Artist Summer Camp at LangLab

My name is Perrin Fowler and I am an Art Education student at IUSB, Peer Mentor for Raclin School of the Arts at IUSB, a worker at Replicant Graphics South Bend, as well as a Bartender at LangLab South Bend. I have been in the works with both Langlab South Bend, as well as The Artist Run Cafe at Langlab since April of 2023, and though the professional relationship is new, I have known the owners and managers for almost a decade. My passion in life is to make as positive of an influence on the community as possible, and there is no better way to do so than to help the youth with creative self expression, and grow a sense of community. Thanks to the generosity of LangLab and the support of the South Bend School Corporation, this is now a possibility.

The general idea for this project is to run an artist apprenticeship hosted at LL, and funded entirely from the local community. We want to host a space for young artistic minds to create without limitation, and be able to get a taste of becoming an artist in South Bend. Each student will be given a pamphlet (printed by Eco Owl Press) supporting local businesses, as well as sponsoring all-age events taking place is South Bend.

writeup for what is happening in the program

What we need from you, the students:

-Send an email to [email redacted] with your: Name, preferred pronouns, and phone number to RSVP a portfolio viewing on July 19th. The portfolio viewing will be between 11am-5pm at the Artist Run Cafe at LangLab, and 10-12 students will be selected afterwords.

-Bring a used (old or new) sketchbook and/or a professional portfolio to be viewed! If we see promise in your work (whether that be finished pieces, or noticeable progression in style/technique in the sketchbook), you will be selected for the camp! An email will be sent out to the selected students a week before the camp starts.

-During the portfolio viewing, we will need a parent/guardian signature for a consent form. This will qualify you for selection for the program. If a parent/guardian cannot attend the portfolio viewing, please send an email to [email redacted] BEFORE THE EVENT to set up a time so that the Parent/Guardian can do so.

-If you are one of the lucky few selected, the camp will be officially beginning weekdays from 12pm-5pm on July 31st, and run until August 12th! All you would need to bring at the start would be yourself, a favorite pencil, and any supplies not provided that you would like to use!

-Transportation. Whether you drive yourself or get dropped off, but we cannot do it for you!

What will be provided (During Session):

-Every chosen participant will be provided with a “Goodie Bag.” This will include: A pamphlet with each local business sponsor as well as all-age artist events going on in South Bend, a brand new sketch book, and merch/goodies from local businesses.

-Every day, each student will be provided with drinks and a meal, thanks to the Artist Run Cafe at LangLab. If the provided food isn’t of interest, LangLab is conveniently located near many restaurants/drive-throughs on LincolnWay!

-Some supplies will be offered: Standard 12”x16” Canvases, Acrylic paint, paint brushes, Wide-Formatted paper, graphite pencils and magic markers. (Any other supplies requested may not be provided, but don’t hesitate to ask! I’m sure we can get more complicated supplies provided, but if not, its up to you!)

-A space! This is a communal studio for the students! Nothing helps with a creative block like being surrounded by other creative minds.

-(In the works) There may be an opportunity for the students to have a full 5-hour studio session at the print-making studio at Indiana University South Bend. Learn a new medium! Get a taste of what college-level art courses are like!

What will be provided (End of Session):

-Every student will be compensated $200 as a thank you for your time, as well as an apology for any jobs you may be missing.

-At the end of the session, every art piece (that you would like to be displayed) will be displayed at the Artist Run Cafe at LangLab, and a formal showcasing will be held for the whole city to see your work! The work will be on display for the remainder of September and, if willing, you can put a QR code to your Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal, to allow locals to purchase your piece! This will be monitored by the staff of LangLab.

-(In the works) A local print shop, EcoOwlPress, is willing to make prints for the students, and the students can sell them at our own booth at Rebel Art Fest, sponsored by Make South Bend.

The inspiration for this idea stems from an artist apprenticeship once hosted by Notre Dame at the Snite Museum of Art. The program was ran very similar to how this program is going to be ran, however it will be completely funded by the community, rather than a globally known university.

Due to the closing of Clay High School, set to take place after the graduation year of 2024, the art program of the South Bend Community School corporation is going to take a heavy blow. The loss of the Arts Magnet will limit the amount of students that are promoted to pursue the arts. This program is set to help with that decline of artistic support.

Everything needed for this program to take way is already being donated; A space for the participants, as a plentiful lunch. All the funds being raised are so that the students will not have to spend their own money to create what they envision.

The funds are for several things, but all will be used towards the participants. We're hoping to have provided art supplies, as well as have the ability to compensate the 10-12 students or their 2 weeks of time (hard to miss work every weekday from 12pm-5pm). Any art pieces made during the program will be on display at The Artist Run Cafe at LangLab for a month post-program, and (with the consent of the participants) can be bought from there. A gallery event will be held at the end of the session, and it will be a public event with food and beverages for purchase from LangLab and the Artist Run Cafe at LangLab.

This program is set to begin July 31st, and I hope to reach the goal by then!

I would like to thank you for reading this wall of text, and I hope that you will consider donating to the cause. Fingers crossed, this program will continue for years to come! Thank you for supporting the artist youths of South Bend!