Yes, you have a favorite color. So let’s do a deep dive into it! We will start with the book Dear Acorn, (Love, Oak) by Joyce Sidman and illustrated in collage art by Melissa Sweet. Then, students will channel that author and illustrator by creating a color collage that incorporates metaphors and writing a letter poem to a bit of the natural world. Let’s celebrate sky, rain, sun, and acorn!
TEACHING ARTIST SESSION CATEGORIES
Mandy McGee
Dancing with a Paintbrush (2-6)
It’s a multi-faceted artistic fusion! Students will listen to a variety of music and feel the mood by “dancing with a paintbrush.” But don’t stop there – each image will become inspiration for writing as well. Students will refine their word choice, incorporate metaphor, and make a masterpiece.
Introduction to Slam Poetry (5-12)
This workshop introduces students to the art of competitive slam poetry, where the point is not the points… It’s the words.
Days 1 & 2: Students will be presented with examples of slam-appropriate performance poems, given prompts, and will work on their own creations. Chances to rehearse or get feedback will be included.
Day 3: It’s slam time! Students will be scored by their teachers or peers based on their performance and poem. Win or lose, the students take the poems, the memories, and the skill with them!
Spotlight Success: Performance Coaching for Aspiring Stars (PK-5)
Are you ready to take your performance skills to the next level and shine bright on stage? In “Spotlight Success,” students will receive personalized coaching from a renowned performing musician to elevate their performance skills. The session covers vocal techniques, stage presence, and confidence-building to help students engage audiences and deliver impactful performances. Participants will showcase their talents in a karaoke-style talent show and receive a certificate of completion. This session offers a supportive and empowering environment for growth and artistic development!
Vocal Voyage: Discover Your Voice (PK-5)
Are you ready to embark on a musical journey and unlock the full potential of your voice? In “Vocal Voyage” students will receive expert vocal coaching from a classically trained musician with a passion for helping singers reach their full potential. This session will cover essential topics such as breathing techniques and vocal exercises to help you strengthen and control your voice. Through guided exploration, students will learn how to expand their vocal range, improve tone quality, and develop their unique vocal style.
Clay Fish (K-4)
Here’s an opportunity to practice following directions and being a creator! In this session, students will use Model Magic to sculpt a clay fish of their own design using hand building techniques. Students will learn what a relief sculpture is and how to follow sequential steps to achieve a satisfying piece of art as well as identifying the characteristics of a fish.
Short-Term Residency option:
Day 1: Students will explore hand building techniques such as making a ball, pancake, snake, coil, pinching, and pulling as they make their fish.
Day 2: Students will paint their final fish sculpture.
Day 3: Students will create a habitat for their fish!
Rodrigue’s Blue Dog (3-8)
Big, blue, and everywhere you look – that’s the story of Louisiana artist George Rodrigue and his iconic Blue Dog! Students in this session will learn about the artist, his canine legacy, and create masterpieces in the artist’s unique style.
Clementine Hunter’s Zinnias (3-12)
No one taught her, so she taught herself and made her art her own. In doing so, Louisiana artist Clementine Hunter developed a visually distinctive style and vividly depicted plantation life in the early 20th Century. In this session, students will learn more about Clementine’s world. How, they will learn, did she arrive at her ideas of plantation life and her vision for depicting people, animals, and everyday life on a plantation? Then, students will create a piece of art in Clementine’s style and pay homage to her work.
Short-Term Residency option:
Day 1: After learning a brief biography of the artist, students draw vases in the shape of their choosing, and backgrounds are painted onto paper bags.
Day 2: Students add stems and leaves with oil pastels to their vase. Then they paint their vases. We will create different values of color and paint the petals of our flowers.
Day 3: Students can decorate their vase using chinoiserie or another style. Then, they can add details and monogrammed signatures similar to the style of Hunter.
A Lesson In Street Dance (K-12)
The best classrooms are full of energy and inspiration – and the same is true of street dance! This session includes a historical breakdown of diverse and unique street dance styles such as House, Locking, Popping, Freestyle Hip-Hop, and Breaking. Students will also learn self-expression, motivation, hard work, and will participate in a live dance workshop. It’s a dance and history fusion in your classroom!
Things that Make Us Want to Scream: Emotions in Art (3-12)
Emotions can be many things: big, scary, powerful, productive, and more. And sometimes they do produce screaming, but they also inspire art. In this session, students will explore emotionally-charged artwork and poetry created by a range of artists and authors. Then,...
