Virtual Art Exploration at Hope Academy

Spoken Word Class

Things were a little different for our 2020 Art Exploration at Hope Academy.  This was our tenth year partnering with Hope during their summer session, and this year’s classes were all online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We offered five classes to about seventy-five middle and high school students in Spoken Word Poetry, Photography, Filmmaking, Graphic Design and Song Writing. Even in the virtual setting, the students did some AMAZING creative work and we invite you to explore some of their projects below. You can also meet our Artist Mentors and click on the links to their projects. Thanks to everyone who supports Inverted Arts and helps make programs like these possible! 

Photography

Spoken Word Poetry

Sometimes life is lonely

Just like this social distancing

Corona just didn’t make life the same

At least there’s a game that corona gave

People are uncertain while they’re left alone

But there’s fear in the air if the virus is in your home

You have to rely on God and family

For when the next time to see them could possibly be.

By Guta

Filmmaking

Songwriting

By Gio

Graphic Design

by Samuel

Meet Our Artist Mentors

Raygen Brown – Photography
Photographer and Bethel University graduate, most of Raygen’s time is spent asking big questions and finding their answers in morning cups of coffee, laughs with strangers in grocery store lines, and in the retelling of stories at thanksgiving tables. made up of curiosity and ginger ale, there are few things that bring more joy to her than “home.” raygensamone.com

Joe Davis – Spoken Word Poetry
Joe is a nationally touring writer, speaker, and performer based in Minneapolis, MN. He is the CEO of The New Renaissance, LLC, frontman of emerging soul, funk, and spoken word ensemble, The Poetic Diaspora, and co-founder / Artistic Director of H-Cubed: Hope, Healing, Harmony, a grassroots community movement centered on healing through the arts. 
http://joedavispoetry.com/

Josh Chitwood – Filmmaking
Josh and his wife Morgan lead Chitwood Media, a filmmaking and videography company that works with a community of diverse local and national clientele. The heart of of Josh and Morgan’s work is to create diverse media that cultivates inspiration, expands perspective, empowers community and affirms hope. www.chitwoodmedia.com

Shanell McCoy – Songwriting
Shanell McCoy is a Christian singer-songwriter and speaker from Minneapolis, Minnesota with over ten years of experience in youth and social justice work. Active in her community, Shanell is a powerful speaker and performer that uses her platform to facilitate conversations and speak on panels across the Twin Cities addressing racial justice, healthy relationships, and mental wellness. shanellmccoy.com

Delphin Starr – Graphic Design
Delphin Starr Niyonkuru (aka DelStarr) is originally from Burundi and moved to Minneapolis with his family in 2010. His main artistic mediums are abstract, painter, photographer, graphic designer, speed painter, and dancer. In 2014, DelStarr taught himself how to speed paint and has performed around the country and the world.  Instagram @DelStarr_arts and Facebook @delstarrarts

Photography Class

Recent Posts

  • MCO August Art Camp

    This was our fifteenth annual Art Camp at Mathare Community Outreach, Kenya. Camp began with a powerful reminder: God has placed unique gifts and talents inside every one of us. Art Camp classes included dance, music, photography and videography, baking, fashion design, and other visual and performing arts. Through creativity, learning, and fun, students discovered…

  • MCE Art Camp

    by Seth Luchemos – IA Kenya Director The August Art Camp at MCE kicked off on such a great note! With our theme “Made for More,” we reminded our students that they are created with purpose and for purpose. From our devotion on “Made with Purpose” to hands-on sessions in ukulele, keyboard, guitar, dance, photography…

  • Upendo Art Camp

    Creativity was on another level during the August Art Camp at the Upendo Children’s Home in Kakamega, Kenya! From modern dance to music, photography, tailoring, and visual art, being “Made for More” means choosing to grow every day. Here’s one story of that growth in action from the fashion and design class. Students who had…

  • Where does my donation go?

    Your donation supports these talented young people and helps build a pathway for them to use their creativity to transform their communities!  Here’s how it works: Art Camps (Gray – Liberia, Blue – Kenya) Scholarship Students (Gray – Liberia, Blue – Kenya) Small Business Partners (Scholarship graduates) Developing Leaders (for scholarship students, business partners and Artist Mentors) Empowering…

  • Training Leaders and Mentors in Kenya

    IA Kenya Director Seth Luchemos has partnered with Lepta Community and Executive Director JKing, to develop curriculum to train Inverted Arts Leaders and Artist Mentors. The Leadership training helps IA Business Partners and Scholarship students transition into adulthood as confident leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs through hands-on learning and mentorship, where they build key skills in…

  • An Invitation from Seth

    Since launching in 2010, the work of Inverted Arts has centered on two core beliefs: that every young person is “created to create,” and that their “creativity is KEY to community development.” With these convictions in mind, we’ve built a pathway for youth to discover and develop their creativity through Art Camps, scholarships, and small…