Local Teens Working to See That Art Does Its Part for Over-the-Rhine Date: July 6, 2000 By: Mary Bridget Reilly Phone: (513) 556-1824 Archive: General News Area teens and University of Cincinnati students are sketching a new future for Over- the-Rhine, creating public art works to serve as a lasting legacy in the economically troubled neighborhood. Thirteen teens from Withrow, Taft, Aiken and Western Hills high schools as well as Hughes Center and Dater Junior High School -- along with four UC students -- are working till Aug. 30, using the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood as their arts canvas. The students are led by Frank Russell, director of UC's Community Design Center, and Traci Rigaud, program coordinator. Serving as mentors in the project are local artists and counselors from the Cincinnati Committee on Youth. The teens are working on the following projects: Four abstract sculptures made of diversely shaped cut, molded and burnt copper sheets resting atop solid blocks of wood: These six-foot-tall works, reminiscent of totem poles, represent the history of the neighborhood and the artists' visions of the environment and themselves. Tentative locations for the sculptures are the Elm Street playground (just north of the intersection of W. Elder and Elm); on the north edge of the Findlay Market parking lot (adjacent to Findlay St.); a Vine Street playground; and Levi Alley. Paintings that use wood window panels as a canvas: These panels will be placed in the windows of an abandoned building that forms the north edge of the Elm Street playground. Signs to guide shoppers to Findlay Market. Benches that may be placed in the Elm Street playground and in the Findlay Market square. For Withrow student Deborah Perkins of Bond Hill, the project is a homecoming of sorts since she grew up in the Over-the-Rhine community. "I want to do art that will draw families. I want to do something to aid the community...I also want to study art when I'm older," she said. Students (and sisters) Nikki and Faye Jenkins of the West End agreed that giving something back to the community was the best part of the program, adding they wanted to give their best to the residents. "The community is also ours because we work here," explained Nikki Jenkins. The students are working from 8 a.m.-noon daily in a store front on the north side of Findlay Market. (The storefront is located two buildings to the left of 108 W. Elder St. in Over-the-Rhine.) The works created by this group will be added to those created in the past four years by other UC-sponsored groups. Past works include planters, sculptures, and a community gateway at the corner of Findlay and Race streets. "I like it that UC is dispersing itself throughout the city, that we're branching out like this," said UC fine art student Amos Hopkins of Northside, a graduate of the School for Creative and Performing Arts, who is also participating in the Over-the-Rhine art project. "It's great to see all the people who can impact Over-the-Rhine." The team approach is emphasized, according to Russell, adding, "The community has historic buildings and people with talent. It has physical, cultural and social assets. It has a physical vigor. The kids have energy, enthusiasm, talent..." In addition to UC, others sponsoring the project include the Citizens Committee for Youth. Funding for summer 2000 program includes a $25,000 grant from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) as well as support from UC. Past funding for the program (in the last four summers) have come from the OAC, Cincinnati Youth Commission, SEGOE Foundation, Otto Budig Foundation, UC's Institute for Community Partnerships and UC's Urban University Program. In addition to UC students Amos Hopkins, Liberty Wampler, Thomas Ruane and Shirley McCauley, local youth participating in the program are: Taft student B. Marrikko Alexandre of South Fairmount Aiken student Beverly Chambers of Northside Withrow student Patrice Kirk of Northside Taft student Antonio Dodds of Walnut Hills Taft student Faye Jenkins of the West End Taft graduate and incoming UC student Nikki Jenkins of the West End Withrow student Sherri Johnson of Golf Manor Withrow student Deborah Perkins of Bond Hill Hughes student James Lamb of Clifton Dater student Brittany Sparks of Clifton Dater student Shadae Lampkin of Westwood Western Hills student Derren Murray of Price Hill Hughes student Chris Rozier of Westwood