How I learned from BRIDGE 2006.
Last year I was lucky enough to be part of the 1st ever ENCOMPASS Summer BRIDGE program in Monrovia.
BRIDGE is a unique summer program that uses tile mosaic art to help people talk about themselves and learn about others.
This was my first experience with doing tile mosaics. I was looking forward to learning the skills and techniques that I had seen used at mosaic artist Rose Portillo’s house (and other places). I didn’t know what to expect. Would it be hard to learn? Would I be good at it? What would I learn about myself? I thought I would have fun, but I wasn’t expecting to learn new things about myself and about the other folks in the group, some of whom I’ve know and worked with for a good portion of my life.
As far as the tiling goes, the process is relatively simple. You start with a bunch of regular square tiles…and then…you smash them with a hammer. It’s pretty sweet. Once that’s done, you’ve got some decisions to make. What do you want your piece to say? How can you make what you want to say come through? You really have to look deep into yourself to figure it out. I just went with what felt right to me.
For some this process of intense creation was what made them think. I felt that for me the process of analyzing our finished products was what made me think the most. Looking at the completed work and thinking about the choices I made, looking at other folks work and choices, seeing the similarities and differences between our work, thinking about what sizes, colors and patterns I gravitate towards and what those choices say about my personality, life and style were very eye-opening. Even thought BRIDGE happened almost a year ago, I’m still mulling over what I learned. Through BRIDGE I learned the skills to keep working on projects, ones that help me to keep thinking about things in new and exciting ways. And I still have the first mosaic I made, the one that got me thinking, so I can look at it and keep thinking, seeing new things and making new discoveries.
BRIDGE 2007 is the chance for you to make some discoveries about yourself and other teens from around Pasadena. The program takes place July 9 - August 3 at the CORAL Center in Pasadena. Click here for more information on BRIDGE 2007.