Visionary Artist and Athlete Vanessa Chakour is Amped Up to Bring Art, Action, and Awareness to the World!
July 6, 2009
Vanessa Chakour is one of the most influential visionaries who is “Making Things Happen” by crossing over conditioned boundaries to effect real change. You may have seen her work featured in a breakthrough Revive Da Live show, influential artist collaborations, live music and art tributes ,or on a t-shirt worn by celebrities.
Through an approach that involves all of the five senses, Vanessa is passionate about communicating a message that can be summarized as “Art, Action, and Awareness.”
Vanessa’s background as a boxer, artist, and activist has motivated her to fight for something bigger than her personal growth as an artist, but rather a fight towards greater collective consciousness.
Vanessa Chakour is challenging people to confront their fears, as well as conditioned beliefs that leave many of us stuck in a sea of mediocrity and inaction.
The extremely talented and ambitious artist is focused on a project that is bringing a talented group of people together around a cause that is dear to her. Vanessa Chakour is the Co-Executive Director / Director of Sports and Visual Arts for the new organization called Art, Action, Awareness or (A3).
(A3) tailors their programs specifically to the needs and lives of the youth they serve. Learning begins from the students’ words and experiences–making it truly multicultural and collaborative. Art – Action – Awareness currently offers programming in and across the following disciplines:
A recent program that stirred up a positive level of buzz is a collaboration with GEMS, featuring the elements of Boxing, Art and Transformation. GEMS stands for Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (www.gems-girls.org), and provides young women a unique Boxing and Art Program.
GEMSArt, Action, Awareness believes that with boxing training, the girls will build confidence, strength, awareness, and discipline, as dialouge and art then become the vehicle through which to further express those discoveries. Both boxing and art can be powerful tools for healing and personal transformation…
Vanessa recently partnered with GEMS, which is an organization whose mission is to empower young women ages 12-21, who have experienced sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and develop to their full potential. GEMS provides young women with empathic, consistent support, and viable opportunities for positive change.
GEMS put together a Series at the A3 (Art, Action, Awareness) Gallery in Rime, Brooklyn (157 Smith St. Brooklyn, NY) which took place May 29th, which featured artwork by A3 Co-Director Vanessa Chakour. (www.rimenyc.com)
“Rime is a Brooklyn store specializing in street wear couture, has become an indispensable supporter of A3, and is now the site of the A3 Gallery, where artwork by the youth of A3 will be displayed and celebrated.” – Vanessa Chakour.
At that event contributing A3 artist DJ Moni (www.djmoni.com) of Friends We Love (www.friendswelove.com) spun, while Artwork from GEMS was displayed.
Friends We Love is a video series exploring the motivations, inspirations and creative processes of some of today’
s most forward thinking artists and creators.
Friends We LoveA3 also hosted a screening of GEM’s Documentary “Very Young Girls” on June 18th ‘09 at the same location.
A3’s MISSION…
ART ACTION AWARENESS (A3) is a youth-centered, not-for-profit organization dedicated to building and promoting personal growth and social awareness of young people by supporting their artistic and athletic interests and talents. A3 fosters self-expression and awareness, critical literacy and activism through arts and sports workshops, programming, exhibitions and scholarships. Youth are encouraged to express their voices through various mediums, discover more productive avenues of non-violent conflict resolution, and work with them to engage their communities and peers through artistic expression, dialogue and social organizing. Additionally, A3 focuses on addressing the specific issues our youth face outside of the classrooms by hosting and promoting panels, film screenings and other educational events.
A3’s Vision…
Fusing the arts, sports, and social organizing, A3 aims to develop physical and emotional health, provoke thought and inspire action by providing youth mentorship, unique creative programs, and a place for open, critical dialogue. A3 seeks to promote youth driven social change through the creation of unique events and programming as well as develop partnerships with existing organizations, educators, artists, athletes and activists to address educational and social inequities.
Click Here to read what they’re all about…
VANESSA CHAKOUR (Co-Executive Director / Director of Sports and Visual Arts) is a Brooklyn-based visual artist, athlete and activist. Her work combines her experiences in the realms of music, activism and boxing and as an artist is best known for her politically charged portraits of historic icons, as well as kinetic drawings that function as culturally aware streams of consciousness. Her unique ‘Visual Verse’
style was born out of her need for unedited release and self-expression that reaches deep within through stream-of-consciousness writing to reveal innate truth beneath the surface.
To read her Vanessa Chakour’s full bio, Click Here!
Jaleel Shaw “Revive Da Live” – Vanessa Chakour “Happier than the Morning Sun”
J Dillla – Vanessa Chakour
Alecia ChakourALECIA CHAKOUR (Co-Executive Director / Director of Curriculum and Performing Arts) is an educator, community advocate and professional performing artist who is passionate about using the arts as a driving force in providing a meaningful education of critical literacy and civic engagement.
To read Alecia Chakour’s full bio, Click Here!
A3 has a strong list of contributing Artists and Athletes who are contributing to the cause. Click Here for more info.
A3 has enlisted the support and collaboration from several great affiliates including… De La Hoya Foundation, Friends we love, The Hip-Hop Association, Revive Da Live, Sport in Society, Starting Artists and the Women’s Sports Foundation to name a few. To see A3’s full list Click Here!
A3 Board Member Nina Ziefvert is interviewed by Juxtapoz art and culture magazine recently. The story is about her phenomenal work she does supporting youth in arts. Click Here for the story!
If you are interested in getting involved or have any questions feel free to reach out.
Website: artactionawareness.org
Email: info@artactionawareness.org
Phone: 212-252-2035
via: nycgrind.com
Friends We Love, set out on a mission to spark a daily revolution of inspiration. Through our original series, blogs, music and live events our objective is simple to CREATE + EDUCATE + CELEBRATE.
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