’t mean you can have a dark personality and also I’m not going to limit my work just because it’s not all cute and someone might say: “Hey! I don’t like how you pulled the head off that my little pony toy!”

AND. Oh, also that just because that- because a kid might be looking at it I’m not going to put black bars over the creepy parts. Yeah, I won’t censor it. I might risk ruining the theme of the picture. Because my policy is: I’m here to expose my thoughts, not ruin them! Just because one or two people might say: “I don’t like that bear, because there’s a bullet hole in it.”

I would really like to talk more about this stuff, but I have a really creepy haunted dollhouse painting to work on… before it attacks me! Just kidding. It’s not gonna attack me or you. Gotcha!

“My Lord, there’s a letter here for you.”

Oh, that would be my butler, Sebastian. Got to go.

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