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At Arte Acción Copán Ruinas we use the arts to teach our students in an interactive and fun way in which the children learn how to express their thoughts and feelings We´re more interested in the process of creation than the final result. Art classes should be fun in the first place. If our students learn about social issues, besides all kinds of skills, and we can make the world more beautiful at the same time, so much the better! |
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Painting murals with children has always formed an important part of our program. Not only because of the permanent and public result: murals are made through a team effort that inspires and they are a lot of fun to do. |
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*Goodbye Girls in Action
This last time we got together with our Girls in Action we decided to go for a walk. Although some girls complained a bit, it was a wonderful hike. At Hacienda San Lucas walked through the jungle and visit a well. Then we stopped at the Pavilion Gaia for lemonade and, more importantly, for a small ceremony of offering a gift (flowers, seeds and leaves that the girls were found on the way) and explaining why we are grateful in life. It was all very intimate and it was heartbreaking to see them go leave afterwards...
Each girl received a copy of the book colors which made two weeks earlier, a CD with over a hundred photos of the workshops and a diploma. December 18, 2010
* Mural in Santa Cruz
During the inauguration of the new school in Santa Cruz we promised the children and the teacher a mural. In December, we painted for three days. Now the school looks like a jungle ... December 2010
* Mural in Copan Public Kindergarten
With our Girls in Action we painted a mural at the kindergarten Eva Morazán de Zuniga in Copan . November 2010
*Art in Santa Cruz
We continue with our weekly art / literature classes in the small community of Santa Cruz. The children no longer receive classes in the small mud building but in a brand new school building where we’ll soon paint a mural. Next year we’ll continue supporting this school with several extra-curricular activities. February – December, 2010
* Art for All, Sevilla, Spain
After participating in the Mural & Sculpture event Art for All in Tegucigalpa in 2004, Carin no participated in the same event held in Sevilla, Spain. For more information and the mural design: www.artforall.artnota.com.
September 27- October 10, 2010
* Children's Newspaper III & IV
With the distribution of the last two editions of our children’s newspaper, we wrapped up this Project. The kids loved to read their own stories, poems, riddles and news, as well as the activities that also appeared in PeriódiCopán. August - October, 2010
* Art for Auction
Rotary Club International has donated new desks to the public school in Copán Ruinas this year and for next year they have new bathroom on the agenda. A local Rotary Club member asked us if we could organize an art workshops of which the result will be auctioned off top (in the US) to raise funds for the new bathroom. So we did: a group of fourth grades made about 40 fabulous paintings, already on their way to make the US. September 8 , 2010
* Maya Mural
Carin, Elsa and Marlen painted in the Maya Chorti community of Choncó a mural on one wall of the school. Despite the long walk, the hot sun and later the threat of a storm, the mural was completed in just a couple of days, with a constant audience of curious kids.. The mural is full of Maya symbolism and it’s message is that we have to care for our natural resources. August 25, 2010
* Children's Newspaper II
The second edition of PeridóCopán is out! This time we didn’t offer any workshops, but asked children from town and surrounding villages to submit a contribution. And so they did! We received enough material to fill three newspapers, hence the fact that the newspaper now has 4 extra pages of stories, jokes, drawings and activities. July 12, 2010
* Children's Newspaper I
On 24 April, during an event organized by the Public Library to celebrate the Day of Language, we proudly presented our new children's newspaper called PeriódiCopán. It is a newspaper by and for children which will be published four times this year. This first edition was prepared during a series of workshops offered at the Public Library. It contains stories, articles, trivia, jokes and various fun activities for children. We distributed 1,000 copies among the children of Copán Ruinas and the villages around town. April 24, 2010
*Art in Santa Cruz
Last year we fell in love with the school in the village of Santa Cruz de Rincón del Buey. The school is nothing but a small adobe building with barely enough space for its 24 students. There was hardly any supplies or furniture, but the children enthusiastically participated in our workshops. So this year we return once a week to Santa Cruz to paint and draw and play with children as well. February - November, 2010
*Children's Newspaper Project
A new project this year is the publication of a children's newspaper every four months. At the time we are meeting once a week with a group of about 15 children in the Public Library of Copán Ruinas. The children receive workshops on various topics related to the press, such as the story of the daily newspaper, the labor, free speech, and ethics. Meanwhile, the children also write articles, stories, poems and riddles to publish in their own newspaper. When finished, we’ll distribute about 1,000 copies of the newspaper among the children of Copán and surrounding villages. For the second edition also hope to have contributions from children in rural communities. February – October, 2010
*Girls in Action
We continue with our weekly workshops for girls every Saturday. Without the presence of hyperactive boys with different interests, the girls spend their time doing art and crafts to suit your tastes. Each workshop begins with a story and a short talk on the topic of the day. Then the girls start their magic with different tools and techniques. Until January this year Maylyn Perez always helped us, our student once, then assistant, but she left us to go study in Guatemala. Our new assistant is also a former student: Alpha Ramirez. January - December, 2010
