In the Studio
November 4, 2021
Starting work on the Louisiana collaborative project that will be on display in the ramp gallery. With feet covered in paint, young members of the Mid City Dance Project in Baton Rouge, back in 2005, performed “The Fading Line: Commemoration of the 1953 Bus Boycott” across a large canvas, their footprints telling the story of the beginning of the civil rights movement.
Ellen’s Work Blog
November 2021
In October, as leaves started to fall and temps dropped a bit, I began to think about the big job still looming: getting artwork contributed by 10,000 kids up on the back ramp in the months ahead. This is really about creating a long (110 feet), narrow, three-dimensional display on two sides and above. Some of the collaborative projects have already been pulled together into one or more large pieces. A couple of these are major installation challenges. I would seriously disappoint the install crew if they could not come back to figure out a few impossible lifts and stabilization issues. Problem solving on a giant scale is their thing. When a new piece has “never-before-attempted” written all over it, this really gets them excited. My first step was asking John (Posey) and Justin (Truskauskas) to help me move the 26-foot-long helix down from our warehouse and into the mural building. Filthy dirty, it took a few days to clean and de-spider around every rivet and small corner. Originally created at Mark Grusauski’s Wingworks, this is a piece that required help from many people and many businesses, trucking giant pieces of Makrolon from Perotti Plumbing’s bender to Mark’s airplane hangar, where we finally had to hang it from the ceiling like a giant slinky in order to finish it.
And a story for next time: the hundreds of Japanese Americans who contributed pictures, memorabilia, and artwork in San Jose’s Japantown and Manzanar, California.
AMPed UP
October 27, 2021
Congrats to Michelle Fenton Begley, AMP's education programs director, who is a 2021 Litchfield Hills Creative Awards winner!
The winners are individuals and organizations who positively impact the community and enhance the collective wellbeing through arts and other creative means.
Way to go, Michelle!
AMPed UP
October 25, 2021
An amazing interview with Ellen Griesedieck, founder of the American Mural Project, on Nick Wagner's The Full Potential podcast. Ellen shares her inspirational career journey, from photographer to AMP.
Click here to watch the full interview on YouTube.
Art at Work: Education
October 15, 2021
From this to that, Bolton's all-school mural is spectacular! Celebrating the town's 300th anniversary (in 2020), the mural has been in the works since 2019 and involved input from a group of student representatives, the town historian, and key contributions from various invested members of the school community. AMP teaching artist Meredith Arcari Luciano and Bolton art teacher Katelyn Paradis masterfully guided more than 500 students in grades PK-8 to create this incredible piece of artistic history!
Art at Work: Education
October 4, 2021
Our spirits are soaring with the return to our school residencies! First stop on the schedule: Salisbury, CT.
In partnership with SOAR, Salisbury Central School, and Twenty2 of Bantan, Connecticut, AMP’s program in Salisbury is an all-school mural commemorating the 20th anniversary and legacy of SOAR’s after-school enrichment programs. Initiated by Linda Sloane, executive director of SOAR, the project kicked off in winter 2020 with a small group of student representatives planning alongside AMP teaching artist Jessica Russell.
Fast forward to last week, the entire school community worked off of a prompt to create art around the work that they would like to do when they grow up. Their art will be scanned and digitized by Twenty2 and turned into high-end wallpaper that will cover the entire length and width of the hallway outside the art room at Salisbury Central School. We are all so grateful to Twenty2 for the incredibly generous donation of their time and skill! Special thanks to Gayle Christinat who shared her art room, talent, and love for Salisbury students.
Building Up and Raising Funds
September 19, 2021
"How inspiring it was to see that fabulous mural, the beautifully reclaimed spaces, to meet and mingle with people in person instead of on screen. And hearing Billy! Sublime."
We wholeheartedly agree with this Gala attendee's thoughts on the evening!
Click here to view photos.
Art at Work: Education
September 13, 2021
Our partnership with Team Success Scholars at Northwest Connecticut Community College has provided incredible internship opportunities and amazing interns!
Students AMPing - learning about internships opportunities at the American Mural Project. Fantastic career exploration in the arts, youth, film and more!
In the Studio
August 31, 2021
The Energizer Bunny at work on the next sections of the mural!
Art at Work: Education
July 30, 2021
And that's a wrap on another week of Summer @AMP! Planting, making jam and birdhouses, creating animals, and so much more for our busy bees
Art at Work: Education
July 24, 2021
Another great week of Summer @AMP! Dabbling with a variety of mediums, our campers always impress us with what they create.
AMPed UP
July 23, 2021
Ellen, our founder, and Mimi, our development director, were recently interviewed by Nick Wagner Sr. for his podcast on Innovate CT, which highlights and promotes innovation in Connecticut schools and colleges through knowledge and best practice sharing.
Building Up and Raising Funds
July 20, 2021
Planning is underway for our opening in the spring! Thanks to the many who are helping us envision what's needed and for providing us insight to make the AMP experience even better. The countdown begins!
Art at Work: Education
July 17, 2021
This week's group of campers created outdoor art inspired by Ugo Rondinone's Seven Magic Mountains and Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty, among lots of other projects. A gloomy week of weather was brightened up by happy participants and really cool installations!
Art at Work: Education
July 16, 2021
Our summer program participants have created an incredible outdoor learning and play space on AMP's campus. Next project might need to be an ark (seriously, when will this rain end?!)!
Art at Work: Education
July 2, 2021
What a week! The sounds of Latin, jazz, drilling, and sawing by participants in our Music @AMP and Outdoor Design & Building programs filled the air, all while being filmed by our Digital Story Work interns. The building and grounds are buzzing with excitement!
Building Up and Raising Funds
June 19, 2021
The AMP property is all sorts of pretty now, thanks to O&G Industries Inc.'s pea stone donation and Justin Truskauskas' help adding it to the walkways and around the future Education/Visitor Center. Summer here we come!
AMPed UP
June 9, 2021
Three of our staff members—Amy, Ruthie, and Michelle—completed a course in CPR/AED and First Aid so that our tours and programs are always covered by someone who is trained. Offered through Winsted Area Ambulance Association Official Site, our group's training was led by Ryan Weiss, WAAA's vice president, who did a great job of making it thorough and engaging. What an awesome experience!
Building Up Raising Funds
June 8, 2021
Lovin' our new windows—and light—thanks to donations from Northwest Community Bank and Webster Bank through Connecticut’s Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit program!
DiGiorgi Roofing & Siding did an amazing job installing them.
In the Studio
June 4, 2021
Back to work! This time Ellen is cutting out what will be the entry to the collaborative sections of the mural that have been created by people in 17 states across the country (the remaining 33 state projects to happen in the coming years). These pieces will be displayed along the ramp gallery on the second level behind the mural. More on that soon!
