· An Exclusive Look behind the scenes
Creative Solutions Summer Showcase
Igniting Creative Sparks · Fueling the Future. The final work is only part of the story.
Step behind the scenes and see how Big Thought’s Creative Solutions youth turned ideas, experiences and imagination into art, performances and games.
Explore photos, videos, works in progress and reflections from the young creators who shaped each project.
Coming August 14: The Creative Solutions Art Marketplace
Explore the collection today, then return Friday, August 14, to purchase an original piece. Proceeds will benefit Creative Solutions participants and help support future Big Thought creative programming.
Choose a creative track to begin.
Three journeys · Explore in any order
PERFORMANCE TRACK
Turning Voice Into Action
See how youth artists used their voices, experiences and creativity to build an original performance.
EXPLORE THE JOURNEY
CLICK the artist name to listen to their track
Cash – First Day Out (feat. LD)
JV, KB, CMoney – BACK ONNA TOWN
Elijah – Somethin’ To Prove (feat. BB)
Khy – Deep End (feat. Lil Dub)
J. Torres – Cuando Te Vi (feat. Trent)
Meeche – City Lights (feat. Janai)
Christian – Great Escape (feat. Ronnie)
Shyann – So Much (feat. Whitley)
Whitley – His Light (feat. Shyann)
VISUAL ARTS TRACK
Bringing Ideas to Life
Every finished piece begins with curiosity, experimentation and the courage to create. Explore the sketches, choices and behind-the-scenes moments that helped youth artists transform an idea into something powerful.
EXPLORE THE JOURNEY
Andrea E.
Blake
Coco
Daniel R.
Jonathan D.
Jonathan M.
Michael L.
RJ
Sergio A.
Stephanie Q.
Zamyriah B.
Zarriel B.
FROM IDEA TO IMPACT
Take a look behind the scenes at the sketches, conversations, rehearsals, and hands-on work that transformed ideas into meaningful works of art.
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Graffiti Car | Creating Change Together
Teaching Artist: Fernanda Cavalcanti
Students collaborated to transform a full-size vehicle into a vibrant public artwork using spray paint, stencils, and freehand graffiti techniques. Working in teams, they brainstormed concepts, planned compositions, selected color palettes, and combined their individual styles into one cohesive design centered on themes of hope, resilience, belonging, and community. Throughout the process, students strengthened teamwork, leadership, communication, and time management by sharing responsibilities, solving creative challenges, and supporting one another’s ideas. The completed vehicle serves as a symbol of collaboration, artistic growth, and the power of young voices working together to inspire positive change.
CARDBOARD SHARKS | SWIMMING FORWARD
Teaching Artist: Christina Teruel
Materials: Cardboard, Hot Glue, Scissors, Spray Paint, Paint Markers
In this sculpture project, youth constructed three-dimensional sharks using cardboard. Inspired by the fact that many sharks cannot physically swim backward, students used their sculptures as a metaphor for resilience and personal growth. Just as sharks must keep moving forward to survive, students reflected on the importance of focusing on future goals rather than dwelling on past mistakes or setbacks. Throughout the creative process, youth strengthened teamwork by collaborating with peers, sharing materials, spray painting, and supporting one another throughout the construction process. They increased self-awareness by reflecting on their personal growth and future goals, and practiced self-management by demonstrating patience, perseverance, and responsibility while completing each stage of the project.
Cyanotype Portraits | From Lens to Light
Teaching Artist: Christina Teruel
Materials: Digital Camera, Negative Prints, Cyanotype Chemicals, UV Lamp, Hydrogen Peroxide
In this project, youth explored both digital photography and cyanotype printing-an alternative camera-less photographic printing process. Youth learned how to use a digital camera and professional studio lighting to create self-portraits. Youth then transformed their digital photographs into cyanotype prints using a sun-printing/ UV light process. Youth strengthened critical thinking by making creative decisions about lighting and composition, developed self-awareness by reflecting on their identity and how they wished to present themselves.
Distorted Self- Portraiture | Dear Future Me
Teaching Artist: Christina Teruel
In this project, youth explored identity, self-expression, and the principles of Cubism to create a distorted self-portrait representing their future selves. Using a digital photograph, students rearranged their facial features while maintaining recognizable aspects of their identity. The distorted composition symbolizes the uncertainty and possibilities of the future, representing the
idea that while they remain themselves, they are continually growing, changing, and discovering who they will become. Youth strengthened problem-solving skills by making intentional artistic decisions about abstraction, and increased self-awareness by reflecting on their identity and asipirations.
