Fresh Produce Mural

December 10, 2021/in Community Events Previous, Top 8/by Veronique

What if art could help make smart food choices more fun, delicious and beautiful for kids?

BACKGROUND:

After receiving an Art Means Business grant from Glass House Collective, General Manager Christina Mack and her Save-A-Lot team knew they wanted to create a project that engaged local kids around their health. They also knew that their Glass Street location made the building a prime spot for a mural. How could the mural work over-time to connect with local kids?

NEED:

Work with mural artist Cristhian Saravia — aka Golden — to create an art installation that drives kids towards healthier food choices and helps the whole neighborhood get excited about the fresh produce available at the area’s newest grocery story.

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WHAT WE DID:

We connected our Save-A-Lot partners with the outreach programs Young Ladies of Power and Archway Kids to host a day of taste-testing and fun. To prepare, we chatted with muralist Golden to create coloring pages that the kids could work on and talk about, all with the goal of giving Golden a bit of inspiration for his upcoming mural. The pages featured beautiful fruits and vegetables that the kids could color — but how about taste?

Piggybacking off of a fall-break visit to Booker T. Washington State Park, we brought Asia Wiggins from I Am Fitness and her epic juicing powers to the kids for an afternoon of taste-testing fresh juices. From celery and beets to ginger and apple, the kids had a chance to learn about each piece of produce and taste the juice for themselves. At the end of the day, they were each given a jar to create their own custom juice, putting together the ingredients they’d tried.

And of course, there was coloring. As the kids learned about each fruit and vegetable, they added new layers of color and fun to their coloring pages, which our GHC team scanned and shared with Golden. These sheets, along with quotes, poems and stories from the kids, became the basis for his mural.

In early November 2021, Golden turned all these inputs from the community into a big, bold, beautiful mural along the Save-A-Lot — conveniently just six feet away from the door to the market’s produce section. The mural brings color to the block, but it also shows our kids that their input matters.

VISION:

Ultimately, the goal of this work was two-fold: bring a bright mural to Glass Street, but also help kids see the delicious, wonderful bounty of the fresh produce in their local market. By introducing them to new fruits and vegetables, the project opens up the possibilities for their healthy snacking — and makes a big celebration of their creative work.

PARTNERS:

Young Ladies of Power

Archway Kids

Save-A-Lot

Asia Wiggins, I Am Fitness

J Adams, Photographer

The Pool

September 16, 2021/in Community Events, Pop Ups, Public Spaces, Sculptures Previous, Top 8/by Teal

What if you could literally light up a neighborhood through a powerful combination of arts and engagement?

April 2017

BACKGROUND:

The Pool is an installation art piece of 40,000 LED bulbs and 106 pucks created by Brooklyn artist Jen Lewin, programmed to light up in clever, colorful ways when visitors step, run or dance across the piece. In 2017, the tech-enabled piece toured neighborhoods in East Chattanooga and brought families together in unexpected ways, in unexpected places. This installation kicked off The Highlight Festival which took place on the former HUD Housing Site called Harriet Tubman.

NEED:

Activate vacant sites through the power of local collaboration and draw focus on neighborhoods in fun, bright ways. And did we mention dancing?

WHAT WE DID:

Glass House Collective, green|spaces, and our local partners worked with Jen Lewin to engineer a beautiful act of placemaking outside of typical venues to underscore the point that every type of family should have the opportunity to engage with home in a new way. While The Pool had toured major cities and events around the world (and clocked millions of steps), it had never made its way to the Southeast.

First stop: the East Chatt Highlight Festival — itself a feat of local partnership. Greeted by a full gospel showcase, The Pool brought locals and visitors together around a very bright event. The festival was held in the vacant site where 440 housing units of the Harriet Tubman Homes formerly stood. That’s also where kids from nearby Hardy Elementary met with the artist’s team and helped program color patterns and test out the massive installation. From there, the piece moved to a site on the 1900 block of Roanoke Avenue — just down the road from our very own Glass Street. Over the course of one week, The Pool moved around the area three times — from Highland Park, to East Chattanooga to East Lake — making a vibrant and dance-worthy event accessible to the families of Glass Street, all through the hard work of local partners.