2009
*Little Art Project, Germany
Just before the vacation started, volunteer Eva Koschutnig organized a series of art workshops for children, so they could participate in an international art exhibition organized by the German NGO Little Art. The children made drawings about their beliefs and wishes for the future. The artwork will be exhibited in 2010 in Slovenia, Seoul and Munich. December 14-16, 2009
* Art Therapy for our staff
During November and December, Dutch volunteer Eva Koschutnig has offered a series
of art therapy workshops to our staff members. The session were very interesting
and our staff learned about the benefits of using the arts as a medium, as well
as many new exercises that promote values such as collaboration, sharing, building
self esteem etc. November - December, 2009
*Art and Circus in Santa Cruz
Our two new Dutch volunteers Marjon Duits and Eva Koschutnig started a series of art and circus workshops in the tiny school of the community of Santa Cruz de Rincón del Buey. The school is nothing but a small mud building and classes are often interrupted by wandering turkeys. But what matters is that the kids love to paint, juggle and participate in the many games we offer. October- November 2009
*Books & Art
The public library of Copán is trying to attract more people and we are glad to help! Each Thursday we now offer an art workshop for children at the public library, of course inspired by literature (The August-December workshops are posponed due to the remodelling of the library). June-July, 2009
*Art Corner 2009
It took a while before we were able to get back to the community of Rincón del Buey, but here we are: each Monday and Friday our volunteer Nina du Mée teaches art workshops or organizes fun games to the children of grade 4-6. May- October, 2009
*Girls in Action 2009
While a lot of our activities are suspended during the school vacations (that
happens when you mostly work at schools), the Girls in Action never take a break!
Since January of this year we do an art & fun workshop each Saturday and
the group of girls keeps growing … growing.
January-December, 2009
2008
*”Girls in Action”
Update
Every Saturday a group of about twelve girls come to our office for some action.
They read stories, do crafts and play games. The fact that it’s just girls
makes organizing the classes so much easier, because they just love everything:
jewelry boxes, masks, bracelets, witches hats… They also loved the pool
where we took them to celebrate children’s day and another favourite workshop
was making “madeleines”, dolls made of pipe cleaners, a workshops
conducted by two young visitors, Madeleine and Alessa Cáceres. Every
Saturday
*”Art Corner” Update
Three times a week, the children in Rincón del Buey keep
enjoying their art classes. Volunteer Rimkje Taylor invents new crafts and activities
for each class: picture frames, masks, mobiles, self-portraits and much more.
September is the month of civic holidays, so the art classes carried the same
themes. The children made pictures of what they like about their country and
what could be improved. Our instructor Luís Vado often helps out with
games and sport activities. The children are so happy with these classes that
we decided to continue them, even after the end of the school year, by November
3. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
*”Girls in Action”
Secret Art Club
So, we did cancel our open Saturday workshops, but that doesn’t mean we
don’t continue doing crazy art stuff! Our most loyal students are girls
and since our baseball practices are mostly attended by boys, we thought it
would be nice to have a girls club just for girls where they can have fun without
being disturbed by those naughty boys. A secret club that is, because we can
have but a limited number of kids in our headquarters an besides, it is secret
too because it’s none of the boys’ business. During the first workshop
we set the rules, experimented a bit with oil pastels and paint, we played games
and came up with a name for the club: Girls in Action! July 5 - present
*The
Last Saturday workshop
. For
more than nine years we have offered this open art workshop to the children
of Copán, but today was the very last workshop. At least for now. Since
we moved from La Casa de Todo into our new office, we don’t have enough
space for our playground and enormous amounts of kids participating, so we have
been conducting these workshops at the Central park of Copán Ruinas,
This meant dragging our stuff up and down the streets every week and less challenging
art activities, because we didn’t have any furniture there, neither could
we justify covering the Central Park in thick layers of paint. But at least
there was enough space to walk on stills, jump rope or play ball games. Little
by little though, fewer children appeared for the workshop and the ones who
kept attending were not the ones from the lowest income class for which the
workshops were initially designed. So when the generous financing from ACT
(Action for Community Transformation) stopped after six years, we decided
to call it quits. At least for the moment, because the girls (the majority of
our participants anyway) who have most loyally attended our Saturday workshops
continue in a new program: Girls in Action! June 28, 2008
*Update on the Art Workshops
(Various)
The kids love our new art project (Art Corner) in the community of
Rincón del Buey! Dutch Volunteer Rimkje Taylor is coordinating the project
with much success. On Mondays she works with the thirty odd students of grade
5 & 6, on Wednesday with grade 4 and on Friday it’s the third graders’
turn. Rimkje has a lot of help from short-term volunteers from all over the
world who offer their services. After initial confusion the kids now know exactly
when to come and always bring their nametag that indicates their day of class.
