Short-Term Residency

Junk Journaling from Scratch: Mixed Media Storytelling (9-12)

by Mandy McGee | Brianna Autin, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Short-Term Residency, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

In this workshop, students will design and construct their own handmade journals using recycled and found materials, then bring those pages to life with collage, writing, drawing, and mixed media techniques. Through a mixture of guided prompts and creative freedom, students will explore personal expression and visual storytelling in a low-pressure, highly tactile format. Students will learn simple book binding techniques, explore artistic journaling as a tool for self-reflection, and discover methods for collaging and repurposing recycled materials.

Short-Term Residency Option:

Day one: The teaching artist will discuss what a junk journal is, show examples, and create the cover/main structure for their journals.

Day two: The teaching artist will begin with a brief demo showing students some ideas for pages and techniques for creating things like pockets. Students will be given a number of prompts to use as jumping off points for their pages.

Day three: Students will warm up by creating a new spread focusing on slightly deeper prompts such as “what my room says about me” or “things I want to remember,” followed by time for reflection and group discussion.

Big Picture Math (STEM/STEAM Edition) (3-6)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Jessalyn Newton, Math, Middle School, Short-Term Residency, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

In this STEM/STEAM-based mini-residency, students design and paint a permanent/temporary/moveable collaborative mural while learning measurement, proportion, and perspective. Projects can be done on windows, walls, or posters. The session includes tool exploration, art history, and possibly seasonal themes. Perfect for any school event or holiday (chat with the artist about options after booking)!

Short-Term Residency option:

Day 1: The students will do a “doodle” warm up and icebreaker activity. The class collaborates on the theme, and an official sketch is made for the mural.

Day 2: The finished design is gridded and scaled for transfer to the wall or surface using math. The mural is transferred and painted by the students!

Day 3: The students will spend this final day completing the mural, and have a group discussion to close out the session.

Wall Works: Mural Lab (6-12)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, High School, Iberia Parish, Jessalyn Newton, Literary Arts, Math, Middle School, Short-Term Residency, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

Students go from sketch to wall in just three sessions! Working as a team, they’ll develop a concept inspired by poetry, writing, or events (chat with the artist about options after booking) then scale it up using math, grids, and safe equipment. This session includes color theory, prep, and paint techniques. And lucky for you, we have options – the murals can be permanent or temporary!

Short-Term Residency option:

Day 1: The students will do a “doodle” warm up and icebreaker activity. The class collaborates on the theme, and an official sketch is made for the mural. Finally, we have a discussion about safety when making art.

Day 2: The finished design is sketched onto the wall, and the surface is prepped. The mural is transferred and painted by the students!

Day 3: The students spend this final day completing the mural, and have a group discussion to close out the session.

Introduction to Spoken Word Poetry (6-12)

by Mandy McGee | Alex PoeticSoul Johnson, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Literary Arts, Middle School, Short-Term Residency, Vermilion Parish

Aren’t all words “spoken”? So what is “spoken word poetry” and how does it differ? Students in this session will internalize that! They will be introduced to spoken word poetry through discussion, spoken word videos, and live performance. Question & answer time will be given after the performance, so students can free their minds and let the questions follow. This artist is only available on Fridays, so chat with them about availability after booking.

Class Poetry Album (4-12)

by Mandy McGee | Alex PoeticSoul Johnson, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Literary Arts, Middle School, Short-Term Residency, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

The theme: tolerance. The artistic medium: a class poetry album. In this workshop designed to encourage students to be creative and work together on a common goal, classes will engage in creative writing, discussions on tolerance, and have a brief audio recording workshop. The class will write and record a final Poetry Album. This artist is only available on Fridays, so chat with them about availability after booking.

Day 1: Students will separate into groups and select “beats” from a given list to write and record to. Students will begin the writing process.

Day 2: Students will finish writing their poems/songs. We will begin recording students’ creations.

Day 3: Students will finish recording. We will finish class by listening to what the class has collectively created.

Introduction to Slam Poetry (5-12)

by Mandy McGee | Alex PoeticSoul Johnson, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Literary Arts, Middle School, Short-Term Residency, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

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!

Illustration in Motion (8-12)

by Mandy McGee | High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Malcolm Cormier, Middle School, Short-Term Residency, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

Single session option: “Illustration in Motion” is a beginner’s guide to animation. Students will go over some of the 12 fundamental principles of animation and learn how to animate a bouncing ball. When it is time to apply skills, students will construct a flipbook that makes images come to life.

Short-Term Residency option:

Day 1: Students will be introduced to a few fundamental principles of animation and learn how to animate a bouncing ball.

Day 2: Students will learn the remaining 12 fundamental principles of animation.

Day 3: Students will get creative and make a second flipbook animating a “squishy slime” jumping forward!

Clay Fish (K-4)

by Mandy McGee | Elementary School, Lafayette Parish, Roz Fisher, Science, Short-Term Residency, Single Session, Visual Art

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!

Groovy Rainbows! (K-3)

by Mandy McGee | Elementary School, Lafayette Parish, Roz Fisher, Science, Short-Term Residency, Single Session

You’ll be over the rainbow in this science meets art session. Students will talk about how rainbows are formed and have a lesson on primary and secondary colors. Then, students will create their own rainbows using oil pastels in a creative line or shape.

Short-Term Residency option:

Day 1: Students will mix colors to make rainbows in their line or shape of choice.

Day 2: Students will create patterns from shapes by collaging, using primary and/or secondary colors.

Day 3: Students will make windsocks out of their rainbow artwork, adding their patterned borders and colorful streamers.

ADDITIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION RESOURCES