Welcome John to Piece by Piece!
Piece by Piece is excited to welcome its third AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer for this fiscal year, John Montgomery. Previously, we introduced you to Amir and Marieme in May.
John is an artist deeply committed to community service and capturing life’s raw, unfiltered moments through various mediums. He has previously served in AmeriCorps for two years, working closely with diverse communities to foster growth and engagement. Reflecting on his AmeriCorps experience, John shared, “The AmeriCorps experience profoundly influenced my approach to art and community involvement, shaping the work I do today.” Through projects like Transennial and open mic poetry readings, he endeavors to capture and share the beauty and complexity of life.
John’s artistic journey is a continuous evolution, shaped by experiences and a relentless drive to contribute and create. His experience includes:
- Non-profit and Civic service: Serving on Open Media Foundation’s Board of Directors as the Inclusiveness Committee Representative, Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs as a Commissioner for the revision of the City arts and cultural plan, and Arts Council for Long Beach grant panels as a panelist.
- Showcasing works in solo and group exhibitions.
Recently, John has been inspired to create large-scale installations that reflect his vision and artistic sensibilities. These installations offer a way to immerse audiences in a tangible, interactive experience of his art, providing a dynamic platform to explore and communicate complex themes in a more immersive and impactful manner.
John’s goals at Piece by Piece underscore a commitment to community and creative engagement. The focus of his VISTA assignment includes:
- Boosting community engagement by partnering with nonprofits, housing developers, and caseworkers to foster a sense of community and support for Piece by Piece's participant artists.
- Managing a system to enhance communication and relationship-building with community partners.
- Developing a comprehensive 3-year outreach plan, incorporating events and personalized efforts to expand the network and recruit new participant artists to Piece by Piece's free programs.
Piece by Piece is thrilled to have John on board and looks forward to the positive impact he will bring to the community. If you are interested in joining Piece by Piece as a participant artist or if you are a non-profit who would like to collaborate please reach out to John.
