Dumas TechYard Project

Dumas TechYard Project (2010)

Partner – CPS Office of Academic Enhancement

In January of 2009, archi-treasures was invited by DePaul University’s Egan Urban Center to become involved in the Technology Academy Partnerships (TAP) Program, created to foster collaborative relationships between five technology schools and community organizations in their respective neighborhoods.

With funding from CPS Office of Academic Enhancement, which oversees the technology school program, archi-treasures launched an ambitious new endeavor to design, build and celebrate a public art project on the school grounds that would highlight Dumas as a technology-focused school. archi-treasures partnered with Project SYNCERE and Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) to utilize the arts, engineering, and technology while inviting school- and community-wide participation, strengthening community ties, and expressing the unique nature of Woodlawn.

In November 2009, archi-treasures began meeting with school and neighborhood groups, including “Coffee And” and a group of teachers at a Professional Development Day workshop, in order to create an Advisory Committee to guide the project. Meanwhile, archi-treasures hired nationally renowned artist Stuart Keeler to actualize the project.

Stuart created three concepts, but the Advisory Committee was clearly drawn to the idea of sending a message by “texting” on the front of the school building. Given that technology has altered the way we communicate, this new language, while having the potential to divide us, also has the potential to add a new layer of creativity in our expression; we need only understand that though our styles vary, our need to communicate about ourselves and our stories does not change.

With the concept chosen, archi-treasures held a school-wide competition to generate text messages about the Woodlawn community; with over 100 entries, the competition was fierce. Five text messages that creatively encapsulated a range of ideas about “community” were chosen and each of these text messages became a theme for a community writing workshop led by NWA Teacher Cynthium Woodfolk-Johnson.

Cynthium conducted writing workshops with a group of parents and community members, wherein she helped the participants to break down the concepts and write personal stories that reflected these concepts. Experimental Sound Studio then audio-recorded the workshop participants sharing their stories.

Meanwhile, Project SYNCERE led two workshops with 20 students, teaching the mechanics of building a simple computer and speaker system. This simple computer would eventually be installed in a small enclosure on the exterior of the school for all to hear the community stories.

As the sounds and stories were coming together, archi-treasures fabricated the winning text messages into 12-inch high aluminum letters and symbols, eventually installing them near the school’s entrance. On Thursday, June 16, students, parents, staff and community members came together during the school’s field day to celebrate the project’s completion. Passers-by, intrigued by the mysterious text showcased on the façade of the building, can now press a button that corresponds with a text message and hear stories that illustrate each concept.