Blue Sky Project Looking for Creative-Minded Teens

The following was submitted by Peter Benkendorf of Blue Sky Project.

If you have teens, work with teens, know any teens or are one, Blue Sky Project, the international summer art making community is looking for 40 teens from the Dayton region to collaborate with five contemporary artists selected from applications from around the world.
Hosted by the University of Dayton, Blue Sky Project is committed to producing ambitious and meaningful works of public, contemporary art. It includes a strong youth development component and an emphasis on art making as community-building. Blue Sky’s objectives are threefold:·  Provide an environment for the Resident Artists to extend their own artistic exploration and studio practice in a unique collaborative setting with youth;·  Develop the leadership, self-awareness, critical-thinking, communication and collaborative skills of the Youth Participants through Blue Sky Project’s unique contemporary art-making process;·  Enhance the vibrancy of the community through increased engagement and creative energy.

Past artists have included painters, sculptors, dancers, writers, musicians and filmmakers. Art produced at Blue Sky has been exhibited around the world and sold in galleries in New York, Chicago and Houston.  Here is what past youth participants have had to say about this one-of-a-kind program:

“Blue Sky took me out of my comfort zone, improving my overall confidence and creativity in every angle of my personality.” – Chris Miskell, Miamisburg (Chris’s poem “To Me You are a Work of Art” became the centerpiece of art Rodney Veal’s performance installation of the same name.)

“Before Blue Sky, I did not think there was anything in Dayton for me. I did not see it as fun or artistic. At Blue Sky we were taken seriously. Now I know what I want to do with my life. I want to be an architect.” – Meriel James, Dayton

“Blue Sky changed everything. It has brought out a passion I did not know I had in me. It made me realize that I can start a revolution through art if I focus on the things I really care about.” – Emily Coughlin, Oakwood.

Blue Sky is offered without cost to the youth participants. Only forty (40) positions are available for the 2011 season.  Youth should be committed to exploring their creative spirit. Acceptance into the program is NOT portfolio- or audition-based. More information and applications, please visit www.blueskydayton.org. Application deadline is April 11