What is LINK?
Animas High School offers a beautiful opportunity to explore the "real" world in all it's chaotic freedom. Juniors have no regular classes and are pushed out to find an internship for a three week period usually in early May and late April. Juniors spend 30-40 hours a week with a mentor learning about their interests and deciding their direction for careers. For more information please contact ahsinternships.weebly.com.
What is the Dumpster Beautification Project
The Dumpster Beautification Project is a non-profit organization that involves the whole community, including other artists and at-risk youth. The program brings a sense of wonder to the funky town of Durango, while also leaving a blank canvas for all artists to get their art shown to the world. It creates stronger bonds between the youth and artistic realm of healing. This LINK gave me the opportunity to explore the business behind non-profits and freelance artistry. It allowed me to connect to artists in the area and widen my range of skills and techniques when painting in the "real" world.
LINK Anticipation and Preparation
When I approached LINK, I was absolutely terrified. I found it excruciatingly hard to contact people and I was so afraid of failure that I procrastinated. I can honestly tell you that I do not remember how I really did anything. Anxiety can leave blocks of memory blank and recently I had a very intense panic attack, it is possible that that is the reason I can't remember. I was scared to contact a lot of people so I only contacted Debra through email and a mural artist I had talked to you before names Sarah Strum. Sarah ended up not getting back to me and thankfully, Debra talked to Janae and mentor-ship was sorted out easily. I thought that this project was an interesting and quirky opportunity. I knew that a gallery was too cookie-cutter for me and I wanted something more out there and different. I hope to gain some perspective on myself, life, as well as hope. I want to bring beautiful art and new designs to the project and inspire others. I want to show others a perspective, an escape even in the most mundane thing of taking out the trash. I want people to see beauty in the little moments.
LINK Reflection
I believe this is rather obvious but my ability to draw and paint is a huge advantage. I also can execute a large scale mural as seen in the Time and Space Project as well as the Homelessness Project. I developed largely in my communication skills. Debra assigned me to contact La Plata Youth Services and a place called Trio. Debra helped me draft the emails, as I said in my anticipation my anxiety was extremely high but with her help it eased. Debra also asked me to contact a place called 4x4 and More, specifically she asked me to call them. When she asked me to do this my heart sank and I felt incredibly ill. At first, I didn't want to disappoint Debra but my anxiety gripped me pretty hard and I ended up procrastinating. I was searching for my courage and found an email address I could contact instead. I told Debra why I couldn't call and she was very understanding and compassionate. All in all, I ended up making a design for 4x4 and More(last design with the Jeep). In the beginning, I was absolutely terrified of contacting people for internship opportunities and now I feel much more comfortable meeting with people and asking more questions. I still have a long ways to go, anxiety is a deep seated mental illness and I still can barely make a phone call. Emails will always be my go to instead of calling or even texting. I hope to get this past this one day, and I will continue to fight it.
I brought a breath of fresh air to this organization. Debra had me work with another artist when painting the dumpster named Jeff. As we began talking he expected me to be at the very beginning stages of artistry and I think Debra also had that expectation. Jeff and I discussed what being an artist was like and how lonely it can be, how fickle and unforgiving the life of an artist is. I didn't think that I mattered, or that what I did had any importance. I had a shadow of hope but it wasn't a reality. Jeff and the passersby showed me what I brought to the world. Jeff told me that what I was doing right in the moment was right, that I was on my right path. He introduced me to a man of many mistakes and pain. He had been shot 11 times and used to be into drugs and lost his son. He was a poet and Jeff had me listen to him speak. I can't describe the feeling his words gave me, it was like all my senses started breathing on their own. It was like time stopped and I felt for the first time in a long time, that I was doing something good. I was doing something right for not only me but everyone around me. This man that was filled with so much brokenness told me that he loved that my personality poured from me, he told me that I was on my right path. Jeff told me the same thing earlier that day. I brought skill, and surprise and a step forward for this organization. Jeff said that usually when he worked with someone else they couldn't do anything on their own. Now we've built trust and friendship and hope to do more work together in the future.
