Members: 

Juana Velazques

Judith Colunga

Anahi Santiago

Benjamin Martinez (Anahi's son)

Anabel

Maria

Sarahi

Ramon Torres

Laura Chavez

Teacher: Rosalba Rodriguez Artist: Jessica Mueller

Big Idea: Clay as Home

This year our class began with conversations about the materials and concepts community members were interested in exploring leading to dialogue about the characteristics and history of the clay. We discussed clay's ties to “home”, its rustic nature, how it is a gift from the earth that has been used to sustain human existence for all of history and how it continues to evolve with new technologies, being one of the most sustainable materials out there even in architectural structures. Since then the class has unfolded through making and conversation. A new clay based artist was introduced weekly, with diverse backgrounds and meaning in their work– simultaneously we began to explore sculpting and throwing with clay. Our final pieces, when combined, create a  "little rustic city" made of red clay and richly painted with gouache, inspired by our year-long conversation. 

Screenshots from our early conversations that led to our big idea and inquiry for the year.

Ana Gomez

Nicole Marroquin

Nicole Marroquin is an interdisciplinary artist, researcher and teacher educator whose current research looks at Chicago school uprisings between 1967-74. She has recently been an artist in-residence at the Chicago Cultural Center, with the Propeller Fund at Mana Contemporary, at Watershed, Ragdale, ACRE and Oxbow. In 2017 she presented her art and research at the Hull House Museum, Northwestern University and the Museum of Contemporary Art.  In 2015, Marroquin was invited to present research at the University of Chicago in conjunction with the exhibit The City Lost and Found: Capturing New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, 1960–1980 and at the Art Institute of Chicago for the symposium The Wall of Respect and People’s Art Since 1967.  Her essays are included in the Chicago Social Practice History Series, Revista Contratiempo and AREA Chicago Magazine, and her work is in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Mexican Art.  In 2012 her work was featured in the 1ro Bienial Continental de Arte Indigenas Contemporaria at the Museo Nacional De Culturas Populares in Mexico City. She was a Joan Mitchell Fellow at the Center for Racial Justice Innovation in 2014, and she received the Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz Women of Excellence Award in 2011 for her work in her community.  She received an MFA from the University of Michigan in 2008 and she is Associate Professor in the Department of Art Education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Exploring other artists and techniques

Our class is all family and they are all artists! Here, Juanita is showing off her adult son's wood carvings that he creates regularly from found wood. Her sisters and nieces also join us either in person when visiting from Mexico or via Zoom. Their parents, often brought up in class, were dancers and musicians- resulting in them being brought up in a very creative home. Currently Juanita and Maria (Anahi's mother/Juanita's sister) are working on publishing a book about their father's life story.

¡¡¡SO MANY PUPPIES!!!

+ some cats and 1 turtle!

Our group definitely bonded throughout the year over our love for our pups, cats, turtle, and bunny! Visits to Rosalba's house to see her 10 puppies and their momma and guest appearances from Juanita and Anahi's pups on Zoom were a major highlight this year. Dog in doghouse ceramic created by Benjamin.

¡The importance of food!

Kindred Cafe Community Class Exhibition

This is our second year sharing our work at Kindred Cafe, a popular, local cafe in West Chicago. It's become somewhat of a tradition as well as a welcoming place to celebrate our work together. On exhibit are paintings, wood burning plaques, screen prints | serigraphia on paper, fabric, and t-shirts created by community members during last summer and the 2021-22 school year. Over the duration of the year, participants learned about color theory, gauche and acrylic paint, experimental painting, and drawing techniques. We attended a workshop at P.O. Box Collective in Chicago where we embroidered, block printed, and drew as we mingled with parents from other CAPE schools. Our final class was held at Gallery 200 in West Chicago. During this time we ate, laughed, screen printed, drew, and made zines. It was an extremely active afternoon of making and being together.

It became clear that participants were very engaged in learning new artistic techniques during class and applying them on their own terms outside of class time. Each time we would return, most would have created several paintings and/or drawings utilizing what they had learned in the prior class. This helped evolve our inquiry to How do we suelta nuestra pelo | let our hair down? which is a play on ideas of experimentation, enjoyment, self care, and going with the flow. We learned that the freedom for participants to go in different directions with thoughtful guidance is key to growth with this group. 

A major highlight of our year was our class trip to Chicago's Ceramic Center in the Avondale neighborhood. Rosalba picked everyone up from their homes in West Chicago and traveled together for the 2 hour drive to Chicago. We met at Rockwell on the River (cluster of resturants and business along the Chicago River on the city's north side). Anahi brought her mom and Laura joined us for the first time in a while. Although a little nervous at first, everyone got their aprons on and jumped right in! This was a great reminder that wheel throwing is not easy, but VERY gratifying. For many members, it was their first experience with throwing clay. Our instructor, A.T. Craig was patient, kind and super generous with their knowledge of clay. There was lots of laughter as we learned the properties of clay, including a funny incident where Rosalba offered to help Anahi's mom, and instead accidentally ruined her work. There was nothing to do but laugh afterwards and keep creating. Everyone was able to make 2-4 pieces and choose a glaze color. We ended the night with delicious drinks, empanadas, steak, and loud music at Barra ñ on Elston Avenue. Every one was home by 2am- latest CAPE class ever!!!