Cities getting a fresh coat of paint at Girl Power

In preparation for color treatments, we first painted our tabletop cities white - perfect for really seeing the forms and proportions we created. Girl Power architects and city planners at work.

Cardboard City at Mater

We got off to a great start at East Mater Academy with lots of great new students and some of last year's Art Stars.  The Cardboard City project is taking off and everybody is having a great time with it. If you happen to have friends at Mater who might be interested in joining our after-school group, we still have room for about 3-4 more students.  

Scaling Down the City

A great new group of kids at Mater Academy, plus some of our Brick by Brick veterans, teamed up to develop their tabletop cityscapes. These scaled down models of urban spaces are helping us to become sensitive to architecture, construction and urban planning. Stay tuned...

Brick x Brick 2012 is underway!

Artists Michelle Weinberg and Nereida Garcia Ferraz introduced the concept of small scale city models or maquettes to the groups at Girl Power in Liberty City. After establishing the differences between two-dimensional and three-dimensional, we began constructing a 3D cityscape using a ubiquitous 2D material - corrugated cardboard. After demonstrating a few basic cutting and building techniques with the group, they were off. Shortly, an amphitheater with sky box, towers and shops, public parks, streets and more were made. Next, the tabletop sets will be painted and documented by the girls with video and still photography, emphasizing the drama of architectural forms. Stay tuned for more great projects by both Girl Power and Mater Academy teens in the coming months!

MAM Brick x Brick 2011: cubic collaboration

Brick x Brick 2011: cubic collaboration from MAM Brick x Brick on Vimeo.

Happy New Year everybody and welcome back to Brick x Brick. 
We are now meeting actively at both sites: 

Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 at East Mater Academy in Little Havana
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6 at Girl Power in Liberty City.

This is the video of the stuff we did last year at Girl Power and Mater Academy.  Stay with us for more great creative fun coming in 2012!!!

Brick x Brick exhibition and reception

We had a fantastic time!
Thanks to Flagler Arts Space, and our sponsors JP Morgan Chase and the National Endowment for the Arts.
And the great catering from downtown Miami neighbor, Macy's!

Highlights of BxB 2011

Check out some highlights of the creative fun we've had this year. We focused a lot on making art using recycled materials and creating temporary installations in public spaces. A huge number of kids participated in different activities over the course of this year, both at Mater Academy and Girl Power. Overall, we had an awesome year thanks to our sponsor: Miami Art Museum; our funders: JP MORGAN CHASE and the National Endowment for the Arts; our instructors: Nereida Garcia Ferraz, Michael Genovese, Dinorah de Jesús Rodriguez and Michelle Weinberg; and all the awesome kids who participated.

A special thanks go out to Federico and Nicolas Paseiro who took the time out to come down to the gallery and help us install the show. Nicolas Paseiro is also responsible for 90% of the music in the videos on display at the exhibition.

It was an amazing year and we can't wait for the next one!

Please come to our exhibition at Flagler Arts Space, 172 W. Flagler in downtown Miami, opening TODAY June 9 from 3-5PM.

Sneak Preview of Cubic Collaboration exhibition - - - -

Here are a few peeks at the end of year Brick x Brick exhibition at Flagler Arts Space downtown. Brothers Nicolas and Federico Paseiro are making magic with a site-specific string and tape installation. The students were involved in all aspects of this exhibition, deciding what works should be featured and where.

Come to the reception tomorrow, Thursday June 9, 3-5pm, 172 West Flagler, to see all the work plus a video sharing all the projects we worked on this year. Congratulations to everyone from Girl Power and Mater Academy.

A huge thank you to our funders, JP Morgan Chase and the National Endowment for the Arts.

A special thanks to Annie and Tom Blazejack and the artists at Flagler Arts Space for the opportunity to work in their fantastic space! Check out their blog to keep up with their activities.

The public is invited!

Brick x Brick page in Mater Academy school yearbook!