To My World on COVER in THIS ISSUE: Flight of Beauty, 59.5 Cm X 47.5 Cm, Poster Colour, by Lee Mun Choong (Artist Under ALIVE Programme) 02
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Volume 6 Jan 2018 MCI (P) 142/05/2017 Welcome to my world ON COVER IN THIS ISSUE: Flight Of Beauty, 59.5 cm x 47.5 cm, Poster Colour, by Lee Mun Choong (Artist under ALIVE programme) 02................... We Didn’t Expect That! Company Of Good Fellowship MISSION 03................... APEX & ALERT To create and provide access and opportunities for people with June Holidays Workshops disabilities through the arts. 04................... ALIVE TALKS: Session 02 ALERT Excursions VISION A world where people with disabilities are empowered through 05................... Volunteer Gathering Night the arts, contribute to and integrate with the community. Volunteer Appreciation Party Very Special Theatrics: Peter & The Wolf 06................... Welcome To Paradise VOICES Spotlight: Joshua German 07 07................... Welcome to My World 2017- VSA Annual Concert 08................... STRIKE Academy APEX September Holidays Workshop 09................... Sharing Session- David Mack The POWER of Poetry 10................... ALIVE Artiste: Robert Tan VSA Annual Art Competition 2017 11................... The Purple Parade 2017 12................... People, Places & Pieces The Lipstick Art of Chng Seok Tin 13................... VSA Out Loud! VSA Creative Dance Group, Lil’ Wings, performing in “Welcome To My World 2017” CITI-YMCA Youth For Causes 2017 14................... Woh Hup VSA Year-End Party 2017 15................... Re-Opening Of VSA Art Space @Bedok New VSA Merchandise Flight Of Beauty, 59.5 cm x 47.5 cm, Poster Colour, by Lee Mun Choong VSA EVENTS We Didn’t Expect That! A total of 18 student-artists, between the ages of 14 to 28, had the opportunity to present their works at this year’s VOICES exhibition. They included youngsters with autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, hearing loss and learning challenges. Under their mentors’ guidance, they were able to put up art works which were of professional quality and which incorporated the authenticity of their unique and lived experiences. The quirky theme of “We didn’t expect that!” provided much creative fodder for the participants to capture, in their art, moments that were unexpected or unforeseen to them. Joining The Good Fellows For our young artists, it also served as a timely reflection on NATIONAL Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre runs a the unpredictability of life. programme “Company of Good Fellowship” for corporate The three workshops which focused on drawing, drum leaders who wish to launch or enhance their companies’ painting and 3D pen, were conducted by Kenneth Lee, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. On Cavan Chang and Jacob Tan respectively, and were well 31 May 2017, VSA welcomed corporate staff from this received by the public. In the pipeline are more of such programme for a sharing session, after which some workshops to build our artists’ confidence in art making and approached VSA to explore collaborations. communication skills. During the session, VSA executive director Maureen Goh gave an overview of VSA programmes and offered the following thoughts on how corporates could create effective and successful partnerships with non-profits. In her view, corporates should: • Understand and clarify their expectations, purposes, goals in working with a non-profit; • Understand the policies and guidelines that govern charities; for example, the 30/70 rule of fundraising as well as the requirement for a signed agreement and fundraising licence; • Understand the selected charity – its mission and vision, as well as needs and constraints; • Be honest and clear about their own needs and expectations; • Be open to new possibilities and alternatives to initial plans 02 | Welcome to My World VSA EVENTS APEX: SHADOW PUPPETRY WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS of the three-day Shadow Puppetry Workshop had great fun exploring the abstract contrast between light and dark, as well as getting hands on in creating their own puppets and portable theatre props! The puppets and props were made from recycled Organised by VSA, SHI SHA Productions conducted the materials such as bamboo sticks and shoe boxes. These workshop which brought about an immersive experience magically became caterpillars, apples and butterflies! And for all, as shadows on the walls came alive, accompanied it only required a desk lamp and, of course, imagination by soothing piano music. and creativity, to complete the illusion of reality. ALERT: June Holidays Workshops VSA had lined up a series of novel and interesting workshops and courses for our ALERT students during the June holidays Drawing In 3D Drawing non-stop In this 3D Pen workshop conducted by instructor Ranae, Imagine drawing intricate shapes and outlines and figures students had the opportunity to visualise in three and details, all in one go and without lifting the pen off the dimensions and create 3D works of art. They also learnt paper. Seems difficult? That’s what students tried their hand about handling the pen safely