The Saturday workshop continues, as always, despite the heat in the park. Last
week each child received a copy of our brand new edition of our coloring book
about Maya culture. The kids were very interested in learning more about the
Mayas and colouring the pages. May 26, 2008
*Mother's
Day Frenzy with Younger Kids
. Every
once in a while we receive complaints: at the rural schools we work mostly with
children in grade 4-6, but younger children also want to particpate and thus
demand justice... Right now, these younger kids are lucky, because we have a
french volunteer, Mathilde Gineste, who is willing to do all kinds of fun stuff
with the little onesusually when our facilitator Londin velásquez teaches
the older children about Maya culture. Right now Mother's Day is the big theme,
but painting rocks is also a much enjoyed activity. April of 2008 - Present
*Art
Corner
. A
new program! From today on we’ll teach three workshops a week in the community
of Rincón del Buey. The program consists in art classes, games, storytelling,
theater workshops, sport and much more. We teach at the community centre next
to the school and work in close collaboration with the teachers, so we can complement
their academic work. The kick-off today was a bit chaotic, because we didn’t
exactly know what to expect, and as usual we got a lot more than we bargained
for. In stead of the 22 students from grade 5 and 6 who were invited by their
teachers, we had more than fifty children who wanted to join in our mask making
workshop. From Next class on, each of the aproximately 75 student of grade 3-6
will have his or her own nametag with a colour code indicating the day of class.
May 5, 2008 - Present
*Multidisciplinary
Art Workshops about Health in Nueva Alianza
. Our
third and last series of workshop about health in the community of Nueva Alianza,
not so long ago a highly inaccessible village, but now that the roads are fixed,
it takes no longer than two hours by car to get there. We knew to expect quite
a lot of children, but a total of 138 was more than we bargained for….
It was a tough two days, not only because the overwhelming number of kids, but
also because they were much less disciplined than all other children we worked
with before. Sitting still and listening to a teacher is not something they
appear to be used to which made the work a bit harder for us, but in the end
we managed to develop most activities as planned. However, we were glad when
it was over. Mission accomplished! Now just writing two activity books based
on our experiences…. April 9-10, 2008
*Multidisciplinary
Art Workshops about Health in El Tesorito
Our
second two-day series of art activities about health in an even more remote
village, developed for World
Vision. This time, though, we were much better prepared and the workshops
went very well, not in the least because we worked with much less children than
initially expected.
We started the first day by handing out nametags to all the kids, divided in
age groups, each with their own group name (The Mangos, The Apples, The Brooms
and The Toothbrushes). This way it was much easier to keep control over the
group and we could make sure every child was doing the right activity at the
right time. Londin conducted his photography workshops, Carin had the children
draw and write about health issues and painted a mural with the kids the next
day; while Ron took some of the kids on a walk through the community where they
filmed sketches on do’s and don’ts, about health. Our volunteer
Mathilde and Peace Corps volunteer Sarah entertained the younger children
with games, stories and Sarah’s great song about washing hands. And of
course there was a film festival at night. April 2-3, 2008
*Multidisciplinary
Art Workshops about Health in Montecristo
First of a series of workshops about health issues in the community of Montecristo,
a 2,5 hour drive from Copán Ruinas. We taught 103 children (age 3-14)
about hygiene, purified water, contamination and nutrition, all through art
workshops, mural painting, photography workshops and a film festival. The project
will be repeated in two more communities and the final results will be used
in the publication of a series of activity books for children. This project
is sponsored by World
Vision. March 5-6, 2008
*Advanced
Course for Young Adults
A new course for young adults that includes art history classes, photography,
video and drama workshops. February 15 -March, 2008
*Maya Culture Art Workshops
Continuation of our Maya program consisting in monthly
art workshops in 18 communities about Maya culture, archaeology and conservation,
taught by our facilitators Moisés Mancía and Lóndin Velásquez.
