Artist-in-Residence Site:  Ely Memorial High School

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

Collaborating Teacher:  Amanda Solum

Teaching Artist:  Nicole Selmer

Art form:  Visual Arts

Project Overview

Students from the high school worked alongside with students from the elementary during this residency. They learned the history, process and tools of silkscreen printing. They also explored ongoing evaluation and critique. Students were asked to explore the theme “Community”, defined to be as simple as a group of individuals with a shared interest or as large as a group of people with a common history or common economic or political interests.  Students identified what they thought of as their own community and created stencils to develop artwork based on that theme. Students had the opportunity to exhibit their work created for the school and community.

Project Highlights

“The biggest take away for these students was the ability to communicate without words.  Many of the students struggled with speech, and communicating orally or in writing was a challenge.  As we went through the residency, and the students became comfortable with the printmaking process, you could see them relaxing.  For example, one of the elementary students had a difficult time controlling himself in his regular classes.  Once he understood the steps he needed to complete to make a print, he sat down, and within one hour, had completed his first screen print.  The process that took him one hour, took the other students two or three hours.  I believe that many of the students participating in the residency that struggled in their daily classrooms responded and thrived in an environment where they could work creatively.”  – Nicole Selmer, Artist.

“Students learned the process, grew more confident with the medium and other students.  The older students became better mentors as the week went on. They were also more willing to make mistakes.”  – Amanda Solum, Teacher.