“Junk
Jam”
 The
August 30th performance of "Junk Jam" was
the culmination of the collaboration between Creative
Resident and music therapist Sarah Fulton and kids from
Cole Middle School and Higher Ground Youth Challenge.
In the August 23rd workshop, Sarah and found object
artist Bruce Kennedy worked with the kids in creating
musical instruments out of junk. Such items as ladders,
trashcans, bike parts, car parts, pails, PVC pipe and
toilet lids, were pounded, nailed and forged together
to create the instruments. The purpose of Sarah's residency
was to teach the kids that beautiful, exciting and worthwhile
experiences can be created out of seemingly ugly and
useless things.
Sarah
works with Music Therapy International as the Country
Director in Kenya. She leaves for Nairobi soon to
serve as the Director of Music Therapy at the Mother
Theresa Home for abandoned children with HIV/AIDS.
An ³arts pals" relationship will be developed
between the youth in Denver and in Kenya. Stay tuned
to our website for further developments about Sarah's
stay in Africa.
Local filmmaker Donnie L. Betts was
on hand to document the workshop and “Junk Jam”
itself. He will be traveling to Africa to follow Sarah's
adventure, and to make a documentary film focusing
on the healing power of music.
“Junk Jam” was
loud, exuberant, cathartic and big fun for all. At
the end of the event, in wandered a gentleman curious
about the instruments. He introduced himself as being
one of the set designers for “Silver City,”
the new John Sayles movie being shot in Colorado.
They had been looking for “wacky stuff"
for one of their scenes, and we were thrilled to be
able to donate all the instruments and leftover junk
to the crew. Watch for the instruments in Darryl Hannah's
backyard in the movie! |
