FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 3, 2008
Contact: Mary Ann Schoenberger, Director
Southwest Center
Volunteers of America - Minnesota
(612) 822-3194 or mschoenberger@voamn.org
Intergenerational Mosaic Mural Project at Southwest Center Seeks Community Volunteers
(Minneapolis—September 3) Southwest Senior Center is scheduled to embark on a huge community art project that will culminate in a 100 square foot mosaic mural on the Center’s exterior wall, adjacent to the parking lot at 3612 Bryant Avenue South in Minneapolis. During September and October, Center seniors will work with students from Barton Open School, volunteers from East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association (EHFNA), Calhoun Area Residents Action Group (CARAG), and area residents, to develop and construct the mosaic mural.
Volunteers are needed to help complete the project. Southwest Center invites community members of all ages to take part by helping design and construct the mural. The community is encouraged to participate in the “Visioning Workshops” (dates below) which will determine the design elements to be featured in the mural. The artist, Maria Ricke, co-owner of Mosaic on a Stick in St. Paul, will create the design based on community input and will outline the mural on sections of mesh. Volunteers will work together during the “Mural Workshops” (dates below) to fill in the design sections with mosaic tile. These sections will then be affixed to the side of the building by the artist. Volunteers are invited to participate in the workshops as often as they are able and should feel free to bring friends, family members, neighbors, children and grandchildren to the workshops.
“This is a unique opportunity for the community to participate in an intergenerational art project that will improve and beautify the neighborhood. We are hopeful that everyone who takes part in the project will feel a sense of pride and ownership about the building and those in the surrounding area,” said Mary Ann Schoenberger, Director of Southwest Center.
In addition the mosaic mural, Southwest Center will improve the building by painting the parking lot and alley walls.
The mosaic mural project at Southwest Center is funded by CARAG, EHFNA and Volunteers of America-Minnesota and a grant from the City of Minneapolis Department of Public Works.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
All activities will take place at Southwest Center, 3612 Bryant Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55409.
Saturday, September 6 at 10:00 a.m.
Visioning Workshop – Community volunteers are needed to help shape the theme, images and design elements of the mural.
Monday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m.
Visioning Workshop – Community volunteers are needed to help shape the theme, images and design elements of the mural.
Wednesday, September 10 at 1:00 p.m.
Visioning Workshop – Community volunteers are needed to help shape the theme, images and design elements of the mural.
Monday, September 15 at 6:00 p.m.
“Mosaic Assistant” training workshop
Monday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m.
Mural Workshop – Community volunteers are needed to help construct the mural by filling in design sections with mosaic tile.
Friday, September 26 at 1:00 p.m.
Mural Workshop – Community volunteers are needed to help construct the mural by filling in design sections with mosaic tile.
Saturday, September 27 at 10:00 a.m.
Mural Workshop – Community volunteers are needed to help construct the mural by filling in design sections with mosaic tile.
Tuesday, September 30 at 1:00 p.m.
Mural Workshop – Community volunteers are needed to help construct the mural by filling in design sections with mosaic tile.
Wednesday, October 8 at 1:00 p.m.
Mural Workshop – Community volunteers are needed to help construct the mural by filling in design sections with mosaic tile.
About Southwest Center
Southwest Center, a program of Volunteers of America-Minnesota, serves the neighboring Minneapolis community through a wide variety of programs, services and volunteer opportunities that support the health and independence of older adults. The Center strives to be a welcoming environment where seniors feel comfortable socializing and learning ways to enhance their physical and mental health. Southwest’s current programs and services include health and nutrition programs, including senior dining; exercise classes; health screenings, diabetes club; presentations on assorted wellness topics; a variety of educational and cultural events; volunteer opportunities; caregiver support services, social work services for Medicare, housing, financial and legal issues; and “DayElders” adult day service.
About Volunteers of America of Minnesota
Volunteers of America of Minnesota is a nonprofit organization founded in 1896 which offers a wide variety of services to more than 27,000 children, adolescents and their families, older adults, students, persons with disabilities and special needs, and ex-offenders each year. It is one of the oldest, largest and most comprehensive human service organizations in the state and has more than 60 programs, 700 employees and 4,000 volunteers. Volunteers of America has a rich history of developing innovative, quality programs to meet emerging social issues and prides itself on sponsoring programs which are able to articulate explicitly the outcomes achieved in its program participants' lives. For more information about Volunteers of America of Minnesota, visit www.voamn.org, or call (952) 945-4000.
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