The true power of the performing arts
Ben Cameron is the Program Director for the Arts at the Doris Duke Foundation. He is known as an engaging speaker. In this TED talk he shares his beliefs about the importance of performing arts especially at this time when we have technology at our fingertips and can listen to any kind of music and watch performances in seconds.
Are the arts endangered? Don’t miss watching this 13 minutes and 18 second TED talk.
The Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN) and the National School Boards Association (NSBA) would like to request your help in spreading the word about an award recognizing a local school board for outstanding support of the arts in education. The winning district receives a plaque presented at the National School Boards Association Annual Conference, and a cash award of $10,000 to use for their arts education programs.
For more information and to apply, please visit http://www.kennedy center.org/AllianceAwards Nominations must be received by December 1, 2010.
The Arts Reach and Teach
Theater teacher Lucy Rioux recently sent an email with information on the Open Book Players next work being performed “The Laramie Project”. It will be on October 23rd at 7:30 p.m. and October 24th at 2:00 p.m. in Gardiner at the Johnson Hall Theater. After reading the information I was reminded of how sometimes it takes artwork to communicate clearly and sometimes it makes people uncomfortable. It always has the potential to reach and educate. Below is Lucy’s email with information about the performance.
“This play by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project in New York, is the story about Matthew Shepard, a 21 year old University of Wyoming student, who was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of a prairie outside of Laramie, Wyoming, in October of 1998, the victim of a hate crime. The play is a deeply moving theatrical experience, the result of over 200 interviews with the people of the town who were in some way either involved or touched by what happened.
It seems that this production and our theatre group have been added to a list of “potential” areas for protests organized by the Westboro Baptist Church which is run by the “Reverend” Fred Phelps. If his name sounds familiar, it is because he and his organization are the “military funeral” protesters who are now being judged by the Supreme Court for their previous actions. This same group protested at Matthew Shepard’s funeral 11 years ago.
My actors were informed of this possibility and they are all sticking with the show and acting very “professional”. I am proud to be associated with a wonderful group of people.
Along with the production, there will also be guest panelists for a brief post-show Q&A with the audience and cast, to include Thom Harnett from the AG’s office, Steve Wessler from the Center for Prevention of Hate Crimes, and Dr. Robert Bernheim from the UMA Holocaust Center.
I am writing to you to ask your assistance in making this particular show the very best attended show ever presented by Open Book Players. I have been in constant touch with Steve and Thom and the local authorities have been contacted. More than likely this group will not choose Gardiner, Maine for their protest (there were several theatre groups on the flyer that were targeted who are also doing “The Laramie Project”) but the best thing we can do against this type of “hate” is to support the actors who are in the show.
The show’s content is, of course, mature with some strong language, so it is not intended for young children, but certainly high schoolers are mature enough to handle this. If you intend to come, bring someone (or several someones) with you…and let me know and I’ll reserve you some tickets. Prices are $8.00 for general admission, $6.00 for students/seniors, and $4.00 if a member of a high school civil rights team. Thank you for your support and your help in making this very important and well written piece of theatre a success! Take care…all of you!
Lucy
If you have questions please feel free to contact Lucy at lucyrioux@gmail.com
RSA Animate with Sir Ken Robinson
Fascinating presentation with plenty of food for thought and ideas to discuss with colleagues. Not only is the content valuable but I found the presentation delivery engaging! Eleven minutes and forty seconds well worth your time.
Skype? ichat? YouTube, TeacherTube, Electronic conversations?
Every so often I am energized by something I learned with and/or about technology. I walk away with a new twist in my thinking or headed in a different direction. My father in law refers to this as “getting your hat blowed off”. He often uses this when he is involved in a days activity and something happens that causes a change of direction. I find that more and more “my hat gets blowed off”!
Paul Janeczko
Recently, I got an email from Maine author Paul B. Janeczko who was sharing the work he is involved in right now. I met Paul when I was visiting Leavitt High School during an arts week that music educator Bill Buzza had planned a couple of years ago. His use of technology, specifically Skype, is an idea that is helping me think about my direction.
Paul is thrilled to be having 3 books coming out in the next 6 months, all very different from each other: a new book of poems (about a Nazi concentration camp), a nonfiction book on spies, and a teacher book from Heinemann.
A new twist in his work is that he is offering Skype “visits” to schools. He said that “young readers are often bursting with questions they’d like to ask an author, and Skype offers a way for them to ask their questions.” He has two programs that he offers:
Paul is willing to travel anywhere in Maine and last year especially enjoyed his time in Aroostook County and plans to return this year. If you’re interested in learning more please contact Paul at poetguy@megalink.net
And when you are thinking about using technology, think about Skype and the opportunities it affords you as a professional and what it offers your students as learners.
Boston, November 7, 12:00-4:00, Hynes Convention Center, hosted by Mass College of Art and Design
Manon Lewis
At the Maine Art Education Association board meeting recently Boothbay Region High School art teacher Manon Lewis mentioned Portfolio Day and what a great experience it has been for her students in the past. She sent me this information to let me know the details. My guess is that some of you might be interested in what the day is like and how another art teacher handles it. Please contact Manon if you have questions by email mlewis@csd3.org.