February - December, 2008
2007
*Art
Workshops in the Park
While awaiting our new location in the restored fort of Copán, we teach
our Saturday workshops at the Central Park. Since we have no furniture there,
we can't do elaborate art work, but there's plenty of space to skip rope, walk
on stilts or draw with chalk. February 2007 - Present
*Advanced
Course for Young Adults
Series of workshops for the students of our advanced course. They received carpentry
workshops, classes on HIV /AIDS prevention and gender issues; as well as drama classes.
The end of this year's course was celebrated with a get-together at the Hot
Springs on December 21. August - December, 2007
*Graphic
Design for Young Adults
Basic course of 4 workshops about theories and techniques of graphic design.
Classes taught by Mary Bennaton. August 7-17, 2007
*World
Map
Ancient looking world map with Maya details painted on a wall
of La Casa Populorum, Ostuman, Copán,painted by Canadian volunteer
Greg Horne and the adolescent inhabitants of the home. August 12-17, 2007
*Various
Murals
Painting of several small murals at the school in the community
of Nueva Esperanza. Coordinated by Greg Horne. August 6-10, 2007
*Tropical
Rain Forest
Mural of a tropical rain forest on the wall of the school
in the community of Carrizalito II. Coordinated by Greg Horne. August 1-3,
2007
*Art
History for Young Adults
Course for a new group of adolescent students about art
history, start with prehistoric art through the Renaissance. Classes taught
by Carin Steen. July 4 - August 3, 2007
*Water
Mural
With 18 children from kindergarten in the village of Nueva
Esperanza, we explored different ways in which we use water. The conclusion:
water is very important and we should not waste or contaminate it. The workshop
ended with the painting of a mural about, of course, water. April 25, 2007
*Nature
Mural
Workshop about the Mayas and their relationship
with nature, followed by the painting of a mural by 2° and 3° grade
students in Carrizalón. April 24, 2007
*Frida
Kahlo Video / Art Project
Three-day workshop for a group of nine young adults
about the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. April 18-20, 2007
*Maya
Culture Art Workshops
During the whole school year, our Maya facilitators
Moisés Mancía and Lóndin Velásquez will teach children
in 16 Maya Chortí communities about Maya culture through art activities.
February - December, 2007
*Frida
Kahlo Video / Art Project
Three-day workshop for a group of nine teenagers about
the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. During the first day, they learned about Frida's
life and work through a lecture and slide show. The next day, they watched the
film Frida and analyzed it. On the third day, the adolescents made
a self portrait with oil pastels and watercolours, inspired by Frida Kahlo.
April 18-20, 2007
2006
*Maya
Calendar Mural
Workshop about the Maya calendar system, resulting
in a collective mural made by the students of grade 4 in Rincón del Buey.
