During this engaging four-day workshop experience, students will develop and express their perspective on the city through the lens of young people living in New York City. Each participant will have the opportunity to design vibrant city landscapes using a diverse array of mixed media materials, including paisley pattern bandanas, sheer scarves, embroidery techniques, colorful thread, decorative beads, and fabric paint.
Each session builds progressively upon the previous one, encouraging participants to carefully observe and reflect on their surrounding urban environment. Starting from favorite city locations and daily routines, students will experiment with layering diverse textures, executing stitching techniques, and applying colors to represent different times of day and atmospheric conditions. By the final day of the workshop, all participants will combine their individual fabric artworks into a unified collaborative city-inspired installation, merging personal creative vision with collective group expression and community impact.
Workshop Materials and Supplies:
All necessary materials for this workshop will be provided by Lista. If you prefer to bring your own materials that appear on the following list, you are welcome to do so.
Complete List of Workshop Supplies:
- Paisley pattern bandanas for layering
- Square dance scarves in various colors
- Fabric paint in multiple hues
- Large eye plastic needles for stitching
- Decorative beads of various sizes
- Embroidery thread in assorted colors
- Additional sketching and drawing materials
About the Instructor:
Samantha Cortez, born in East Harlem in 1999 and currently based in the Bronx, is an accomplished mixed-media artist with Puerto Rican and Nicaraguan heritage. She transforms imperfections and creative mistakes into meaningful sources of inspiration, integrating them into her artistic process to foster deep connections within her community. Her distinctive work, characterized by bold and vibrant colors including purples, yellows, and oranges, confronts the difficult realities of gender-based violence, celebrates cultural identity, and advocates strongly for community care and justice. Samantha's artwork has been exhibited at prestigious venues including Pace Gallery, the AHL Foundation, and the Midtown Community Justice Center. She joined Artistic Noise in 2017 through their acclaimed Art and Entrepreneurship program, following her meaningful participation in the Youth Speakers Institute, where she developed her powerful voice as a passionate advocate for justice system reform.
