2014-602-E Arts - Friends of the Carrboro Branch Library for 2014 Arts Grant Agreement $1,500

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DocuSign Envelope ID: C65FFCA2-OCAA-4476-9E03-793FA837F635 11/17/2014 Brushstrokes:Art byKaren youth on e)(hibit at Carrboro Branch Library I Local events and features I Chapel HillNem.com astounded. It was beautiful. They had a ball there too.,, An idea was born to form a group for the Karen youth to create art with FRANK artists, and lives began to change. Weekly meetings began taking place either at the gallery or at Transplanting Traditions Farm on Jones ferry {load where many Karens have gardens. Most of the youth, ages 15-23, in the group lived in Thailand refugee camps after escaping political repression in Myanmar (Burma). Hamer transports the youth to and from the weeldy meetings and has joined in the fun of making art with them. A few of her paintings are in the exhibit and have samples of writing in the Karen language attached to them. Making art is an integral facet of the weekly meetings but food (rice and curry prepared by Levy) and friendship share the stage. "We are on 'first name terms and have a Family atmosphere," said Levy, a FLANK member artist. "We try to make everybody feel comfortable through food and art. The students are always painting their homeland a real or imagined tropical plane where they feel comfortable. We are also trying to incorporate the new with the old. The students showed at FRANK in March in a show"Connecting the Old with the New." This show is an extension of that show.,, Levy, like Jameson, has a decades-long connection to the Karen people having done her PhD at London University in Modern South Asian History. "in spite of what these kids have gone through, they are so positive and warm,," she said. And, she stresses, very talented artists. Lorne of the striking paintings in the show are their first or second. "They are so excited about challenging themselves with new possibilities in this country. I am very moved by their reactions. It is a privilege to work with them. We have learned a lot from them." Moe Chae Htoo, who has been working with FRANK photographer Barbara Tyroler, has several photographs in the exhibit. "It is wonderful seeing Moe jumping all over the place, getting up high, going down low, and doing creative composition and design," said Tyroler. "He soaked up everything I told him and more. The kids really loved having him do the documentation rather than me." Tyroler, who along with Levy is in charge of FRANK's community outreach and education, has worked over the years with many community residents. "I think that what is unique about this situation is that these kids are all trying to find their place in our Chapel Hill/Carrboro culture." Chapel Hill High School art teacher Hollie Taylor has been working with Kchdohmoo Juelah and Paw Paw Wei for three years in school helping them hone their skills in ceramics. "They understand the properties and possibilities of clay. They love it and get its responsiveness," Taylor said. "Their hands seem to know it." Taylor has learned the ways of the Karens' homeland, and how the refugee camps looked. "I've seen a recurring image of Kwe Ka Baung, an important mountain in the Karen state of Burma. This mountain is a part of their identity." Others involved in this project include Sandy Milroy, Mary Stone Lamb, Kip Gerard, Barnett Parker, David Taylor, Shelley Crisp, Townsend Ludington, and Ada Farber. Other Students with work in the show include Claw Law, Ywa Blu, Lah Htoo Boh, Paw Boh, Hen Moo, and Lweh Moo, Jameson does not want this project, which was supported by a grant from the Change County Arts Commission, to end. "I hope we will continue to find funding for this so we can not only continue, but also expand its Scope to include more kids in need of finding a connection to their creative being." Deborah R. Meyer writes about the visual arts each month. You can reach her at writetoeloise @gmaii.com Facebook TvAter Google Plus Reddit E-mail Print Join The Conversation