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Updates from various YIA program areas
Saturday, May 18th, 2013
A Compass Rose is the diagram on a historical map that points the way north. The Compass Rose is also a way for a map maker to express themselves. So how can we tell future map readers about ourselves (as mapmakers) with our own personal Compass Rose? Mentor Artist Suzanne Joyal worked with third grade teachers Anne Siskin and Maya Creedman at Willow Creek Academy to design this art project integrating Social Studies (mapping the local area), Math (fractions), and Art (self expression, drawing, composition and design).
What is most important to us? That idea should be facing True North, as marking is the most prominent aspect of a compass rose. What is also important? Draw those images around the edges. The Compass Rose can be your signature as a map maker.
Basketballs, puppies, paintbrushes, flowers, baseballs… What can you find in the pictures below? What would point north on your own personal Compass Rose?
Posted in Artists In Schools | No Responses »
Tags: arts integration, Suzanne Joyal, Visual Arts, Willow Creek Academy
Friday, May 17th, 2013
“Arts Unite Us” is a special initiative at Youth in Arts t
hat brings students from Special Day classrooms and their General Ed peers to learn and create art together. ”Arts Unite Us” was first envisioned in 2008 by VSA Director Nydia Gonzalez, as a way to bridge gaps in understanding and interaction between students of different abilities and combat the isolation that many of them feel on their school campuses. Youth in Arts has been developing the idea ever since, creating pilot projects that provide amazing opportunities for young people to learn about each other and work together like never before!
This year, “Arts Unite Us” classes are in full gear at Tam High, Terra Linda High, 
Redwood High and San Ramon Elementary. Students from Special Day Classrooms are working together with their peers from General Education classrooms, learning art and performing together. The first culminating event from this year’s classes will be held at Tam High School, where students from Mr. Lovejoy’s Special Day Class and Ben Cleaveland’s Conservatory Theater Ensemble have been working with YIA Mentor Artist Melissa Briggs in Theater. They will be performing their original play “Camping Out in Nature with Friends and Family and Animals” on Friday, May 17th and Saturday, May 18th as part of the Spring One Act Festival.
Students at Terra Linda High have been learning Samba Reggae with Mentor Artists Stephanie Bastos and Nydia Gonzalez and will hold a celebratory presentation dance/party during lunch time on June 4th. At Redwood High School, students working with YIA Mentor Artist William Rossell will perform their original percussive composition, opening for the Advanced Performance Workshop Concert on May 29th at 7PM. At San Ramon Elementary, students from Gen Ed and SDC classrooms have been working together with YIA Mentor Artist Suraya Keating, working on their interpretation of a folktale, “The Laughing River”, focusing on Community and Inclusion.
Youth in Arts has raised the funds to provide these programs in our community from a mix of institutional and individual donors. We thank the Green Foundation, Marin Community Foundation, Kenneth A. Lester Family Foundation, Macy’s and Target for their generous support of this program, as well as our many individual community supporters. If you have any questions about this program, or would would like to support programs such as this one, please contact Nydia Gonzalez at ngonzalez@youthinarts.org
Posted in Arts Unite Us, General YIA News, VSA arts | No Responses »
Tags: Green Foundation, MCOE, Melissa Briggs, music, Nydia Gonzalez, Redwood High, San Ramon, special day class, tam high, Terra Linda High, theatre, VSA arts
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
This Spring, the 4th and 5th Grade students at Laurel Dell made animal hybrid masks. The process took some work! First, students researched and sketched a mask design. Next, they molded the mask in clay. After a thick coat of petroleum jelly, the masks were carefully covered in strips of plaster, and left to harden. Finally, after being released from the clay molds, the plaster masks were then painted and adorned with fake fur or feathers to bring out their animal features.
After making a series of paper masks, the K-3 student artists had room for a quick, one-day project. I switched it up…instead of a mask, we made a Super Hero Power Hat, which we pretended would give the wearer a special ability, such as flight or invisibility. The students had a lot of fun constructing and embellishing this special headgear!
Posted in Artists In Schools | No Responses »
Tags: Gabrielle Gamboa, Laurel Dell, masks, Visual Arts
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
Mentor Artist Angela Baker facilitated a clay residency with 1st graders at San Ramon Elementary in Novato. The teachers suggested a theme of animals and habitats to connect with grade level curriculum and link to a field trip to the California Academy of Sciences.
Students first explored various clay techniques such as squeezing, rolling, pinching, and smoothing with an air dry clay. Students could create anything they wanted but were encourage to pay close attention to how to make their piece strong. What happens if pieces are too thin? Some solutions for strengthening pieces were demonstrated.
After practicing with the air dry clay, students created animals in a beautiful terra cotta kiln fire clay. For these pieces students also learned how to use clay tools such as a wooden pencil and a metal scratching tool. They practiced the “scratch and attach” technique; a method for attaching two pieces of clay together.
While the clay was in the kiln for the glaze fire students were shown some paper folding techniques and made mini collages. These were great practice for creating a 3-dimensional structure and helped with the construction of the final dioramas of animal habitats.