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VISION:

There are so many things that are so right about our neighborhoods — but sometimes, you’ve got to set the stage to celebrate home. The Pool provided an opportunity for locals to pause, party and come together in an unconventional, highly ‘grammable way. Call it a slow down or a glow up: either way, it’s all about shining a light on our awesome neighborhoods.

PARTNERS:

green|spaces

Empower

Lyndhurst Foundation

Public Art Chattanooga

EPB Fiber Optics

S&H Trucking

Kelly Subaru

Arts Build

OUTCOME:

vacant sites activated

700+

visitors engaged

countless

dance moves dropped

IN THE NEWS:

Nogga Today

The Chattanoogan

RELATED RESOURCES:

Youtube Video: Interactive Public Sculpture: The Pool

Jen Lewin Studio-The Pool

BLOG:

Empower Energy Club

Playing at “The Pool”

Highlighting the Good!

Studio Everything and Rondell Crier

September 16, 2021/in Classes & Camps, Community Events, Murals, Pop Ups, Sculptures Previous, Top 8/by Teal

Can an Artist Studio Become a Shared Public Resource and a Sustainable Method of Change?

2014

BACKGROUND:

Rondell Crier was another participant of the Creative Placemaking program at GHC in 2013. His portfolio includes an array of work in various mediums, and his work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. He has a strong drive to invest in communities through creativity, as well as mentoring and sharing his skills, which is precisely his mission with Studio Everything on Glass Street. Rondell received funding for his program on his own and continued Studio Everything on Glass Street after his initial grant with Glass House Collective.

What Studio Everything and Rondell Crier Did:

The studio was created to be a place where the community, especially the young community, could come and release creative energy through various projects of their own choosing. Participants are encouraged to bring salvaged items and recycle them into a work of art. Rondell Crier acts as a guide for participants, offering inspiration and knowledge about the various tools he keeps in the studio. Participants often opt for long-term projects, and may continue to attend open hours each week to hone their craft and skills.

Workshops and holiday events were also held during Crier’s residency, such as Mother’s Day workshops and Halloween parties for children. Crier’s work and mentorship has directly influenced many of the youth in the area, and he has continued the work by securing grants to keep Studio Everything open.

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Learning how to use tools to build garden beds

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VISION:

Studio Everything is a place where anyone can create art out of anything and everything. It’s a place where residents and youth can receive mentorship and advice from a professional artist while gaining experience working with a variety of tools and a variety of people.

PARTNERS:

Rondell Crier

The Educational Foundation of America

OUTCOME:

workshops held throughout the year

partnership strengthened

100+

items repurposed

IN THE NEWS:

WTCI via Greater Chattanooga–”Making Community”

WUTC

BLOG:

New Glass Farm Food Pantry Provides Nourishment for Body and Soul

2$ON and Art Trap Collective Keep Growing

One Giant Sweater for Larry Hines

GNN: Sausage Fest

September 16, 2021/in Community Events, Pop Ups Previous, Top 8/by Teal

Can a Small Community Cook-Out Have a Big Impact on Relationships?

October 13, 2013 & October 11, 2014 @ Glass Street Community Space

BACKGROUND:

The Good Neighbor Network hosted their first community event, which was put on two consecutive years: a small cookout at the Corner of N. Chamberlain and Glass St.

NEED:

Two people in the community went to the GNN in 2013 with their idea for a festive fall cookout to bring together other residents. GNN has helped to organize the event, grill the food, and get-together art projects and fun games for the kids both years.

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VISION:

GNN is proud to have successfully brought parts of the community together for a relaxing evening of communing together and allowing everyone to know that GNN is here with the priority of representing each person as Glass House Collective moves forward.

OUTCOME:

people from the area attended

years of festivities

condiment options

BLOG:

Second Annual Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest by the Good Neighbor Network

Neighborhood Pride Campaign

September 16, 2021/in Community Events, Resources Previous, Top 8/by Teal

How can branding foster pride in the neighborhood?

2018

BACKGROUND:

Glass Farm Block Leaders identified a Neighborhood Pride campaign as one of their highest priorities. Their goal was to create a visual celebration of neighborhood distinctiveness that reinforces the Glass Farm’s identity, cohesiveness, and pride of place.

