VSA Minnesota Arts in Education

Artists-in-Residence Site: Southwest High School / Intermedia Arts

3414 West 47th Street, Minneapolis (Con. Dist. 5)

Collaborating Teacher: Katie Lipe

Teaching Artists: Jessie Roelofs; Tessa Gudmestad, assistant, IntermediaArts

Art Form: Media Arts

Project Overview

Students learned the skills necessary to create a short film using the medium of Digital Video. Students worked in small groups to write, direct, film, act in, and edit an original movie. Activities included storytelling and writing exercises, exploring technical and artistic process of translating their story into visual images, participate in drama based cooperation exercises, work on character development and acting, learn basic operation of the equipment in order to film scenes and learn how to use I-movie to editing their film. There was a screening of final work created at Intermedia Arts on Saturday, June 2.

Project Highlights

“I was very pleased to see the students excited and engaged each day. One student would always ask "What's the plan today?" and everyone seemed excited to engage with the process each day. Every student seemed motivated to create the film (no one refused to work or even complained about having to work on the film each day). One student in particular didn't attend the class for the first three sessions, finally attending on the last day of writing. He volunteered to play the lead and actually ended up coming on time - and even early - every day we were shooting. I also saw students who, at the beginning of the process, seemed apathetic or even adversarial about the prospect of creating a film; really engage with writing and shooting, specifically taking on in-depth roles such as directing, writing, and acting.” – Jessie Roelofs, Artist

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.

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.

Artists-in-Residence Site: Cleveland Elementary School

919 Northern Avenue/124 W. Lincoln Ave., Fergus Falls (Con. Dist. 7)

Student ceramic mask and artist statement on display.

Collaborating Teacher: Barb Gutzmer

Teaching Artist: Laura Youngbird

Art form: Mask-making

Project Overview

Students identified a variety of emotions and how color and texture can help express feelings. They created ceramic masks, wrote a short artist statement and presented their work in an exhibit. Students were instructed how to use the tools and materials to sculpt masks from clay and how to glaze them. They wrote statements discussing the process, the emotions and use of color. They presented their work in an art show at the school on May 29.

Project Highlights

“The students were very pleased with their work and proud to exhibit and share it with students and staff at their school.” – Laura Youngbird, Artist

“Students had to share materials and explain verbally to others their project. They also created artist statements to explain their completed mask. Students who are normally quiet were excited in sharing their work.” – Barb Gutzmer, Teacher.

Artists-in-Residence Site: Renville County West High School

301 NE 3rd St., Renville (Con. Dist. 7)

Collaborating Teacher: Tammy Isfeld

Teaching Artist: Nikki Bettcher-Erickson

Art form: Theater

Project Overview

Students will create three mini plays based on classic fairy tales. In between the mini plays will be “friendly friendship tips” based on their own experiences, in commercial format. They will also have the opportunity to create scenic designs and incorporate music into the performance.

Project Highlights

“Students worked on various theater activities, warm-ups, auditions, casting, addressed acting skills needed to put together a performance. As they performed for an audience it was clear their confidence had grown.” – Nikki Bettcher-Erickson, Artist.

“Students became more trusting of each other and there seemed to be more smiles as the week went on.” – Tammy Isfeld, Teacher.

Artists-in-Residence Site: Minnesota State Academy for the Blind

400 SE 6th Ave, Faribault (Con. Dist. 2)

Collaborating Teacher: Nicole Zweber

Teaching Artists: Aaron Radatz; Peter Ray, assistant

Art Form: Theater

Project Overview

Students were introduced to physical theatre, a highly visual form of drama in which they will use their bodies as the primary tool for creating characters and telling an original story. They also learned about actors’ tools: body, mind and voice to become strong performers through various theater activities. The will work collaboratively with peers, staff and the artists through creative performance activities and have the opportunity to perform for their peers at the end of the residency.

The students perform their original play “Dear Journal” for friends and family.

“Students showed significant progress in all areas, and were particularly adept at physicality & personification. Many students also showed a strong aptitude for improvisation. The shared leadership element of the play creation process empowered many typically shy students to take on roles they normally wouldn't.” – Aaron Radatz, Artist.

Project Highlights

“One of the best changes came from a high school student who refused to participate in the school spring musical. She had a negative attitude before entering the first day of the residency; she saw it as a get out class pass. After the first day, she was volunteering to participate, offering ideas and showed great creative expression. On the final day/show her part of the program was one of the biggest hits. She reported really enjoying the residency and her experience.” – Nicole Zweber, Teacher.

Artists-in-Residence Site: Bren Road Education Center

11140 Bren Road West, Minnetonka (Con. Dist. 3)

Collaborating Teacher: Eric Skoglund

Teaching Artists: Anne Krocak; Joshua Mercil, assistant

Art Form: Visual Arts

Project Overview

Students worked collaboratively to design and create a handmade clay tile, fused glass, mosaic wall-hanging that reflects individuals’ creativity and their views about community.

Project Highlights

“Students were positively engaged by staff visiting and artist and developed realistic expectations for their work while planning, mold-making, glazing their part of this mosaic.”

– Anne Krocak, Artist.

“Due to the population of students (EBD, DCD) an earlier start would have been easier to manage the focus of the student. We realize that this occurred due to the late funding VSA was able to procure.” – Eric Skoglund, Teacher.

Artists-in-Residence Site: Ely Memorial High School

600 E Harvey St., Ely (Con. Dist. 8)

Collaborating Teacher: Amanda Solum

Teaching Artist: Bill Griffin

Art form: Visual Arts

Project Overview

Students had the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to create a stylized, three-dimensional clay sculpture. They visited The Bear Center in Ely where they created observation sketches in preparation for their sculpture. They learned the process of basic hand-building and glazing techniques, and the equipment used in firing including assisting with loading and unloading the kiln. Final work will be presented during an arranged exhibit during the evening of the Spring High School Band and Choir Concert at the school on May 17.

Project Highlights

“The bears look beautiful. The students are very proud of them.” – Bill Griffin, Artist.

“The students LOVED working with clay. By the end of the residency, they were more open to mistakes, and working within the limits of the medium. They worked together to create a display. They were very supportive of one another and seemed to develop a greater sense of ownership as they designed their show.” – Amanda Solum, Teacher.