Evidence of art’s ability to kickstart cognitive development is ubiquitous. But access to expensive lessons and materials can be scant for kids not born into privilege. Since its founding in 1996, an arts camp in the mountains of Oregon has been leveling the playing field, providing training, resources, mentorship, and space for kids of all economic and social backgrounds to learn and make art.
Caldera Arts is an institution focused on helping kids realize their dreams and potentially find their grown-up callings, given the right resources within a peaceful space. Bringing together artists, youth mentors, and environmental experts, Caldera Arts starts with middle-school kids and slowly progresses them through education in different mediums of their choosing until they graduate from the program or move on of their own accord. The more than 100 adult mentors provide their help and guidance completely free of charge—a bright light for many families and children who cannot afford costly training or art supplies.
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Caldera follows the tenets of nurture and patience. By easing kids into programs at a young age, children and teenagers are allowed personal space to choose an artistic medium, discover skills that most interest them, and engage in the social aspects of collaborative art-making. Choices for mediums include painting, drumming, photography, circus arts, film, environmental projects, and screen printing, among others. In one year, Caldera Arts can see up to 400 students participate in the program.
Spoken word performance at Wieden+Kennedy by Caldera students as the opening act for poet, Patricia Smith. Pictured: 6th grade students from SEI Academy. Photo: Rob Archibald
As Caldera draws near its 25-year anniversary, the program has earned many accolades—Caldera was honored at the White House with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award 2015—and continues to foster and cultivate young creatives. Many students return to Caldera as young adults to volunteer and share their stories. Asha Benton joined Caldera in 2002, and its attributes of nature, community, and art prompted her to stay long-term.
“I joined Caldera when I was 11 years old. I remember it being a place of trying new things. Caldera is a place where you can be your authentic self and everyone around supports you. You can be creative here, and grow into the person you are meant to be,” she tells Creators.
“I tried painting for the first time [at Caldera]. What I love most about painting is creating something out of a blank canvas… mixing colors and using my imagination to form a beautiful piece of art. I love painting images that represent people who look like me, especially with so many conflicting negative images in the media.”
March 2016 Artist in Residence Amory Abbott showcases artwork created during his residency at a public Open Studios event. Pictured: Amory Abbott. Photo: Ricardo Nagaoka
Benton, who is currently on Caldera’s full-time team as a Portland Middle School Mentor goes on to talk about what it means to give back to other kids a decade later. “I’ve been involved with Caldera for [years], including working as a camp advocate and a teaching artist. I graduated from college in 2012, supported in part by a Caldera scholarship. This year, I joined Caldera’s full-time staff […] It’s a dream job to give back to youth the way I was supported when I was young, to see them grow and transform. I’m giving to them what my mentors gave to me.”
“Caldera is so special,” Benton cheers. “It is a family. It is a place where you can grow as a person, be vulnerable, be creative, sleep under the stars, swim in Blue Lake [a body of water in a nearby National Park], sing by a campfire, jump off a dream tree, believe in food-waste dragons, develop skills, make friends and continuously feel supported in every stage of life. It’s better than Disneyland.”
Map of Caldera and the surrounding landscape by March 2016 Artist in Residence Amory Abbott. Pictured: Map by Amory Abbott. Photo: Ricardo Nagaoka
Sculpture by Annie Varnot created during her March 2016 residency at Caldera. Pictured: Sculpture. Photo: Ricardo Nagaoka
Painting by March 2016 Artist in Residence Annie Varnot. Pictured: Watercolor painting. Photo: Ricardo Nagaoka
Mars performs poetry during a “Mini-Camp” Weekend Intensive. Pictured: Caldera student, Mars. Photo: Ricardo Nagaoka
Creative Director Elizabeth Quinn, students, artists, and the public creating art during an Open Studios event. Pictured: Elizabeth Quinn and Central Oregon high school youth. Photo: Ricardo Nagaoka
Caldera’s Portland Middle School Mentor and Alumna Aasha Benton teaching painting at a Caldera workshop. Pictured: Aasha Benton. Photo: Olivia Brebrick
Camp Caldera Circus Arts class. Pictured: Teaching artists Sara Brickman and Becky Renfrow, and Caldera students: Birdie, Kidd, Smith Rock, Rainbow, 8-ball, Stretch, Nikita, Bedazzle, and Blue Pearl. Photo: Chris Larson
Learn more and stay up to date on Caldera Arts by visiting their website and following them on Facebook and Twitter.
All year, we’re highlighting 50 States of Art projects around the United States. This month, we’re covering Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Tennessee, and Delaware. To learn more, click here.
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Source: vice.com