MLAB MISSION STATEMENT


The Mobile Literacy Arts Bus (MLAB) is an artist-run, renovated recreational vehicle that exists as a flexible space open to community members’ proposals for alternative educational and cultural programming.

MLAB is the collaborative effort of the 2007-2008 Social Sculpture class at Syracuse University, comprised of 10 art and architecture students and lead by artist and Director of Community Initiatives in the Visual Arts of Syracuse University, Marion Wilson. Our mission was to transform a used, 1984 Recreational Vehicle Bus into a Mobile Literacy and Arts Bus for use by the Syracuse City School District and the greater Syracuse Community. MLAB serves as a physical manifestation of Syracuse University’s Scholarship in Action initiative, by pairing University resources with community needs in an attempt to address the staggering drop out rates in the Syracuse City School District High Schools. Through the School of Education at Syracuse University, incredible curricula that bridge photography, poetry and literacy currently exist within the public schools-- however due to a crisis of space, the schools don't always have the space or resources to house it. MLAB is this space. The bus serves as a mobile classroom, digital photo lab, gallery space, and community center. As a team, we did it all: demolition, design, and construction.

MLAB is made possible from the generous support of the School of Education at Syracuse University and Entitiative.


Friday, November 16, 2007

Gluing Process

One additional thing to think about is that it takes about one hour for two people to glue one eight foot floor section. So rather than planning to work for four hours in a row and waiting for glue to dry - I would suggest, coming to glue for an hour (or two if you glue two sections), leave and come back a few hours later (3-6hours) unclamp them, stack them in the hall there, and glue up another section. Basically whenever you have an hour free and a partner stop by and glue up a section. Leave a note as to the time that you glued so the next person won't unclamp too soon.

Lots of varieties of wood now. All of the wood that is wrapped in duct tape in the bins in the undergrad studios are ready for use. Clean brushes and pans and leave there when you are finished.
Great work today.
Marion

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