and using the various tools to at in this continuous line drawing workshop. First, they enhance their work. visualised or copied an image, and then off they went! It was an unique challenge indeed. Water Calligraphy It was great fun for our students during this one-day water The water calligraphy and continuous line drawing calligraphy workshop. Using water brush pens rather than workshops were conducted by student volunteers the usual watercolour brushes, they had a go at doing from ITE College East. calligraphy in a different manner. Among the skills they VSA wishes to express picked up were using the water brushes to vary the shades our thanks to of their work and create gradients as well as mix colours in the volunteers. their artworks. Volume 6 Issue Jan 2018 | 03 VSA EVENTS ALIVE TALKS: SESSION 02 SUSTAINABILITY IN THE ARTS: WHAT’S POSSIBLE? by Audrey Wong ON 24 August, VSA hosted the second in a series of talks specially catered for participants in the ALIVE programme. Audrey Wong, who heads the School of Creative Industries at LASALLE College of the Arts, gave a lecture on the crucial questions facing all artists and arts organisations: How can they make a living from their artistic activities? Is it a must for an artist to obtain funding from the National Arts Council to get by? What are the other strategies and tools to help the artist sustain their art-making? The enlightening and thought-provoking session explored the funding and sustainability challenges in the Singapore arts sector, and also facilitated a discussion about possible income generation and fundraising models. Audrey Wong Wai Yen has an MA in English from the the Associate Artists programme which supported National University of Singapore and an MA in Arts local artists in different disciplines. Audrey was on the Administration & Cultural Policy from Goldsmiths Singapore Art Museum board, a council member of the College, University of London. She was previously National Arts Council, and is currently on the board of artistic co-director at The Substation, where she started Nine Years Theatre. She was also a Nominated Member the pioneering Moving Images film programme and of Parliament from 2009 to 2011. Oh, The Places We’ll Go! RED ALERT! Aspiring artists from our centers were set loose in public over the past months. Watch out for more exciting outings and activities for participants under our ALERT programme! Yayoi Kusama: Life Is The Heart Of A Rainbow Our students visited iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition at National Gallery Singapore, where her highly acclaimed sculptures, art installations and paintings were on display. Imaginarium: To the Ends of the Earth ALERT students also made a trip down to the Singapore Art Museum for this exhibition, which features the work of nine contemporary artists. It encouraged our students to explore new ways of seeing the surrounding environments and experiencing the world around them. Outdoor Drawing at Bedok Reservoir Park A lovely morning at the serene Bedok Reservoir Park proved the perfect source of inspiration to our students who were there to practise drawing scenery. Photography by the Singapore River The historic (and nowadays very happening!) Singapore River winding around the heart of modern Singapore was the happy hunting ground for our student-shutterbugs. 04 | Welcome to My World VSA EVENTS Specially For Volunteers VSA Singapore regularly hosts thank- was an occasion to party and learn you sessions for our volunteers for 23 volunteers and donors. VSA and donors. Besides conveying our Executive Director Maureen Goh appreciation, these events also serve gave a welcome address and Senior to review VSA’s past events and give Executive Magali Finet updated them updates on upcoming ones, understand on the programmes. A special treat what volunteers are interested in, and was also in store for all present – garner feedback on improving our VOICES beneficiary Joshua German programmes (via survey forms). put up a jazz piano performance The evening of 8 June at the for everyone! VSA staff Mr Shaudin VSA Art Space at Changi City Point Othman and teacher Mr Francis Poon also conducted educational talks on “Supporting Learning Needs” and “How Visual Arts Helps People with Autism”. VSA also held another Volunteer Appreciation Party on 8 Dec 2017 at VSA Art Space @Changi where volunteers were appreciated with dinner, certificates and the Christmas Show by our very own Very Special Theatrics. for both shows on 18 June 2017. VST also performed at VSA’s annual ... AND A WOLF JOINS THE “Welcome to My World 2017” concert at The Republic Cultural Centre on 13 BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES August, with a re-staging of “Birds & Butterflies”. For a setup which is less than a year old, VST’s impact has been substantial. A parent of one of VST’s actors with disability said: “After joining VST, Samuel is more vocal and opens up more in his speech, and has the chance to develop his innate talent”. VST actor Aqiyah said that being a part of VST has enabled her to pick up leadership and teamwork skills as well as “built VERY Special Theatrics (VST) is an which the Victoria Concert Hall up her confidence tremendously”.