#binationalprogramming

El proyecto FOCUS: Youth Empowerment through Social Practice Art está en marcha desde el pasado octubre gracias a la colaboración entre el Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de San Diego, o MCASD, y el Museo Tamayo de Ciudad de México. Los fondos para lanzarlo provienen de la beca Museums Connect.

Participantes de TAG del Museo de Arte Contemporáneo San Diego y FOCUS de MUSEO TAMAYO capturan su experiencia en los techos de la Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México. Una vista única en la vida de la ciudad sin fin.

Youth Empowerment Through Social Practice Art: Strategies for Coping with Violence and Trauma

Students reflect after experiencing a two-week exchange between the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and the Tamayo Museum in Mexico City.

Sophia G., San Diego Not even close to all the things I immensely enjoyed, but just a few: seeing various installations of awesome diverse contemporary art; walking through downtown blindfolded; eating a delicious green tamale bought from the tamalero outside our hotel; watching a jazz performance that pleasantly was not at all what I expected; the countless conversations we had in the van while traveling from one place to another; walking through the plaza de las Tres Culturas and learning the context and history surrounding it; visiting el increíble Museo Antropológico; seeing los voladores de Papantla; taking multiple flights of stairs to see Mexico City from high up, not once but three times; and realizing later, after arriving home, that the photos and videos I'd taken had completely filled up my phone's library.

Gustavo F.P.B., Ciudad de México Chicos, estoy seguro que esta es una de las experiencias más importantes, para mi formación personal y artística, he aprendido tanto de cada uno de ustedes, tanto de México como de San Diego. Aprender de la cultura en San Diego y todo el movimiento artístico fue muy gratificante, tienen una hermosa y amable ciudad.

Les aseguro que todos tienen grandes ideas, grandes proyectos, no solo para FOCUS si no en general, estoy seguro que a todos les ira increíblemente en lo que sea que se dediquen, derechos humanos, arte, física. etc.

Volver a descubrir la ciudad de México con ustedes, fue increíble, estoy enamorado desde hace mucho de mi ciudad y compartirla con ustedes y ver que les gustara es realmente gratificante, disfrute mucho acompañar a los chicos de San Diego a Chapultepec o Polanco o Downtown, a pesar de mi pésimo inglés, gracias por ponerme atención.

Todo esto es una oportunidad increíble de aprendizaje crecimiento y sobre todo creación, debemos esforzarnos y dar un excelente proyecto final.

Ainsleigh D., San Diego By far this was one of the most memorable trips that I've been on so far. I believe that because I was able to learn so much and connect with other teenagers who share my same passion is what made it so enjoyable. I really benefitted from the activities having to do with sounds and music. The tour at the Cathedral of Mexico was one of my highlights of the trip, specifically sitting on top of the roof listening to the bells ring. I really wish I could have fully captured the essence of Mexico City because it was more captivating than pictures can describe. This trip was extremely motivational and I can't wait to see the final product of our projects.

Lya N., Ciudad de México Pues creo que ha sido una de las experiencias más lindas que he tenido. Estuvo y está llena de aprendizajes y momentos que nunca creí poder tener.

I don't think I can choose just one single moment (perhaps two) that I enjoyed the most, obviously there were moments that were better than other ones.

Creo que una de mis cosas favoritas fue Chicano Park, creo que fue un claro ejemplo de la mezcla de estas dos culturas, que honestamente, es de lo que más me interesa y parece interesante del FOCUS en general. Me pareció muy buena elección que invitaran a Berenice, a parte de que tiene un trabajo que creo es muy bueno, sabe hablar y tiene toda una historia y contexto por detrás.

I really liked the [workshop] part, when you took us to work with Felix. I really liked his work, I mean, he really made me realize how important sound is, I swear I've never thought of it in that way.

