The East Liberty Port Authority Bus Garage

Launched Our First

“Why Art ?” Bus Billboard in 2017!

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Our 2018 “Why Art ?” Calendar Featuring all Twelve Port Authority “Why Art?” bus billboards is now completed!

See Our Billboards on Allegheny County Website

Download for Free

If your group or organization would like to create a billboard, advertise an event or become a sponsor please contact me for details…

gerflorida@aol.com

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POSTERS JULY TO DEC

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Shuman Juvenile Detention Center partnered with Florida Recycled in Pittsburgh to launch its “Why Art?” community service project, which provided at-risk children the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents. It also helped remind the public of the importance of finding solutions to problems faced by vulnerable populations.

Current and former Shuman residents and staff, along with students and staff from Spectrum Charter School and the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind, created 12 billboards to be displayed on Port Authority buses in targeted Pittsburgh areas. View the billboards.

The billboards also were used to a create a 2018 calendar, which is available to download for free.

Almost 50 people worked collaboratively to color each billboard, learning the value of sharing, planning, and teamwork, as well as how to better express themselves through art. The project not only promoted self-worth and empowerment, it also afforded at-risk populations a voice in addressing the necessity of the arts in our lives and culture.

Special Thanks To:

Lindsey Gross, whose poster was in the Artistic Discovery Contest sponsored by Congressman Mike Doyle, and the Gross Family
Volunteers: Stephanie Jimenez and Janice Schuler
Elaine Effort, KQV Radio “Pittsburgh Profiles”
Carnegie Mellon University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Juvenile Detention Centers and Alternative Programs (JDCAP)
National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS)

Project Funded in Part By:

Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh and “A Fair in the Park”
John (Rocki) Oravik Industrial Mechanical Consulting
Laura and Kevin Horner
Maria Piantanida Charitable Fund through The Pittsburgh Foundation
Soup N’at and the Union Project

Project Made Possible By:

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald
Gerry Florida of Florida Recycled
Port Authority Advertising Account Executive Maurice Fisher
Studio Blue at Shuman Juvenile Detention Cente

National Partnership for Juvenile Services

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A Proud Community Project of

Shuman Juvenile Detention Center & Florida Recycled

“Why Art?” Billboard

Allegheny Shuman Juvenile Detention Center has partnered with Florida Recycled to officially launch its newest community service project the “Why Art?” billboards that will be seen traveling Port Authority buses in targeted Pittsburgh areas. A series of bus billboards, affording at-risk populations a voice in addressing the necessity of arts in our lives and culture, will be officially launched through generous grants and private donations”. Twelve Port Authority billboard announcements positioned throughout targeted areas will proudly parade the city in the upcoming year answering the question of “Why Art?” through imagery. One third of the billboard will humbly ask the question “Why Art?” as the other two thirds will showcase beautiful artwork answering the question boldly with the word:

“Because!”

Consecutive blank coloring posters will be created through the courtesy of Lindsey G., since released, as well as Ms. Florida in collaboration with other detained residents at Shuman Center. Once the posters size templates are completed, they will travel the units of Shuman Center where 50-70 residents have an opportunity to participate in a collaborative coloring effort requiring, patience, planning and teamwork. Additionally, blank poster templates created at Shuman Center will be gifted to otherwise unlikely partnering organizations such as Spectrum Charter School (who services challenged youth), The Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children as well as others who are invited to participate in our community sharing, exchange and partnership efforts giving Shuman Center residents opportunities to service their communities in unconventional creative ways. Future billboard contributors have the option to originate an art question that will be answered by photos or pictures created by participants.

Just to note, the coloring craze offered a great springboard to this project bringing this sedating activity into the lives of adult populations. Individuals who self-identified as having “no art” ability now enjoy the calming effects of coloring as well as actualizing their color, technique and composition abilities. The changed self-perception invites a willingness to experience other creative outlets while appreciating the value creativity brings into their own lives.

Shuman Center residents have been coloring and creating posters for the past seven years and through the sale of posters with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the Humane Society of Western Pennsylvania, the charity of choice.

Within the first two months of the project’s inception, twelve Port Authority billboards have been generously funded through The Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh (7 billboards), Maria Piantanida Charitable Fund through the The Pittsburgh Foundation (3 billboards) and John Oravik Industrial Mechanical Consulting (1 billboard), Laura and Kevin Horner (1 billboard).

The Mission of Florida Recycled is to continually motivate inspirational thought through the imaginative voice of all people and incite individuals to self-discover artistically with the hope that reflections instilled through creative training helps people envision a world we don’t seek to destroy but feel privileged to live in and create.

Look for our billboards on Port Authority buses throughout the city!

Coming Soon To Your Area!!!

A Proud Partnership Project of:

Shuman Juvenile Detention Center

&

Florida ReCycleD

Pittsburgh, PA

This project has been supported by Allegheny County Shuman Juvenile Detention Center, The County Commissioners of Pennsylvania, The Juvenile Detention Association of Pennsylvania and The National Partnership for Juvenile Services.

JDCAP Newsletter

“Why Art?” Billboard Project Benefits:

*Dilutes the stigma attached to at-risk populations by addressing delinquency issues in a more positive light. The goal is to bring public awareness to the talents of at-risk populations and create opportunities to identify and redirect the valuable skills and abilities youth possess in hopes of getting more opportunities “for” youth who face challenges and in turn get more community involvement “from” youth.

*Provides importance, worth and empowerment opportunities for at-risk populations while affording opportunities to play a strategic role in addressing important art budget issues bringing the problem ground floor. The project renders a means to make voices heard and talents visible while championing pride in creating better awareness for the arts in their own communities.

*Provides a community service venue by partnering with alternative schools in a combined mission to promote arts in education. The project creates opportunities to participate in a public service message, collaborate with other institutions and create a user-friendly understanding of the importance of art… all to benefit people, education and communities.

*Changes the stigma of delinquency to “youth in crisis” by depicting at-risk groups as talented individuals necessitating more creative opportunities with the help of community partners interested in solving the problems of delinquency and youth violence.

*Delivers arts awareness messages to communities by addressing the necessity of art in our daily lives and opening thought on ways we all use creative end products daily.Educates and reminds the public of the importance of art education in developing innovative mindsets and the creative ability to think outside any given “box”… especially how creative ability translates into various art necessary careers such as music, writing, theatre, interior design not to mention innovative business ideas, advertising campaigns, wedding planning etc. and the numerous ways we cannot escape the use of art in our daily lives.

*Affords opportunities to showcase powerful young talent and remind us of the valuable human resources we stand to lose by lack of community involvement in finding alternative solutions for the problems facing all populations.

*Simply sedating, creative and fun!