NEED:

Evidence-based placemaking strategies demonstrate that pride of place is directly linked to self-esteem, neighborhood stewardship, and residential/economic vitality.

WHAT WE DID:

Glass House started the project in 2018 by investing in our neighbors. We created contracts with four residents– a renter, homeowner, youth, and business owner.

Each had to distribute surveys that asked:

What are you proud of in yourself?
What are you proud of in your neighborhood?

We gathered close to 40 surveys. Once that was complete, we compiled all the responses and asked the contracted residents to provide 4-5 photos of the places they felt most proud of. That was compiled into a document to help guide the artistic direction of the Glass Farm Neighborhood brand identity. The graphic designer and copywriter came up with four brand concepts. Residents voted on the winning design at our annual Glass Street LIVE block party.

We gave out banners and yard signs at the neighborhood Christmas party, and partnered with Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program to help with installation. Now the banners and signs can be seen around Glass Farm, adding to the sense of pride our neighbors feel about the place they call home.

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VISION:

The Glass Farm Block Leaders worked with their community to develop marketing for their homes that would represent the neighborhood. Members from the community were surveyed and played a role in deciding the logo for Glass Farm Neighborhood.

PARTNERS:

Habitat for Humanity

Glass Farm Block Leaders

Glass Farm Residents

Lillian L Colby Foundation

OUTCOME:

100

Glass Farm banners

150

yard signs

residents paid for collecting surveys

IN THE NEWS:

The Chattanoogan

BLOG:

Pride Everywhere You Turn

Banner Days in Glass Farm

Warmth & Hope At the End of the Year

Moving Forward Dance Studio with Rebekah Mawuko

September 16, 2021/in Classes & Camps, Community Events Previous, Top 8/by Teal

Can a Dance Studio Teach Us How to Make the Right Moves in Life?

2014

BACKGROUND:

Rebekah Mawuko was one of the artists chosen for the Creative Placemaking grant, and started the Moving Forward Dance Studio on the second floor of the former Glass House headquarters. She is a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor and has experience in a wide variety of dance styles. She has a passion for exposing the community to different cultures through dance.

What Moving Forward Dance Studio and Rebekah Mawuko Did:

The Moving Forward Dance Studio offered a large selection of classes throughout its duration, including African dance and drum, hip hop, Zumba, ballet, Capoeira, costume design, and musical theater. Local professional instructors assisted with many of the classes and integrated life skills learning into the sessions to help with healthy relationships, leadership, teamwork, following instructions, and self respect.

The studio was also a space for local dance and music groups such as the Royal Envy Dance Team and the Mawre and Co. Troop, and for instructional mentoring for advanced students, many of whom went on to perform professionally. All classes were family friendly, and some were designed specifically for infants and mothers, or children under the age of five.

Along with regular classes, Mawuko put on a summer camp for young children focusing on African dance, music, and culture.

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VISION:

The Dance Studio brought in people and children of all ages to learn and participate in an art form that is often overlooked, but can be the most beneficial physically, mentally, and socially. It’s a way to carry legacy and culture across generations, borders, and ages. Mawuko’s success lies in that she created a space for learning that extended so many physical boundaries, a space where the language of movement could be shared by all who entered.

PARTNERS:

Rebekah Mawuko

The Educational Foundation of America

OUTCOME:

different dance styles and classes offered during the year

partnership strengthened

300+

songs danced

IN THE NEWS:

The Pulse

WUTC

WDEF

Speaking Out! John Christopher and Rebekah Mawuko Interview on Youtube

BLOG:

Creative Movement Classes with Rachel Ard

Pre-Ballet with Monica Ellison

Dance Classes for 6-12 year olds

Gospel on Glass

September 16, 2021/in Community Events, Pop Ups Previous, Top 8/by Teal

Can Gospel Music Inspire Art and Connection in a Community?

