Artists-in-Residence Site:  ACHIEVE Program

7600 Boone Ave. N., Suite 72, Brooklyn Park (Con. Dist. 3)

Collaborating Teacher:  Ryan Varley

Teaching Artists: Erin & Nate Moren, Tandem Made

Art form:  Custom design and fabrication

Project Overview

Students worked collaboratively with peers and the artists to design and create custom furniture and sculptural pieces for the future “Sensory Room,” an environment designed to be stimulating, engaging and yet calming for students.

Project Highlights

“Students excelled at working together in collaborative groups.  Between the two classes, students were split into three groups.  Each group did a fantastic job of putting their design ideas together to create three pieces of furniture that are to be shared among many students at the school.  Within each group, students communicated effectively as they worked together and brainstormed ideas in all stages of the project.”  – Erin Moren, Artist.

“VSA Minnesota does an excellent job with giving our students opportunities that they may have never had before or will again.  It is my hope that VSA continues to get the funding it needs to help students with disabilities experience the wonderful opportunities that VSA helps facilitate.  VSA has been an integral part of our program here at ACHIEVE and we want to continue this collaboration for years to come.  Thank you VSA!” – Ryan Varley, Teacher.

This program has been made possible in part by the Department of VSA and Accessibility at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Minnesota Department of Education and support funds from residency sites.