/// “I CAN’T BE AN ARTIST, I CAN’T DRAW!“

This is something we hear a lot. It’s unfortunate that children and adults alike often equate “not being able to draw” with “not being creative.” The Woodworking Bus & Trailer program teaches children that art is about ideas and creative problem solving, rather than merely representing the naturalistic world in 2 dimensions. We encourage children to think like artists think and we provide them with the skills, support, confidence, and context to do so.

Quality, Standards-Based, Sequential Art Education
Our lesson plans integrate CA Education Standards for Art, Math, and Science in a 100% hands-on environment. The Woodworking Bus/Trailer curriculum has been vetted by the LA County Arts Commission’s Arts For All program, who recognized it as an exceptionally innovative, standards-compliant education program appropriate for core-curriculum integration both during the school day and after-school.

We created this program in response to the lack of visual arts (and manual arts) programs in LA County public schools. Our goal is to teach children how to use tools safely, effectively and (ultimately) independent of adult assistance. Kids make a variety of projects that increase in complexity as they progress through the program. They accumulate a working knowledge of techniques like as sanding, sawing, shaping, drilling, setting screws, using clamps, hammering, and incising. After only a few sessions aboard one of our Mobile Classrooms, kids are confident and competent enough to create projects of their own unique design. This is the program’s ultimate goal.

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Alternate Routes has been made possible by the generous support of The Ahmanson Foundation, The City of Pasadena, Pasadena Art Alliance, Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The City of West Hollywood, The Gayle and Rowe Giesen Family Trust, and The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation.

Special thanks to Freeway Towing, Crain Electric, Stock Lumber on San Fernando, Bon Hoff Lumber, and Shelia Dawson

The exterior artworks on our Alternate Routes woodworking buses were made possible by Gilbert “Magu” Luján, Francisco Letelier, The Ahmanson Foundation, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corporation, Quality Fleet & Truck Services, and Mr. Brad Olsen. The new mobile trailer mural was created by Jonathan Stofenmacher with generous support from the City of Pasadena Department of Cultural Affairs.