Write on the Walls: Wheat Pasting

Hustlemania

I know all of you have been wondering whats going on with these 1SOUL Youth, well wonder no more, because they have been getting their hustle on, printing, selling, printing, selling, and printing. We have been so busy, we just haven't had time to write about it, So sorry to keep you waiting, but these kids are busy doing their thing, I guarantee that!



The kids have completed their whole collection, the last and final design was inspired by the documentary "The Fourth World War", over the issue of privatization and corporate takeover of indigenous land.




Here are some designs they came up with for the 4TH WW:



Their Disappeared shirts were a real crowd pleaser, everybody at their schools really jumped on those. They picked some real nice color waves for these.

Next time you join us you can see how the kids fashion show went at their school, so be sure to check back, and Show your Support by leaving some encouraging words for these future change provokers!!

From X to El Barrio

phewwwww......I know, I know, it has been a long time since you heard from us... but yes, we are still ALIVE here. The kids are back in action after some spring breakage and all the other holidays in btwn. Since we last checked in the kids have finalized their Malcolm X designs and are about to begin printing them, heres a lil preview of one of their designs:

I also took the kids to for "LOS DESAPARECIDOS" (the disappeared) Exhibit. Here is an excerpt from the press release:
"....This traveling exhibition, .... brings together visual artists’ responses to the tens of thousands of persons who were kidnapped, tortured, killed and “vanished” in Latin America by repressive right-wing military dictatorships during the late-1950s to the 1980s....."

The Kids really like the exhibit and their next -shirt design is based on what they saw at El Museo and about that era. They said they had no idea about what happen during that time or the countless people who were disappeared. They really learned alot, and I was really happy about it because i had just found out about it not too long ago on the TRUST YOUR HUSTLE Tour. I Had just recently came from Guatemala where we did some work with an organization called H.I.J.O.S. They are a radical group in guatemala city made up the children and family of Los Desaparecidos. they schooled us to everything that went and still is going on with the wrong doings of their government. There will be more on that coming soon on the TYH SITE.
The Kids are no developing their t-shirt ideas based on "Los Desaparecidos" right now they have some real great ideas. Can't wait to really see them manifest, and I know you cant either, i know i know.....

its a family affair....

So as we promised we get to hear from the apprentices themselves and get their reaction to what they have experienced so far.

" It feels like years and it has only been weeks.Throughout the few weeks we have learned so much.We have had so many different experiences.We have had the opportunity to not only work with you,also with others, and because of that we thank you.Throughout the time we been with you we have printed, opened up not only to you but to others, we have had the experience to model.We thank you for giving us the opportunity to experience something new and different."
-Karina

"We have only been here for a few weeks and it feels like an eternity. We have learn so much in matter of weeks. We have learn how to silkscreen shirts, and even model which was a wonderful experience for all off us. We thank you for helping us and giving us an opportunity to show our talent."
-Keilly

"From this expiernce I learned how to silk screen shirts and see how they are devoloped. This apprenticeship has been the first time I could actually do something I like and am interested in that has to deal with fashion. We can make designs from scratch and since its our company we have no limits. "
-Adam

This week Randy Q. (2nd in command @ 1soul) came by and was kicking it with the kids, he was teaching them about heat transfers and logo placement, he also helped the kids pick out their thrift store garment which they will customize with their designs for the fashion show.


The Apprentices also got to take part in the 1SOUL Spring 2007 photo shoot, David Z. was our photographer this time around and these shot are off the hook!!!, Can't wait to reveal the new collection to you all. The apprentices really had fun at the shoot and got to see how a real photo session goes down.

By Any Means Necessary

This week both groups are putting the finishing touches on their Brand Identity. The new design students came up with the brand name "CURIOUS". They feel like they have alot of questions that dont have any answers, and they are right. They want to use a question mark for their logo, so I had to coach them and make sure they stay away from the branding of guess.
They are all getting used to the printing technique, Danny from El Puente was helping me print some Dance For peace Tees this week (be sure to check them out at www.1souldesigns.com/danceforpeace).

I made a very dissapointing discovery this week when i learned that some of the students did not know about Malcom X. It broke my heart, they couldn't tell me more than that they had heard the name before.


So.... I had to do it folks, I had to bring a Spike lee joint and Let these kids know. I felt like Spike's adaptation of the Alex Haley book was something they had to see. So we had a lil movie Night at the studio this week. I had them take notes during the movie and jot down any quotes or saying or visuals they would want to use on a shirt and then they can design something around that. So I cant wait to see what the got out of the movie, and I know you can't either...stay tuned!

WEEK 2 - Allow me to reintroduce myself...

Building Building Building.... ahhh..... I am really happy to announce that we have acquired 3 New Apprentices from New Design High School. Their names are Karina, Adam, And Keilly. Karina And Keilly are in the 10th grade, Adam is in the 11th. These kids are great! All these kids are great. The New Design Students have a lil more background in design since they come from a design school, But they fell right into the program with no problems.

Karina And Keilly have some background in fashion, they have a sewing class, Adam is lil up and coming Graf artist, as soon as he got to the studio he showed me his lil black book, the graf artist bible. With their skills combined i see these kids putting out some serious product!


The El Puente Kids, have Narrowed down their Brand Name to 2MRW(Tommorows Future). We went through different typefaces they would want to use and symbols. They are real Happy with the name and can't wait to see it on the back of their shirts. Before they started the program, they really didnt kick it with each other, but now i see them really opening up with each other, and becoming a good team.


The New Design Kids got to print up their own shirt. Adam Chose a TRUST YOUR STRUGGLE design called "Intifada". Because of his Palenstinian background, he really liked this design.

Karina Liked the Nehanda Design, and she chose to print it up on a slate color shirt, with orange ink instead of red.










They started to brainstorm their brand name, and I was really impressed by what they were coming up with on the spot and the way they were building with each other. Cant wait til next week, as always!

SPECIAL THANKS TO JONATHAN OSLER & SARAH BALTAZAR FOR HOOKING ME UP WITH ALL THESE KIDS!

Week 1- INTROS

This week we started the 1SOUL youth apprenticeship with students from El Puente Academy. Their names are Danny and Meagan. Both are juniors at El Puente, who have big aspirations of getting involved with social issues and their community.

The first week was basically about introductions and getting to know what they want to gain out of this experience and I look forward to learning from them just as much as they will be learning from me. Danny has aspirations of starting his own business and Meagan wants a career in fashion. Danny comes from my hood, Bushwick, Brooklyn. I'm especially glad we met and he can see how someone from his own neighborhood made something out of nothing(INVENTOS). Meagan comes from the South Side of Williamsburg. Its good that she can see us operating and doing community outreach right here in her area. We talked about their familes, their peers, their community, and their school. I wanted to make them as comfortable as possible.

I started off by telling them about 1SOUL and introducing them to the Silkscreening process. From burning the screens, printing and the different kinds of inks. They both printed up some tees all on their own, and got the hang of it pretty fast.

Next I wanted to get them started on their brand. So they started to brainstorm about names, words, and images. They came up with a bunch of phrases and words they wanted to depict in their brand. Some things they came up with were community, freedom, youth, unity, el puente, etc.

They came up with a lot of good ideas for image ideas using bridges and figures of youth, they were able to search thru images on the web and put together their ideas from there. They are very creative, but I don't think they know how creative they are yet. We had a great start this week, I'm getting to know these kids and learn exactly where they are coming from. In turn, these experiences will allow me to help guide them throughthis internship process.

This is only the beginning...