Trash Academy

I was commissioned for a 2nd time by Trash Academy to teach art and collaborate with 8 youth on two summer projects: designing wraps to be installed on ‘Big Belly’ trash compactors, and to create short educational videos exploring waste management in the city.
For the first two weeks I taught color theory, best practices for creative drawing, painting and collaging; and worked closely with students to design their own images. My students decided what was missing from city streets was bright colors and nature, so they chose animals as a theme and named the project Dirty Danger. My role was to guide the process, keep the students’ work cohesive as a whole, and to move them through the numerous Mural Arts design reviews. My final role was to carefully recreated each painting as a digital drawing ready for high resolution printing at 152 x 50 inches. These designs can be found on 50 trash compactors on the Broad Street and 52nd Street economic corridors in South and West Philly, respectfully. 

original artwork "Colorful Animals" by Savion Love and Damon Perry Jr.

original artwork "Colorful Animals" by Savion Love and Damon Perry Jr.

D2_Colorful Animalsweb.jpg
IMG_6747.JPG
IMG_6743.JPG
IMG_6748.JPG
IMG_6741.JPG

For the final 4 weeks of the summer program I taught an introductory filmmaking course which would answer two main questions: What happens when I recycle something? and What happens when I throw something away? The curriculum was developed by filmmaker Hilary Brashear (as the editor), program coordinator Ciara Williams (as the producer), and myself (as the teaching artist). We caught footage at during field trips, conducted professional interviews, and developed art/poetry/graphics. Below are some of the final products:

40th St AIR

40th St. AIR (Artist-In-Residence), locally known as AIR Space, is a residency program for emerging West Philly artists which provides a free studio, a shared gallery space, stipend and related opportunities to around 6 artists each year for a full year. In return for the resource, artists are required to put at least 40 hours toward a community project during their time in the studios. The application is usually posted in April and due in late May. 

DSC_0050.JPG

During my 2016-2017 residency I used my studio to do photo and video shoots, prepare for shows, and meet with friends. I also got more familiar with the work of the other studio artists, particularly Wit López, Andra Palchick, and Juliannah Francina Harrison. It took around 6 month to prepare for my first-ever solo show at the AIR Gallery with photos, videos, gifs, and 3D collage shrines. I wanted to show so much work I almost ran out of space in the small gallery! The opening was featured in Philadelphia Magazine under 12 Things to Do This Week in Lit, Comedy, Art, Theater, Movies and Murder and 37 Things to Do This Weekend. 

evasolo postcard front print.jpg
evasolo postcard back print.jpg

For my community project, I provided free headshots to over 50 people - medical students, actors, entrepreneurs, promotors, clothing designers, etc. My post on the 40th St. AIR facebook page ended up going viral and I had to turn some people down because of the huge influx of requests I got. 

Here are some of the headshots I took in my studio: 

xScreen Shot 2017-06-10 at 5.19.08 PM copy.png

Selfies For Survival

Group Show March 2017 / A-Space, 4722 Baltimore Ave. Philadelphia

All selfies and statements viewable online @ SELFIES4SURVIVAL.TUBMLR.COM

Selfies4Survival.jpg

SELFIES for SURVIVAL / SELFIES for HEALING / SELFIES for DOCUMENTATION / SELFIES for BEING SEEN / SELFIES for SADNESS / SELFIES for HELP / SELFIES for JOY / SELFIES for NOTHING / SELFIES for EVERYTHING

Selfies for Survival is a photo & text exhibition celebrating selfies and their role in our journeys toward healing, self-love and surviving oppression. Over 350 selfies were submitted from around 130 people located from Philadelphia to the West Coast, Europe and South America. The project is curated by Eva Wo with support from A-Space Anarchist Community Center, Tim Dunn, and Juliannah Francina.

Contributers include: Addie Ansell, Adrienne Marie Brown, Alexis Creighton, Allie Richards, Allison Tsang/@sexmysteez, Amy Breesman, Ana Jimenez, Andra Palchick, Andrea Jácome, Angel Ka, Ankana/@ankh_ko_na, Anne Wu, Arazel Thalez, Ashley Catharine Smith/@cryingselfies, Ashley Comer, @bbqt, Beki Horner, Billie Rain, Brian Bazemore, Brigham Markovich, Brisa Marie Smith Flores, Cakes, Celeste Marie Welch, Charline Bataille, Claire DeSalme, Cleo Lopez, Coda Wei, Corey Valuk, Crystal Boson, Dani Peters, Daniela Gonzalez, David Amado, Deborah Donelson, Delilah Miske, Derek Lin, Dess Sharp, Djoi Nije Za Svakoga, Ella Mendoza, Emma Zigman, Estefania Gomez, Evan Murphy/@Evanmurphystudio, FanFan Ren, Fannie Sosa, Frankie Frett, Gary Duehr, Geraldine Lavin, Gina Kathleen, @grrrlmonster, Hannah Elhard, Hema Surendranathan, Hengameh Yaghoobifarah, Heart Byrn, Irene Soulos, J.A. Harris, JB Brager, @jdkayy, Jenna Pup, Jeremy Lauder, Jeremy Lin, Jessie Lyle, @a_steady_diet_of_donuts, Kai Yohman, Kalen Mclean, Keishi Yamada, Kenzi Crash, Kevin Hogan, Knox Rath, Kristine Keen, L. Hetzel, Latoya Tuffs, Laura Weiner, Lavanya Nott, Leyla Yenirce, Lexie-Rose Keck, Lin Pang, Lindsey Anderson, Luci Rising, M. Neonyellow, Maddy Court, Madison Rich, Manuel Bee, Marie Lin, Mars Love, Mia Rapine, Mikaela Hawk, Miyuki Baker, Mook, N Wong, Nadir Cardenas Aza, Nebraska Mozell, Nicole Rodrigues, Noel'le Longhaul, Ociele Hawkins, Pat Reynolds, Patrick Burgoyne, Pep Marie, PJ, Quinha Boomtho, R. Cutlass Mashramani, Rebecca Neubardt, Robin Markle, Rose Arellano/@muxerdiosa, Sabrina Pantal, Sam Sharp, Saoirse Parzanese, Sarah Celona, Sarah Goffney, Shayna Janelle, Siwaraya Rochanahusdin, Sonja Rasd, Stephanie de la Rua/@stephaniedelarua, Stephanie Tedeschi/@072.s, Stephanie Valerio, Stephen S, Stuart Lehrman, Sunny Ali, Susan Spangenberg, T Marasse, Tabitha Skervin, Tala Yazdi, Teal Davis, Tena Deen, TJ Burk, Tristan Morton, Tyneisha Bowens, Whitney Sparks, & Wo Chan