August 28, 2006
*
Maya Culture
Mural project in 5 Maya Chortí communities in which children
explore the Maya past and their own cultural identity. July-December, 2006
*Tourism
Mural
Mural painted by children for the Tourism Unit
of the Municipality of Copán Ruinas. July 5, 2006
*Mural
at home
Running out of places, we painted a mural at the home
of one of our students. January 30, 2006
2005
*Frida Kahlo Workshops
A three day course for adults about the mexican
painter Frida Kahlo. The first night the eleven participants learned about her
work and life through a lecture, slide presentation and documentary. The next
night we watched the movie "Frida", followed by an analysis of the
film. The third, night the participants painted a self portrait in Frida's style. December 20-22, 2005
*Mural
Office
With 5 of our students we painted a mural in the volunteer
room of our office. December 12, 2005
*World
AIDS Day
During the celebration of World AIDS Day at the soccer
field of Copán Ruinas, we painted two murals with the adolescent volunteers
and participants. December 1, 2005
*Mural
at the office of Children International
Mural on the bathroom of the office of Children
International, painted by José David, Mailin Alejandra, Cristian,
Dennis and Yosselin. November 21, 2005
*Diego
Rivera Mural
Mural on the storage shed at our headquarters,
painted by 10 of our students. November 11, 2005
*Health
Mural
Mural at the local health center, painted by 5
young artists. July 1, 2005
*Nature Murals
Four murals with nature as a theme, painted in the
villages Boca del Monte, El Chilar, Carrizalito and San Rafael. March -
June 2005
*Tourism Mural
Portable mural for an exhibition of the Tourism
Unity of the Municipality of Copán Ruinas. May 2005
*Circus Mural
A mural painted with and for the children of the
daycare center Niños del Futuro with the circus as a theme. May
2005
*Ocean
Bathroom Mural
The children painted their own new bathroom with
an ocean design at our headquarters. March 2005
*Art
History
Weekly workshops for children between 11 and 15
years old about the history of art, combined with art activities. January
2005 - June 2007
*Saturday Art Workshops
Weekly art workshop for children of lower-income
families, combined with storytelling, playground and puzzles. May 2000 -
present
*Art Workshops for Children in Maya Chortí Communities
Art activities for children at rural schools in
11 different communities. August 1999 - 2006
2004
*Violence Art Workshop
Art workshop in Tegucigalpa during the International
Day of Volunteerism, organized by UNV. The children who participated,
made illustrations through a collage technique for two stories about violence
and what to do against it. December 4, 2004
*COMVIDA
Murals
Elaboration of four portable murals with the
COMVIDA logo to be used in public events. November 2004
*
Murals in Estanzuela
One mural made by the Arte Acción staff
in the Kindergarten classroom, another one made by the students of the 5th grade
on a wall of their school. September 2004
*Summer School Activities
Series of 50 workshops for students of the Mayatan School.
In exchange for a small tuition, the students received art, drama and literature
classes. June - August 2004
* Art for
All, Tegucigalpa
Carin Steen participated in this international
mural and sculpture event, organized by the UNV. July 2004
*Mural
at Daycare Centre
Series of murals for the inauguration of the Daycare
Centre Niños del Futuro. July 2004
*Mural
in Llanetillos
Mural at the school of the village Llanetillos.
May 2004
*Colorful
Shed
The shed were we keep our gardening tools was converted
from an ugly thing into a precious storage room thanks to the children who painted
a landscape on its walls. January 2004
1999-2003
*Guatemala-Honduras
Mural Exchange
Prior to the International Day of Volunteerism,
organized by UNV, we made murals in two countries: One in El Zarzal (Jotocán,
Guatemala), the other one in our headquarters. The murals were exchanged on
December 4th during a cultural event at the border. November 2003
*Playground
Mural
To cheer up the wall around the playground, the
children painted it with colorful flowers, plants and animal. September
2003
*
Murals Mayatan School
Three portable murals made by the students of grades
7-9 of the Mayatan
School. June 2003
*Mural
Indigenous Music
Portable mural used as background for the First
Festival of Indigenous Music in Copán Ruinas. December 2002
*Children's
Rights
Elaboration of three portable murals about children's
rights painted by children in the Maya Chortí communities Carrizalito, La Pintada
and Nueva Esperanza. February-March 2002
*Art Classes at the Mime & Clown School, Granada, Nicaragua
Series of art activities for the students of the
Mime and Clown School in Granada. July 2001
*Trash Campaign in La Ceiba
Series of art workshops at two schools in La Ceiba about trash
and contamination. June 2001
*Office National Indigenous Maya Chortí Council Honduras
During a three day workshop about design, publicity
and painting, 20 members of the National Maya Chortí Council designed
and painted their office in Copán Ruinas. June 2001
*Mural
Nueva Esperanza
For the opening of the new school in the village
of Nueva Esperanza, we painted a mural with grades 2-4. The mural depicts elements
of their Mayan ancestry and includes a portrait of the indigenous leader Candido
Amador Recinos, who was killed three years previously. March 2000
*Painting Courses
Painting courses for three different age levels
for 45 participants, with the following themes: perspective, still life, human
figure, portraits, water colors and color theory. July - December 1999
*Our
Community
This portable mural was made to participate in a worldwide
contest organized by Art Child (Paris, France) and supported by UNESCO.
Six teenagers painted the past, present and future of their community. November
1999