The DownEaster train is a great way to travel to Boston for the portfolio day. You can check the details at www.AmtrakDowneaster.com or call 800-872-3298, ask about the Discovery Program and they will give you the field trip rates.
“The Portfolio Day is a crazy affair–lots of long lines (especially at the esteemed schools ie. RISD, Pratt, Parsons…), thousands of students, parents and teachers–so, patience and perseverance are necessary. I usually have my students approach a shorter line–any college– to have their portfolio critiqued just to make sure that they get practice in portfolio review. Also, having the students see lots of other peoples portfolios is a wake-up call for most! I combine a trip to the Museum of Fine Art, and eating lunch and/or supper at an ethnic restaurant into our day. I’ve had students in the past accepted right there on the spot. It is very worthwhile day.”
This is a must see and possibly share with students
The following video was shared by Kal Elmore, visual art teacher at Bangor High School. Four minutes and 45 seconds well spent…
Shanna Wheelock blog post
I look forward to reading Shanna’s blog posts and I was especially moved by her description recently on creating a work out of clay. The struggles and thought process involved clearly pointed out to me that it is not just about taking a lump of clay and envisioning it into “something”. My concentration in my undergraduate program was clay so I could relate to her story. I just loved how at the end of her story she brought it back to the importance of arts education. Not about the making but about the many components of learning that one learns and uses. At the end of her vividly explained post I almost felt like I was there. Here is an excerpt of the piece:
The task of creating the top structure took nearly seven hours, leaving me quite exhausted, but feeling like I accomplished what needed to be done. As I worked through various solutions on the sculpture I thought of my students and how important the arts are to their education. One of the Maine State Learning Results’ Guiding Principles is to be a “creative and practical problem solver”. The arts are a perfect venue for building those skills, and those skills can be applied in all parts of life and work. In fact, I recently read that the number one characteristic that employers desire in an employee is the ability to think creatively.
Maybe next time someone suggests that the arts are not important in school, that just the basics such as reading, writing and math are necessary, I think I will refer them this blog entry.
You can read the entire post and see great pictures by going to her blog The Easternmost Potter in the United States called Arts Hone Creative Problem-Solving Skills, October 3rd.
Technology, Entertainment, Design comes to Maine
Sarah Sutter, myself, Jim Moulton and Bette Manchester
If you’ve been a regular visitor on the meartsed blog you’ve seen some of my favorite TED videos that I’ve shared. I do love to watch them, I learn so much. When the chance came to apply to attend the TEDxDirigo I couldn’t resist. Within a few days of submitting my application I got word that I was accepted to the first event in Maine. Needless to say, I was very excited!
I headed down to Brunswick on Sunday for the 9:00 AM start. The schedule was filled with 15 TEDx Maine presentations that were very interesting. There were a handful of TED videos in between some of the live ones. During the breaks yummy food was provided and the opportunity to talk to presenters and the 100 attendees. In fact, the organizers encourage folks to talk to other attendees. That is one of the main purposes of the event!
It was a marvelous day, I left with a smile on my face and my brain filled with ideas and a desire to think more creatively all the time. I was inspired over and over in an environment that felt like something really magical. I look forward to listening to the TEDxDirigo again since in the true spirit of TED they will be online in the near future for easy access.
The presenters included the following Maine folks and the title of their topics and some website information:
You can learn more about them at the TEDxDirigo website by clicking here and plan on attending the next TEDxDirigo.
Shut down day to end the week
The week ended with a shut down day which may have had something to do with it flying by. My week started in meetings at the Department and that afternoon I headed north on Route 95 to the Art in the Heart meeting at UMaine. Thirty two teachers attended the first meeting of the year and the agenda was filled with numerous opportunities and information.
Iris Fields
The next morning I headed west to Harmony to meet with Chiho Okuizumi to learn more about the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. I felt fortunate to be at the K-8 school with music teacher Iris Fields on the first day the band students had a lesson together. It was very exciting!
Back on Route 95 on Wednesday I headed south to York to attend the school board meeting to present the Imagination Intensive Community banner and certificates. It was a wonderful chance to recognize the many ways that York provides imaginative opportunities for their young people.
On Thursday I traveled to Freeport to attend the Maine Art Education Association board meeting. Rob Westerberg joined me to share information on the Maine Arts Education Assessment initiative. The board members asked good questions and it gave us the chance to listen to their feedback and learn what art teachers are thinking. Next Sunday Catherine Ring will join Rob and attend the Maine Music Educators Association meeting.
The arts educators in Maine never cease to amaze me with the incredible work taking place in classrooms across the state. It was a beautiful week to be on the road in Maine and great that I could visit some classrooms and schools and with arts teachers. I must say traveling to York on Wednesday in the rain was a bit tricky but it made the trip that much more interesting! The weekend was beautiful and I had a chance to plant some tulip bulbs and go for long walks.
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