Youth celebrate love of art with animation

This summer, the Community Media Center’s youth animation camp partnered with ASIFA/Central to participate in a unique collaborative international animation project. We worked in tandem along with other youth in countries around the world. The project, “Art Comes Alive,” involved Grand Rapids youth picking their favorite American sculptors at Meijer Gardens. They conducted research to learn about the artists so they could bring the sculptures to life, and also were inspired to animate their own sculptures. 

In celebration of International Animation Day, their completed animation is premiering at the Koning Micro Cinema, within the Wealthy Theatre, on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. In addition, we’ll be screening the best animation from around the world.  

The project is annual and organized by the AWG: Animation Workshop Group. This group was started in 1979 as a project of the international ASIFA, l’Association Internationale du Film d’Animation, the oldest organization for international animators. ASIFA, founded in 1960, is based in Paris, and is chartered under UNESCO. The purpose of ASIFA is to promote cultural understanding through the art of animation. There are chapters all around the world.

The camp was led by Gretchen Vinnedge, Deanna Morse and Lynn McKeown, and included animators ranging in age from 9-14. Vinnedge is the Education Director for the Community Media Center, McKeown is her assistant and Morse is a Professor in Film and Video, School of Communications, Grand Valley State University, and the Education Coordinator and former Vice President for ASIFA International.