At the end of the last class together, the animals were placed in their dioramas and the class did a gallery walk. Many students had created habitats so rich in color and detail that the animals were camouflaged.
Angela asked “What do you see?” One girl answered, “Details.” She then asked if they thought details were important in art and if so, why. Here are some answers: “Details make it look more like the real world.” “Details make it beautiful.” “Details give you more information.”
Posted in Artists In Schools, YIA Programs | No Responses »
Tags: Angela Baker, arts integration, clay, San Ramon Elementary, Visual Arts
Monday, May 13th, 2013
Students at Tam High are preparing to perform this weekend, Friday May 17th and Saturday May 18th at 7PM at the Caldwell Theatre on campus. Following a rigorous playwriting course and extensive rehearsals, this group of rad kids of all abilities let loose and created their own set piece under the mentorship of visual artist Suzanne Joyal. This piece of stagecraft is central to the dramatic action of their student-written one act play, and is functional as well as beautiful.
Stagecraft art together with Suzanne
Posted in Arts Unite Us, YIA Programs | No Responses »
Tags: Arts Unite Us, Collaboration, Melissa Briggs, performances, Suzanne Joyal, Tamalpais High School, theatre, Visual Arts, VSA arts
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
On Sat. May 25th, the Marin City Recreation Department & The Hood Games present another day of skateboarding, youth performances, music, art-making & community love. The 12 noon – 4 p.m. event is all about keeping our youth safe, active & creative. Local co-sponsors include: Youth In Arts, Prooflab Skateshop, Triumph Skateshop, Marin City Health & Wellness Center, Marin City Health & Human Services, CA4Health, Venture Trucks & Big Thanks to S-One Skate Helmets! – Let’s Roll!!!
Posted in Artists In Schools, General YIA News, Sausalito Marin City School Demonstration | No Responses »
Tags: community, kids art, Marin City, Mr. KDub, music, Sausalito/Marin City, Visual Arts
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
Students of all abilities are deep into rehearsals at Tam High! After a successful pilot program in 2012, Youth in Arts is continuing development of an integrated playmaking project at Tam High. This year students of all abilities are collaborating to write, produce and perform a one act play for their school’s Spring One Act Play Festival. Arts Unite Us, indeed!
Mentor Teaching Artist Melissa Jones Briggs began the AUU Playmaking Project in Mr. Lovejoy’s MCOE Special Education class with a beginning drama lesson for the whole group. This “Elements of Theatre and Playmaking” mini-class served as an introduction and lay the groundwork for later participation in rehearsals and performance. In breakout sessions a playwright team (formed based on experience) collaborated to write a one-act play. Jones Briggs continually looped Mr. Lovejoy’s class into theatre exercises, read thru’s, etc. to involve them in the playwriting process.
Playmaking inspiration board
Students collaborate on their script
Proud playwrights
Once the play was written, rehearsals began! The student written play rehearses and performs as part of the Tam High Conservatory Theatre Ensemble’s Spring One Act Play Festival. Other mainstream CTE students joined in at this point and the program opened up to all special needs students interested in participating.
Blocking the play
Rehearsing fun
Early rehearsals
Because the Festival is student-produced, the play is being co-directed by two CTE students. Collaboration between the CTE, MCOE educators and YIA’s teaching artist continues throughout the rehearsal process and also includes at times a YIA visual artist Suzanne Joyal, MCOE Speech Pathologist Sophie Miles, department chairs, among others.
Please join us for the performance! Friday May 17th and Saturday May 18th @ 7PM! Caldwell Theatre 700 Miller Ave. (Near the back parking lot) Mill Valley, CA. Tickets available at the door only.
Posted in Arts Unite Us, VSA arts, YIA Programs | No Responses »
Tags: Arts Unite Us, Melissa Briggs, Tamalpais High School, theatre, VSA arts
Friday, March 15th, 2013
Youth in Arts "The Paper Princess and the Piñata"
Join Youth in Arts at Barnes & Noble, Corte Madera Town Center, on Saturday, March 23 & Wednesday, March 27, at 11AM for a FREE story & music hour for young children!
Hear stories from Elisa Kleven’s Paper Princess series and Hooray, a Piñata! and Molly Bang & Penny Chisholm’s Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth To Life. Sing-along to songs in Spanish and English from Youth in Arts’ shows inspired by these wonderful children’s books! Perfect for children ages 3-6 and their families.
Plus, from March 22-31, a portion of all your purchases at Barnes & Noble Corte Madera will benefit children’s art programs through Youth in Arts.
Click here to download and print our Bookfair Voucher–give it to the cashier to make sure your Barnes & Noble purchase supports art for kids!
You can also shop online and use our Bookfair ID 11060756 at checkout.
Youth in Arts "Photosynthesis--Living Sunlight"
Posted in General YIA News, Youth in Arts Presents | No Responses »
Tags: books, Corte Madera, music, Nydia Gonzalez, performances, reading, storytelling
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