May 24, 2014; September 27, 2015; April 22, 2017; November 3, 2018

BACKGROUND:

Gospel and folk art is an important part to a small southern community like Glass Street, which is why we at Glass House Collective invested in our local gospel choirs, solo musicians, poets, and entertainers to showcase their talent and voices. Each year this event gathered 200-300 people, and in 2018 we decided to merge it with the annual Glass Street LIVE block party. The event has taken place in a different location each year: at the GHC community space on the corner of North Chamberlain and Glass Street in 2014, in the space beside 2409 Glass Street in 2015, at 1901 Roanoke Avenue in 2017, and at the corner of Glass Street and Dodson Avenue in 2018.

Need:

To bring together people in the Glass Farm District and those in the surrounding areas, GHC garnered funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission each year and partnered with folklorist Liza Blair in 2014, Marcellus Barnes in 2015, 2017, and Deborah Bledsoe in 2018 to identify the performing artists and produce the event.

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VISION:

The event has been successful in garnering community residents and allowing those in the greater Chattanooga area to experience a true taste of the Glass Farm Neighborhood. Through Gospel on Glass, the residents have shared their personal cultures and created a unique, inclusive, collective one that represents the community far better than the overlooked, poverty-stricken area many outside the neighborhood believe it to be. The event has also created economic opportunities for local vendors, restaurants, and markets that showcased booths or run their businesses in the area. The community was brought together to recognize the importance of gospel and folk art, and to dance, praise, and fellowship in this extravagant performance.

Artists:

Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Voices of Triumph (2014)

Olivet Baptist Church (2014)

Orchard Knob Baptist Male Choir (2014, 2015)

Terra Vista Baptist Church (2014)

Worlds Church of the Living God (2014)

Urban Artformz Institute–poetry, live paintings (2014)

Trish Rutledge–emcee and comedian (2015, 2017)

Larry Hurston and Genuine (2015, 2017)

Marcus Price (2015)

Pastor Jo and Team Judah (2015)

Tiffany Coleman (2015, 2017)

Hawkinsville Mass Choir (2015)

Antoine Boynkin–poet (2015)

Trent Williams and Renewed (2015, 2017)

Eula Gibson (2015)

Virtuous Church Praise Team (2015)

Jarvis Manifee and Peculiar Praise, Chozen (2015, 2017)

Marcellus Barnes and VOT (2015)

Darius Ware and IPMC (2015, 2017)

Pastor Corey Prather and High Praize (2015, 2017)

G3 (2015)

Rock Island Church Mass Choir (2017)

Carlos and Jenelle Drake (2017)

Ashley Brison (2017)

The Spiritual Highlights (2017)

Justin Ratford (2017)

The Dance Ministry of Ms. Kassala Dorsey (2017)

Miracle Baptist Church Mass Choir (2017)

Jarrod White–drummer (2017)

Eddie Heyward–drummer (2017)

DJ “Big Bam” Gates (2017)

Machelle Booker (2018)

Michael Mitchell (2018)

Denise Robinson (2018)

Robin Angel (2018)

George Maffet (2018)

Louis Bledsoe (2018)

2 Deep Within (2018)

Partners and Funding:

Tennessee Arts Commission (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018)

Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga (2014)

Deborah Bledsoe (2018)

Marcellus Barnes, Unity Performing Arts Foundation (2015, 2017)

Liza Blair (2014)

OUTCOMES COMBINED:

1000

people attended

groups and individuals performed

volunteers involved

IN THE NEWS:

The Chattanoogan (2017)

The Pulse, Chattanooga (2017)

Chattanooga Times Free Press (2018)

BLOG:

Heard + Amplified featuring Deborah Bledsoe

Wrapping Up: Glass Street LIVE!

New City Councilwoman for District 9

Glass Street Holiday Party

September 16, 2021/in Community Events, Pop Ups Previous, Top 8/by Teal

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How Does a Holiday Party Become a Time of Reflection and a Place the Community Can Lead?

BACKGROUND:

Since 2012 Glass House Collective has ended the year with a fun, intimate celebration of the holidays and the year’s accomplishments. In 2013, the Good Neighbor Network was asked to join in the organizing to inspire a more community-involved experience, which led to a complete hand-off by 2016. The Community Christmas Party was led completely by residents from GNN and other local leaders.

