Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamelia Hristeva.
Kamelia, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
After I graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts (focused on painting) and education, I began working as an after-school arts instructor in elementary schools throughout the city. I quickly observed that arts education in Chicago Public Schools was severely lacking, especially in low-income communities, and the students I interacted with were eager for meaningful opportunities to be creative. In addition, the school buildings themselves and the neighborhoods they were in were often unattractive and neglected. From this starting point, I decided to start a nonprofit that would inspire students and communities through the creation of public art.
Since our founding in 2005, Green Star Movement has provided more than 8000 students with mural arts programming and successfully transformed the interiors and exteriors of 90+ public spaces, including schools, parks, and underpasses. Although we work primarily in Chicago and its surrounding communities, we have completed projects in Missoula, Montana; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Negril, Jamaica!
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
By involving youth and community members in the design and installation of public art, Green Star Movement goes beyond inspiring passion for the arts by giving participants and their community’s ownership over the art.
We teach a technique called bricolage, which is an intricate combination of mosaic, sculpture, painting, and photographs. Bricolage is advantageous for three distinct reasons. It is an art form that is accessible for artists of all ages and abilities, meaning that participants can experience “success” as an artist relatively quickly. It is durable and resistant to vandalization, making it a good choice for public art. And finally, the mix of textures, shapes, materials and colors produces dynamic visual art.
Green Star Movement programs are a catalyst for positive change in individuals, communities, and neighborhoods. Participants benefit from the opportunities for self-expression and collaboration; educators can capitalize on the creative and community-building nature of the project to improve school culture; and neighborhood residents can take pride in their revitalized environment.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
Whether it’s to fine tune your own craft, expand into new mediums, or help others explore their creative side, my advice would be to set goals for yourself and stay focused.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Our work is in more than 47 neighborhoods in Chicago! You can find us at the CTA Thorndale stop and Whole Foods in Edgewater; underpasses in Woodlawn, Edgebrook, and Humboldt Park; at community centers and parks in Austin, West Town, and Ravenswood; and at schools citywide. There’s a good chance our vibrant murals are in a public space near you! For a map and listing of our project sites, check out greenstarmovement.org/results-and-reach/
You can also hop on one of our monthly summer trolley tours for an informative and fun-filled visit to four stunning Green Star Movement mural sites.
There are lots of ways to support our work – we offer BYOB mosaic classes open to the public, we take volunteer groups for mural installations, we’d love fans and followers on social media, and of course, donations help make it possible for us to offer our programs!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1200 W. 35th St
Chicago IL 60609 - Website: www.greenstarmovement.org
- Phone: 773-217-8394
- Email: info@greenstarmovement.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/greenstarmovement
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenStarMovement
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/greenstarmvmt
Image Credit:
These photos were taken by Green Star Movement, The Kidographer, and Danny Howard
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