This small non-profit project, saved my future. If you need any reason to continue working with the Dumpster Beautification Project, just read the paragraph above. Debra allows kids to express themselves healthily through painting and creativity. She opens doors for young artists like me who have lost all hope in their future. She brings communication, leadership, and collaboration skills to art. She provides connections to further young artists experience and gives them hope. She does all of this while making our town a more quirky and amazing place, one dumpster at a time. All of the things that I have mentioned and reflected upon prepare me for MY life. I'm not going to college nor am I planning on anything being permanent. It prepared me and inspired me to love who I am again and not anything put me into a box. It showed me the skills I need, like something as simple as calling someone. It showed me how far I have to go until I can inspire others. I believe that loving who you are and finding what makes you get up in the morning is a thousand times more important than how much money you're going to make. If you look in the mirror and smile despite the fact you're making 8 dollars an hour, you are the strongest and bravest person in the world. This world is built on money, stereotypes, self hatred, and dehumanization. This program showed me who I was again and how I can make a difference, one day at a time.
I brought a breath of fresh air to this organization. Debra had me work with another artist when painting the dumpster named Jeff. As we began talking he expected me to be at the very beginning stages of artistry and I think Debra also had that expectation. Jeff and I discussed what being an artist was like and how lonely it can be, how fickle and unforgiving the life of an artist is. I didn't think that I mattered, or that what I did had any importance. I had a shadow of hope but it wasn't a reality. Jeff and the passersby showed me what I brought to the world. Jeff told me that what I was doing right in the moment was right, that I was on my right path. He introduced me to a man of many mistakes and pain. He had been shot 11 times and used to be into drugs and lost his son. He was a poet and Jeff had me listen to him speak. I can't describe the feeling his words gave me, it was like all my senses started breathing on their own. It was like time stopped and I felt for the first time in a long time, that I was doing something good. I was doing something right for not only me but everyone around me. This man that was filled with so much brokenness told me that he loved that my personality poured from me, he told me that I was on my right path. Jeff told me the same thing earlier that day. I brought skill, and surprise and a step forward for this organization. Jeff said that usually when he worked with someone else they couldn't do anything on their own. Now we've built trust and friendship and hope to do more work together in the future.
This small non-profit project, saved my future. If you need any reason to continue working with the Dumpster Beautification Project, just read the paragraph above. Debra allows kids to express themselves healthily through painting and creativity. She opens doors for young artists like me who have lost all hope in their future. She brings communication, leadership, and collaboration skills to art. She provides connections to further young artists experience and gives them hope. She does all of this while making our town a more quirky and amazing place, one dumpster at a time. All of the things that I have mentioned and reflected upon prepare me for MY life. I'm not going to college nor am I planning on anything being permanent. It prepared me and inspired me to love who I am again and not anything put me into a box. It showed me the skills I need, like something as simple as calling someone. It showed me how far I have to go until I can inspire others. I believe that loving who you are and finding what makes you get up in the morning is a thousand times more important than how much money you're going to make. If you look in the mirror and smile despite the fact you're making 8 dollars an hour, you are the strongest and bravest person in the world. This world is built on money, stereotypes, self hatred, and dehumanization. This program showed me who I was again and how I can make a difference, one day at a time.
LINK Designs and Photos
Find dumpster behind the Alpine Bank across the tracks from Rite Aid.
Resume
Saige Michael Rasmussen
EDUCATIONAnimas High School, Durango COAUGUST 2015 - Present
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
EDUCATIONAnimas High School, Durango COAUGUST 2015 - Present
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
- Painting class studying color and techniques
- Studio Art class studying techniques, shading and composition
- Biology class set design and makeup for movie
- Designed and produced a mural covering the topic of homeless veterans
- Visualized and constructed a mural based on the Meow Wolf exhibit
- Designed multiple concepts for the Dumpster Beautification Project
- Produced a dumpster mural for the DBP
- Directed and executed makeup and set design for a horror movie in Biology class in large group
- Delegated and created atmospheric mural designs based on Meow Wolf in small group
- Singing at the Four Corners Health Facility, Durango CO, 2015-2017
- Father plays guitar while I sing
- Sing old classics to spur memories
- 1 hour every 4th Saturday
- Singing at the Mancos Methodist Church, Mancos CO, 2010-2017
- Play with grandmother, father, aunt, and wife of the pastor
- Sing praise songs
- 1-2 hours every Sunday
- Personalized Style
- Self taught techniques
- Leadership, inspiring
- Cooperation, communication
- Singing, musician