First Row: Valentina, Katherine-Education Assistant, Sophia, Bridget, Marissa, Allison, Enzo, Ainsleigh, Danielle, Tien, Lexi, Flor, Lulu Bottom Row: Cris-Education Curator, Catrina, Renata, - , Karina

Teen Advisory Group (TAG) Participants on why they decided to participate in this year’s project. 

MCASD's Teen Advisory Group (TAG) is composed of diverse teens representing high schools from across San Diego who explore contemporary art by meeting with local artists and discussing art in the Museum's galleries. TAG also imagines, develops, and realizes projects designed to reach the wider Museum audience and advises the Museum on the design, promotion, and staffing of teen programs. This year's TAG members also had to opportunity to participate in MCASD's Museums Connect program, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) that paired MCASD with Museo Tamayo in Mexico City. Through Museums Connect, teens from both countries are working together to create a multimedia exhibition about the role of violence in both of their cultures, and were able to visit each other as part of a week-long exchage.

We asked a few of our TAG team members about their experiences and what TAG means to them.

Ainsleigh Douglas, age 17 San Marcos High School

MCASD: What made you want to apply to be part of TAG? Ainsleigh: This program is enticing because I am able to surround myself with creative thinkers and artists similar to myself. I applied because I wanted to experience working with other students on topics that aren't normally discussed in an art setting.

MCASD: Why do you think it’s important that teens explore the role of violence in their communities? Ainsleigh: It's important for teens to develop open mindedness and knowledge in all areas. Violence is a topic that is not normally discussed but is also very important so we can learn from it. By learning about violence we are able to develop personal awareness and bring awareness to other members of society.

MCASD: What about TAG excites you most? Ainsleigh: Developing experiences with other artist my age excites me the most. But also learning about different mediums of art such as videos.

Karina Hernandez, age 17 Chula Vista High School

MCASD: What made you want to apply to be part of TAG? Karina: I joined this program because it was a way of me of experiencing new things and meet new people, and I really enjoyed the idea of using art to deal with and help change violent behaviors in the world.

MCASD: Why do you think it’s important that teens explore the role of violence in their communities? Karina: In a way explore violence and what causes it in a way to it seems to as a form of exposing it to the world and their buy its a significant way of stopping it, by actually taking the first step in order to prevent it.

MCASD: What about TAG excites you most? Karina: What I find most gratifying in this program is the alternatives it offers me in order to express my disapproval of violence in the world. I can use art as a healthy weapon to fight this challenge that the world has faced for a very long time.

Bridget Brightfield

MCASD: What made you want to apply to be part of TAG? Bridget: I was really excited and interested to be apart of an exchange program especially through art and meet new artist and make friends.

MCASD: Why do you think it’s important that teens explore the role of violence in their communities? Bridget: It helps educate the youth so that they may make a difference as opposed to being passive. Programs like this one allow us to reach out to many people and hopefully make a change.

MCASD: What about TAG excites you most? Bridget: The exchange trip to Mexico, to be able to experience another side of art, and to learn more.

Alexia Colmenero, age 16 Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High

MCASD: What made you want to apply to be part of TAG? Alexia: A recommendation from a former school director influenced me to apply.

MCASD: Why do you think it’s important that teens explore the role of violence in their communities? Alexia: I think it's important to explore the theme of violence in our communities so that we will be more aware of what violence is, and how to prevent unneeded violence.

MCASD: What about TAG excites you most? Alexia: This project excites me because it lets me develop my video editing skills, and gives me a place outside of school to meet new people.

Tien Thuy Thai, age 15 Hoover High School

MCASD: What made you want to apply to be part of TAG? Tien: A teacher recommend the program to me and my friends. He mentioned art making and that we might get to go to Mexico if we are good at the thing we are asked to do, so it intrigued me.

MCASD: Why do you think it’s important that teens explore the role of violence in their communities? Tien: I believe it is because that teens are the future. Teens are going to be the new age of technology and every other thing I think. It is important that we have a good grip of what is happening across the US and the rest of the world, and when we have the power to create some sort of influence on the new world, we just might be able to lower the crime and violence that we have learned about.