The Factory 14s Youth Art Course provides intensive art-making experiences for students ages 14-18. It is designed to introduce teens and young artists of all backgrounds to the choices, decisions, methods and materials relevant to the creation, presentation, and interpretation of installation art. Under the guidance of professional artists, students engage in a creative process that closely mirrors the Mattress Factory's artist-residency program. Students conceive of, plan, and install their own collaborative piece in one of the Museum's galleries. The artist educator mentors students as they research, articulate themes and concepts, forage for materials and develop artistic statements. The 10-week experience culminates with a public opening and reception.
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WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST CLASS?
FALL 2007
Rocks, Paper, Robots taught by artist, Tom Sarver. Students explored a variety of art making processes including structure building, making videos, sewing and robotic technology using sensory boards called “canaries” that were provided by the Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute Robot 250 program. Students also met other working artist from Pittsburgh and the Black Sheep Puppet Festival.
An Opening on Sunday, February 3, 2008 included a group installation. Fort Robot Joyland was a fabric made structure with a tree that served drinks, a video on robots and a performance piece that included a cheese sandwich making station as well as other interactive pieces.
A Manchester Craftsman’s Guild Student Installation, Candy Napping was also shown. Participants used the familiar child board game, Candyland to create a 3-d structure in which visitors could navigate through experiencing other concepts that students had built into the structures.
Candy Napping was the result of a Mattress Factory/Manchester Craftsman’s Guild partnership in which MCG students and teachers had access to the MF education studio and the Museum during after-school hours throughout the month of January 2008.
SUMMER 2007 Check out the class blog for HOLY COW. Artist David Pohl led students as they explored Indian art and culture. The class' opening reception was held Saturday, August 18, 2007 http://mattressfactory14s4.blogspot.com/ SPRING 2007
The class investigated materials, issues, and ideas of Mattress Factory installations with Pittsburgh artist Wendy Osher. They met and learned from contemporary artists from India as they were exposed to the working processes of resident artists as they installed new work for the spring exhibition! The group also compared museum works from different sides of the globe and moments in time as a springboard for thinking about creating original installations. Check out previous F14s blogs!FALL 2005: mattressfactory14s.blogspot.com SPRING 2006: mattressfactory14s2.blogspot.com SUMMER 2006: spacesitesound.blogspot.com FALL 2006: mattressfactory14s3.blogspot.com SUMMER 2007: mattressfactory14s4.blogspot.com | 
