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 Gardens are natural works of art. Just ask writer-poet Nina Gibans and artist-photographer Michael Loderstedt, creators of the book 18 Gardens and Their Gardeners. The book was designed to celebrate the Shaker Tower garage roof gardens and their gardeners. Flowers and vegetables are grown by residents in 24 inches of soil on the roof of the tower garage. Gibans' poetry is the text of the book. Loderstedt's photos capture the beauty of the gardens in every season. 18 Gardens and Their Gardeners aims to capture the meaning of the roof gardens for each gardener. Do the gardeners attitudes vary with the seasons? Do certain flowers have sentimental associations? What family histories are integrated into the gardens? How are the gardens physically and mentally therapeutic? What cultural diversities appear in the gardens? How do the gardens reflect personality? 18 Gardens and Their Gardeners was funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Arts Council's Artist Projects Program. The book is available at Mac's Backs Paperbacks and other Cleveland area bookstores. For more information about the Shaker Towers gardens contact Nina Gibans at 216/561-0404. For more information about the OAC Artist Projects Program contact Susan dePasquale at 614/466-2613.
OAC INTRODUCES YOUTHREACH OHIO INITIATIVE YouthReach Ohio, the Ohio Arts Council's latest initiative, is designed to address the needs of young people who are at risk of not making a successful transition from adolescence to young adulthood. The two-year pilot program provides ways for communities to create positive arts experiences for young people in supportive environments. "The YouthReach Ohio initiative is a valuable extension of our Arts in Education program," said Wayne Lawson, Ohio Arts Council executive director. "It's exciting that our legislators see the need for programs that reach out to at-risk youth and are willing to fund them appropriately." The YouthReach initiative is intended to foster collaborations between arts organizations and other community organizations, especially social service agencies. The initiative is based on research that demonstrates the impact of successful arts programs on at-risk youth: decreases in delinquent behavior and court referrals, increased communication skills and improved ability to complete tasks, among others. |
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