By Kids: For Kids
By Danielle Sonnenberg
Making kids creators of art rather than passive consumers of art is the goal of Gorilla Press. Here, children get excited about reading, writing and making art. Dr Jennifer Natalya Fink formed Gorilla Press, a non-profit organization, in 2000. She works with communities, school, and families to make kids’ books and to promote literacy.
When she was eight, Jennifer was told by her teacher, Mrs. Hanson that kids can’t write books. She made her own book by putting together four pieces of notebook paper with a blue magic marker. No one other than her mom read it, however. She wanted other kids to have the opportunity to write, publish, and read one another’s books.
Each project is six weeks long and each session lasts two to three hours. At the end of each week, a child has a book. Kids here learn not only self expression but also the craft of the art. Each week the art director Ellen Blum and volunteers work with kids on a visual technique. Dr Fink and creative adult mentors work on a literary technique. The adult mentors are all professional writers, producers, painters etc.
Often, kids have unfettered self expression without professional community aids, i.e. diaries or communal murals. "This program helps kids’ voices get heard in an organized way and to see their work in a context," says Dr Fink.
In books, the individual pages together make a whole. This is similar to how kids are learning to explore their own unique thoughts of words and images as well as to work as part of a larger community. Kids are also given a chance to learn about craft and technique and to understand different intellectual ideas: What is an ode? What is negative space? "There needs to be an intellectual dimension," Dr Fink commented.
The range of projects is as broad as it is diverse. The Sparks Project, "Out on Fire" took place at the Gay and Lesbian Center. It concentrated on what "What Sets You on Fire." Here kids discovered what they’re most excited about. 1,500 copies were sent to several guidance counselors, schools and public schools. Another project, "What’s Fair, What’s Just, What’s the Difference?" provided children with an in-depth exploration of fairness, justice and law. Through the written word and painting, kids explored their own injustices. Over 450 books have been distributed in New York schools.
The adult mentors deal with polarities such as negative space /positive space and love/hate. Dr Fink approaches children’s art very similar to adult art. The questions are the same for both: "We don’t see ourselves as creating kid art; we are just creating art."
Children’s voices need to be heard more, and for these books to reach communities and schools, more books need to be printed. This is the organization’s greatest expense. Adults are often surprised at how imaginative, creative and political kids are. It’s empowering for children to see themselves as part of the culture of literacy and as the makers of books. For more information go to http://www.gorillapress.com.
