Heavily sought out by celebrities, royalty, collectors and museums, Cochiti Pueblo artist Virgil Ortiz combines art, décor, fashion, video and film in his artwork. While busy with new business ventures (just opening a retail store in Santa Fe in July), Ortiz continues to round-out his artistic portfolio with a new outdoor mural in Corning, NY in collaboration with at-risk high school students and The Rockwell Museum.
Designs are underway and Ortiz will visit Corning from September 26 – September 30, 2016 to paint the mural alongside student artists. The mural will be located on the back building façade of Captain Morgan’s, a restaurant on Bridge Street in Corning’s Gaffer District. During an Urban Arts Crawl event, the mural will be unveiled and a public reception is planned for Friday September 30 from 5-8 p.m.
Corning’s Art Alley Project murals are the result of a special collaboration between The Rockwell Museum and the High School Learning Center of the Corning-Painted Post Area School District. Since 2009, The Rockwell and the school district have worked together in conjunction with downtown planning agencies and business owners to make this project a reality.
Beyond the notoriety of his artistic talent, Ortiz’s professional agenda centers on a lifelong dream to create opportunities for children in his tribal community that reflect the legacy of his ancestors. After meeting with The Rockwell and learning more about the student population served by the High School Learning Center program, Ortiz offered to return to Corning in 2016 to work with students in the design and execution of a mural.
All summer, students have studied Ortiz’s Ancient Elder sculpture on view at The Rockwell, a work developed as part of Ortiz’s futuristic revolution story taking place in 2180 that restores sacred lands to the Pueblo peoples. Inspired by this work, students created their own “super power” characters who are meant to help bring about important changes needed in society such as equality for all peoples. A final drawing is being created by Mr. Ortiz, incorporating elements of the students’ work that will become this year’s Alley Art Mural. Under Ortiz’s guidance, the mural drawing will be painted by the HSLC students beginning in August.
Each academic year, students fulfill mandatory Art and English Language Arts (ELA) credits during their time spent at The Rockwell. Guided by Rockwell educators, students use the American art collection at The Rockwell as a catalyst for creative writing and art making. Students create individual pieces of art that work as elements of a larger mural. Designs are later painted on the alley facades of downtown businesses by the students. There are now a total of seven murals and plans are underway for another this year.
“Art is intended to be a part of our everyday lives – to inspire and to be enjoyed in the communities in which we live,” says Gigi Alvaré, Director of Education at The Rockwell Museum in Corning, NY.
“The Alley Art Project provides students an outlet to express themselves and is a way in which they can contribute something positive to their community. Most importantly, an incredible sense of pride is gained,” says Alvaré.
The mural project is changing students’ lives, evidenced by the story of a former student and successful graduate of the HSLC. A highly creative and talented artist, a student participant in the first alley art mural now serves as the artist-in-residence on the project.
“This story is ‘full circle’ for me – it takes a village to raise creative and caring students and the Alley Art Project has deeply connected many students to our community,” continues Alvare.
To check out these murals in person, you can begin in the parking lot of The Rockwell. Four can be seen just around the corner from The Rockwell’s entrance. A full listing can be found here: http://rockwellmuseum.org/community-education/education-programs/alley-art-project-2/
This project is made possible by grants from The Triangle Fund and Great Circle Foundation, Inc.
About The Rockwell Museum
The Rockwell Museum, in association with the Smithsonian Institution, tells the story of the American experience through a display of stunning art about America. Founded in 1976, The Rockwell is an evolving community center which showcases the best of America through compelling exhibitions and imaginative programs. The diverse collection includes a mix of contemporary Native American art with traditional bronze sculptures, landscape paintings and other works that embody America. Housed in the beautifully restored 19th century Old City Hall building, The Rockwell is active in the local community and holds special events and educational programming with area public schools. The Rockwell provokes curiosity, engagement and reflection about art and the American experience.
About the High School Learning Center
The HSLC is a collaborative effort among C-PP School District, Corning Community College, the local business community, local museums and area not-for-profit organizations. Since its inception in 2003, the alternative program features a curriculum that is directly aligned with the District’s learning goals. >more information
About Virgil Ortiz
Hailing from a family of celebrated Pueblo potters, Virgil Ortiz moves into a new era combining art, décor, fashion, video and film. Ortiz’s exquisite clay works are exhibited worldwide from the National Museum of the American Indian in New York’s Hergotenbosh Museum in The Netherlands, to Fondation Cartier in Paris, France featuring Vertigo, a 21-piece clay series acquired by the museum for their permanent collection. Born in 1969, the youngest of six children, Ortiz grew up in a creative environment in which storytelling, collecting clay, gathering wild plants, and producing figurative pottery were part of everyday life; his grandmother Laurencita Herrera and his mother, Seferina Ortiz, were both renowned Pueblo potters and part of an ongoing matrilineal heritage. After a highly successful collaboration with fashion mogul Donna Karan, which he developed boldly patterned textiles based on his graphic decorative painting, Ortiz has since launched his own fashion line. >more information