Mini Graffiti Fence | Messages That Matter
Teaching Artist: Christina Teruel
Using foam board, popsicle sticks, acrylic markers, and mixed materials, students created miniature graffiti fences that paired their personal tag with a meaningful word or message. Through planning color palettes, composition, they explored how public art can communicate hope, resilience, respect, and other positive values. Students developed self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and time management by reflecting on why their chosen message
mattered and how visual choices could strengthen its impact. This project demonstrated how graffiti can be used as a powerful form of storytelling and positive self-expression.
GAME DESIGN TRACK
Imagine. Build. Test. Play.
Before a game can be played, it has to be imagined. See how youth designers collaborated, solved problems, tested ideas and built an interactive experience from the ground up. The Creative Solutions, Dreams Experience track was an introductory class where youth learned the foundations and theory of video game design. Over seven weeks, youth were immersed, past the player’s perspective, into the creator’s perspective of video game design. This program involved learning the language of the industry and designing video games from initial concepts into playable prototypes.
In partnership with DOC CARES Dreams Experience Academy
EXPLORE THE JOURNEY
Zombie Land | Genre: action, survival, shooter
Concept
This game was designed by a team of four students in Roblox Studio, following the complete game development process from concept brainstorming and game design documentation to prototyping, playtesting, and iterative refinement. Students applied heavy principles of scripting, gameplay design, level design, and player experience while building a functional prototype. Through this project, they strengthened their skills in collaboration, communication, creative problem-solving, critical thinking, project planning, digital literacy, and iterative design.
Ascendant Rainbow | Genre: action, survival, shooter
Concept
This is a puzzle-platformer that rewards you with coins for successfully reaching platforms, which you can spend to acquire special items that will help you in your journey to reaching the top!
Designed independently by one student in Roblox Studio, this playable prototype was developed through the complete game design process, including concept development, game design documentation, prototyping, playtesting, and iterative refinement. Throughout the project, the student strengthened skills in gameplay and level design, user experience, creative problem-solving, critical thinking, self-management, digital literacy, and iterative design while gaining hands-on experience with the fundamentals of game development.
Backroom nIGHTMARE | Genre: horror, survival, puzzle, adventure
Concept
This is a horror survival game that takes place in The Backrooms. The player has to reach the exit door without getting found by the entity!
Designed independently by one student in Roblox Studio, this playable prototype was created through the complete game development process, including concept ideation, game design documentation, prototyping, playtesting, and iterative refinement. Throughout the project, the student strengthened skills in level design, gameplay mechanics, environmental storytelling, user experience, creative problem-solving, critical thinking, self-management, and iterative design.
DEAD fREEDOM | Genre: adventure, survival, horror
Concept
This is a zombie survival game where you need to reach the escape point by finding different items throughout the map, without being eaten by the deranged zombies!
Built independently by one student in Roblox Studio, the project transformed an original concept into a playable experience through research, planning, game design documentation, scripting, playtesting, and continuous iteration. Along the way, the student developed technical skills in gameplay systems, environmental design, player progression, and scripting while strengthening critical thinking, adaptability, project management, digital literacy, and the ability to refine a game based on player feedback.
Death’s Orchestra | Genre: Action, survival, shooter
Concept
This is a zombie survival shooter where you need to find a way to safety without getting discovered and eaten by vicious zombies!
Developed by a team of two students in Roblox Studio, the project progressed from an original game concept to a polished playable prototype through collaborative planning, game design documentation, scripting, prototyping, playtesting, and iterative improvement. Throughout development, the students strengthened their abilities in gameplay programming, combat design, level creation, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, project management, and user-centered design while gaining practical experience with the game development pipeline.
Creativity in Action
What you see today is more than a final project. It is creativity, collaboration, confidence and problem-solving in action.
Creative Solutions creates space for young people to explore who they are, express what they think and build skills for school, work and life.
By igniting creative sparks today, we are fueling the future young people will help shape tomorrow.
About Creative Solutions
Creative Solutions is Big Thought’s arts-as-workforce program for youth impacted by the juvenile justice system.
15,000+
young people reached through art, music, and mentorship
One of the lowest
juvenile recidivism rates in Texas
+30 years
partnership with Dallas County Juvenile Services
Today’s showcase is what that impact looks like up close.
Keep the Spark Going
Talent is everywhere. Access is not.
For nearly 40 years, Big Thought has worked alongside young people to expand access to creative learning, caring mentors and opportunities to imagine what is possible.
Your support helps more young people create, lead and build bold futures.