The Cheyenne River Youth Project®’s first cohort art interns had a busy spring, studying the history of graffiti and street art, learning the art of creative lettering, and exploring how community art parks like CRYP’s new, 5-acre Waniyetu Wowapi (“Winter Count”) Art Park can be tools for critical change. In late April, the six art interns delved into stenciling with guest instructor Biafra Inc., an accomplished stencil artist based in Minnesota’s Twin Cities; currently, they are working on collage with fellow Minneapolis-based artist and art instructor Peyton Scott Russell.
During his April course at CRYP’s East Lincoln Street campus, Biafra introduced the staff and interns to common stenciling tools such as knives, papers and paints, and then they had an opportunity to practice making lines and curves. They worked on understanding, locating and cutting bridges — the most complicated part of the process — and practiced on images and letters that would be used in their final project.
“First, we learned a little about the history of stenciling, and Biafra talked with us about how he became a stencil artist,” said Tammy Eagle Hunter, CRYP’s youth programs director. “We all practiced learning how to use the instruments necessary for stenciling before we decided what stencil to use. The, we made a large-scale stencil and learned can control and styling.”
Each student created a stencil that fit together with everyone else’s to create one long piece of artwork. Then, they filled in the area around the stencil with the images they’d cut earlier in the day. The final project is now on display in the Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park.
“The kids loved Biafra,” Eagle Hunter said. “They enjoyed his class and eagerly invited him to come back and teach them — as long, and as much, as he wanted!”
The feeling was mutual.
“My experience at CRYP was incredible,” Biafra said. “The interns far surpassed my expectations. They were able to apply the stencil process to images that they were interested in, and they began experimenting with different applications without me even having to ask. I have nothing but good things to say; they’re a great group.”
At press time, the interns were once again in class — this time with returning guest instructor Peyton Scott Russell. Peyton (as he’s known professionally) is teaching a three-part course called “The Art of Creative Lettering.” In the first workshop, which took place in late March, he shared the method he developed to help art students understand structure, balance and space for drawing and painting letters.
In this second installment, Peyton and the art interns are focusing on colored paper collage. The students are learning techniques for cutting and gluing that the artist developed specifically to teach examples of graffiti art.
“I think the collage class, which uses the same instruments as stenciling, helps the kids to understand color palettes and uses, and stylization of the lettering,” Eagle Hunter said. “We enjoying this class very much, and we’re all looking forward to Peyton’s final workshop, in June, which will deal with the use of aerosol.”
Between classes, the art interns are busy organizing “black book” sketch sessions every other Thursday, which gives them an opportunity to freely practice the skills they’re learning. Each night has a theme, such as Cartoons or Brands.
“Although we’ve had internships for quite awhile, this is our first year offering an art internship program, so we’re all learning,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “The teens are showing us the best way to move forward, simply by demonstrating their eagerness, motivation, interests and innovative ideas. Now, more than ever, we’re can see how much potential this program has.”
During the four-month internship program, the art interns will participate in training opportunities, engage in open studio time, attend leadership development workshops, explore career opportunities for artists, plan community events to promote the Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park, and unveil their own work within that public space when it’s ready.
The art interns must complete 80 hours of instruction during February, March, April and May to complete the program. Upon successful completion in June, they’ll each receive a $500 award for their time and commitment. Then, they will be able to celebrate their accomplishments by joining accomplished professional graffiti artists from around the country at the RedCan graffiti jam this summer. This revolutionary event, a first in Indian country, will take place on July 8-9 at CRYP’s Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park in Eagle Butte and on July 11 at Rapid City’s Art Alley.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.