Need:

The Christmas Party has become something that residents have a heavy hand in hosting, which inspires more involvement from the community. It also continues to ring out the year with a reminder of all that Glass Street has collectively accomplished.

WHAT WE DID:

In 2012, GHC asked ourselves: how can a holiday party build confidence and reassure progress is being made? The party was the perfect place to introduce the Glass Street District Design Vision and reassure the community that we hear them and have a plan for the future.

In 2013 the Good Neighbor Network joined the planning of the party, ensuring that the event was more community-led. Decorations were provided by Daniel Crelinc and Gail McKeel, and a special, surprise invitation was extended to each guest by Katherine Currin of the Lyndhurst Foundation to watch the lighting of the first phase of pedestrian lights on Glass Street.

In 2014, Mark Making and Studio Everything joined the celebration by providing a second location to enjoy the event and crafts for kids to engage in. A special holiday market was also showcased by Studio Everything, featuring work created by the youth in the area.

In 2015, Mark Making continued to provide their space for the event and live music and carols led by Marcellus Barnes of Unity Performing Arts Foundation of Chattanooga soundtracked the festivities. Chris Anderson emceed and began by unveiling the “Painted Gardens” muralettes, a piece by students from Orchard Knob Middle School and Girls Inc., and “The Kings and Queens of East Chattanooga,” a series of 3-D printed sculpture masks created by youth in East Chattanooga.

In 2016, the community residents took full control of organizing the event, with Katie McAllister taking charge and organizing a potluck-style dinner. The event recognized standouts from the Block Leaders program: Dr. Evelana Holms, Glenda Welcher, Janette Richie, Johnny Patmon, and Jeffery Evans.

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VISION:

The Community Christmas Party was initially launched to assure the community of the plans for the neighborhood. Since then, it’s become a time of reflection and fellowship where we can celebrate the good that has shown through in each resident and each neighbor throughout the years.

Partners:

Good Neighbor Network (2013-2016)

Mark Making (2014, 2015)

Studio Everything (2014)

Marcellus Barnes (2015)

Katie McAllister (2016)

BLOG:

Warmth & Hope At the End of the Year

Glass Street Holiday Party

Wayne O Rama

August 28, 2021/in Classes & Camps, Community Events, Pop Ups, Sculptures Previous, Top 8/by Teal

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Can Giant Puppets Connect a Community Both Together and History?

September 24, 2016, Glass Street

BACKGROUND:

Local Chattanoogan and Emmy Award winning artist Wayne White and the Shaking Ray Levi Society, a non-profit supporting non-traditional artists, announced in late July of 2016 that White would be putting on the Wayne-O-Rama, a year-long interactive art installation. There were various exhibits throughout the city, all depicting scenes from Chattanooga’s history, and White participated in events such as GHC’s 2016 Glass Street Live.

NEED:

Wayne White’s inclusion in GLS 2016 added another layer to the events, one that showed the community a piece from the substantial veins of history in Chattanooga, and further connected them to the historical parks right next door.

WHAT WE DID:

White created twenty feet puppets of two Civil War generals who charged up the hill on the Chickamauga Battlefield 100 years ago, which marched down Glass Street in a community parade to begin Glass Street Live. A number of other puppets, handmade by adults and youth from the community, were also featured in the parade, having been made in the weeks prior. Mark Making graciously opened their studio on Monday and Thursday nights for puppet building, while funding was provided by the Tennessee Arts Commission. All the puppets were created from recycled material, giving new life to cardboard, fabric, and paper that would have otherwise been thrown out.

White’s puppets depicting the Civil War generals spread greater awareness to the community about the beautiful natural park right next door to them, the Pennsylvania Reservation, which was (and still is) newly connected by a trail to the Sherman Reservation along the ridge. Visitors and residents were encouraged to explore the new trail and the park, with rangers providing tours during the afternoon.

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VISION:

Having so many people march down the streets of their community with pieces of art created by their own hands brings nothing but pride and joy. Bonds and kinship were shown in the most unlikely way: puppets!

White’s puppets also furthered GHC’s project to get the community outside and in the natural beauty of the Sherman Reservation, where they could explore the outdoors and learn about the history and battles that shaped the city.