News & Publications

MARWEN ANNOUNCES AURORA TOSHIKO KING

AS DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

“I believe that art and creative expression are fundamental to our humanity and essential for our collective liberation.” -- Aurora Toshiko King

(Chicago, IL – April 1, 2019) Marwen is excited to announce that Aurora Toshiko King has been named Director of Education as of April 1. In her role, Aurora will work closely with leadership to set a strategic vision across all program areas: studio programs; teaching artist professional development opportunities; college, career and alumni initiatives; and student and family engagement efforts. She will shape vision for education at Marwen, centered around youth development.

“Marwen helps young people shape pathways to thrive as individuals and creative contributors to our collective community,” said Executive Director Akilah Halley. “We’re excited to welcome Aurora and learn from her experience in creative youth development methodologies rooted in social justice. She fully embodies Marwen’s values of creativity, empathy, agency, reciprocity, inclusion, collaboration, and reflection. We’re energized by how we can evolve with her leadership.”

“I have had the opportunity to collaborate with the most incredible young people, teaching artists, staff, families, and partners through my work,” said Aurora. “I look forward to learning from and forming relationships with the team at Marwen as well as artists and educators across Chicago. I have been inspired by artists, community arts organizations, and arts education work in Chicago for years and am thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from the brilliance and complexity of this incredible city.”

Aurora Toshiko King’s experience includes working as an educator and administrator in Oakland and San Francisco public schools. She was most recently the Director of Programs at Destiny Arts Center in Oakland, California, where she worked to develop social-justice-focused creative youth development programs. Born and raised in the tomato belt of Northern California, she worked in close collaboration with educators, teaching artists, and administrators in Bay Area public schools and community based organizations to bring creative expression into the education system in ways that were sustainable, equitable, and culturally responsive.

Prior to Destiny, Aurora worked as the Program Manager at Performing Arts Workshop in San Francisco where she deepened the organization’s work in the neighborhood by collaborating with educators and administrators to create culturally responsive programs. She also supports state, local, and national efforts to advance equity in the arts and is an active participant in the Creative Youth Development National Partnership. She has worked closely with leaders at the National Guild for Community Arts Education to highlight the importance of using a social justice framework for creative youth development. Aurora is also a mother, an artist, and an advocate. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.

ABOUT MARWEN

Since 1987, Marwen has educated and inspired young people from Chicago’s under-resourced communities and schools through the visual arts. Now, in its 31st year and having served more than 10,000 students, Marwen continues to provide free art courses, college planning, and career development programs to 6-12th graders who have come from 55 of Chicago’s 57 zip codes. For more information visit marwen.org

"Marwen has done so much for me. Honestly, without Marwen, I probably wouldn't be going to college, and I wouldn't feel like I could take art as a career. I probably would've been stuck not knowing what to do."

She came to Marwen as an art-loving high school freshman. Now she's the executive director.

Akilah Halley, center, speaks with 14-year-old Xitlaly Garza, left, and 16-year-old Safiyat Aminu in a textiles class at the Marwen nonprofit arts school Oct. 23, 2018. Halley, an alumna of the school, is the new executive director of Marwen. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)

Bright and bold artwork becomes the new “Face of Marwen.”

Watch a short video about the project: The Face of Marwen

(Chicago, IL – March 6, 2018) In Fall of 2017, as part of an advanced course called “The Face of Marwen” and with support from Exelon Corporation, 15 Chicago high school student artists were commissioned to create original artwork for Marwen’s building in River North. Mounted in February 2018, the art is featured prominently on both a billboard-sized banner (21 x 40 feet) on the north face of the building and within a lightbox gallery (21.5 x 7.5 feet) in the west facing windows on Orleans Street. The bright and bold pieces bring new life and energy as the new face of Marwen.

Under the guidance of Lisa Lindvay (photographer, teaching artist, and Assistant Manager of Studio Programs & Digital Learning at Marwen) and Jasmine Clark (photographer and Studio Facilitator at Marwen), the students collaborated for 10 weeks to design art that authentically represents their voices and the Marwen experience.

The artwork features text and imagery that embodies the mission and culture of Marwen. "Our idea was based on being ‘Seriously Playful’ with adding bold pops of color to portraits and still lifes...to make a coherent piece that we think best represents Marwen's individuality,” said Davita Miranda, a Marwen student who participated in the commissioned program.

Students enhanced their skills in studio photography and graphic design, toured a local print shop, studied contemporary photography trends, researched audiences, and gained client-based presentation skills.

“Their connection to each other allowed them to feel good about putting themselves out there and the images of themselves -- literally -- on a billboard-sized banner,” shared Lisa Lindvay. “That’s really brave for teenagers and really anyone. It takes a lot of guts.”

Current Marwen high school students (ages 15-18) applied and were hired for the course. They were asked to create two art concepts for Marwen’s building and and present them to a client critique panel comprised of noted artists, curators, architects, and Marwen staff, including Joy Bivins (Director of Curatorial Affairs, Chicago History Museum), Dan Wheeler (Principal at Wheeler Kearn Architects), Joy Meek (Principal at Wheeler Kearn Architects), Naomi Beckwith (Curator at Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago), Antonia Contro (artist and President and CEO at Marwen), and Cynthia Weiss (Director of Education at Marwen).

“I was highly impressed with the level of professionalism and thoughtfulness that students brought to the project,” said Joy Bivins. “They shared their ideas equitably and with authority and took suggestions and comments in a way that showed their commitment to doing the job well—which, of course, they did. It was a pleasure to participate.”

The program was funded by Exelon, which proudly supports innovative programs related to education, arts and culture, neighborhood development, and the environment through philanthropic and employee volunteer efforts. “Exelon is a longstanding supporter of Marwen because the artistic opportunities it provides enriches the lives of students and brightens the whole community,” said Maggie FitzPatrick, Exelon senior vice president of corporate affairs, philanthropy and customer engagement. “We’re proud to help young artists share their aesthetic at Marwen’s new building honoring its 30th anniversary and enduring commitment to artistic excellence.”

“By offering client-based, commissioned work to high school students, we’re honing their technical and conceptual skills while helping them imagine and explore career pathways,” said Antonia Contro, President and CEO at Marwen. “And we’re building valuable creative partnerships that have reciprocal benefits for both the students and our supporters.”

Students who participated in “The Face of Marwen” course include Augustin F. (Class of 2018), Daria Z. (2019), Lizbeth R. (2018), Aisha H. (2019), Lila N. (2020), Aileen C. (2019), Adam G. (2018), David G. (2018), Joselyn C. (2018), Cleo C. (2018), Ana C. (2020), Jennifer V. (2020), Alexa R. (2018), Zarifa S. (2019), and Davita M. (2019).

Photography and video are available of the student process, public art installation (timelapse video and drone footage), and final artwork. Watch a 2-minute video about the project.

ABOUT MARWEN

Since 1987, Marwen has educated and inspired young people from Chicago’s under-resourced communities and schools through the visual arts. Now, in its 31st year and having served more than 10,000 students, Marwen continues to provide free art courses, college planning, and career development programs to 6-12th graders who have come from 55 of Chicago’s 57 zip codes. For more information visit http://marwen.org