ArtStart's Mississippi River Rendezvous Artist Residency Program 2003-2004
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| Music
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From the Circle - Cochise Anderson
Flute player Cochise Anderson of the Chicksaw and Mississippi Chicksaw nations of Oklahoma teaches the ways and beliefs of the Native American people who lived near the waters of the Mississippi River and on the prairies of the Great Plains. Through singing, dancing, storytelling and instrument making students learn how we are all connected in the Circle of Life. |
Mississippi Blues and More - Douglas Ewart
Guided by composer and instrument builder Douglas Ewart, students invent and play instruments inspired by the river and the traditions of jazz. Students learn about the roots of jazz and perform their own musical compositions in the style of the blues on their hand-made musical instruments at the conclusion of the week.
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| Dance
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Celebrating Our Traditions - Larry Yazzie
National fancy dance champion, Larry Yazzie teaches dances, songs, and stories from his Lakota, Dakota and Dine heritage as he relates the special relationship of his people to the land and river. As students learn dances for celebrations and ceremonies, they hear about the lessons, ideas, traditions and stories that inspire these energetic and beautiful dances.
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| Visual Arts
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Patterns of Life - Ruth Waukazo
Third generation Anishinabe beadworker, Ruth Waukazo of the White Earth Reservation introduces students to the quiet, patient art of beadwork. Students create several bead projects using different beading techniques. As students learn about the significance of certain colors and designs in beadwork, Ruth relates the ways of the woodland people of northern Minnesota through stories and personal experiences. |
Mississippi Mud - Linda Moraal
Patterns and shapes of living things in and near the Mississippi River spark ideas for a variety of clay projects from tiles to three-dimensional animals. Potter Linda Moraal works with students and teaches them the skills of rolling, coiling, slabbing and glazing clay as they move from idea to finished product. School access to a kiln is not a prerequisite for this residency.
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River Reflections: Drawing and Painting - Maarja Roth
The wolf, beaver, badger, moose and other North Woods animals serve as inspiration for this wonderful adventure into nature. Students work with visual artist Maarja Roth to explore a variety of drawing materials, watercolor, and tempera paint. Students learn drawing and painting techniques as they capture the spirit of these animals in their natural habitat.
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Big Puddle Puppets - Amy Ballestad
Puppeteer Amy Ballestad guides students on this Mississippi River adventure. Students create life-sized puppets of real or imagined characters who inhabit the waters, forests, and floodplains of the big puddle known as the Mississippi River. Students create and perform a play in which each puppet is a star.
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Maskmaking - Armando Gutierrez G. - Amy Ballestad
Visual artist Armando Gutierrez G. helps students create masks and fancy costumes to celebrate that famous event in the city of New Orleans, the Mardi Gras. Students learn about the origins and traditions of Mardi Gras and work with bangles, beads and glitter to create a memorable mask and costume. Then students parade and strut through the "streets of New Orleans".
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Murals and Public Art - Ta-Coumba Aiken
Nationally recognized muralist Ta-Coumba Aiken works with students to capture the essence of life along the Mississippi River from the built environment to the natural environment. Students learn painting techniques and compare a variety of artists' styles, including Ta-Coumba's unique rhythm painting style, as they create a magnificent Mississippi River mural using acrylic paint on canvas. Note this mural can be designed for permanent installation in the school as well.
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River Ramblings Architectural Models - Julie Marckel and Susan Milnor
Landscape Architect Julie Marckel and sculptor Susan Milnor join forces to take your students on a historical, geographical, and ecological journey of the Mississippi River from Lake Itasca to New Orleans. Students create drawings and models of dwellings, bridges and locks and dams as they learn about the Mississippi River through artmaking.
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From the Ganges to the Mississippi River - Gita Kar
Visual artist and writer Gita Kar explores the stories and traditions of the people who live along the Ganges River in her native India. Student's compare and contrast life along the Ganges with life along the Mississippi River, as they create a variety of artwork based on authentic traditional Indian patterning.
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Just for Preschool and Kindergarten Aged Children - Ellen Ferrari
Artist Ellen Ferrari, a dynamic and fun-loving arts educator, has designed activities to heighten each child's imagination and reinforce self-expression, while providing knowledge about the Mississippi River. Children sing, dance, act and make a variety of art projects based on the river theme.
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ArtStart's Artist Residency program, established in 1990, engages artists with children in dynamic arts education experiences. Designed to inspire creativity and build knowledge and skills in the arts, this hands-on integrative approach to arts education illuminates the connections among people, ideas, and the environment.
ArtStart's 2003-2004 Artist Residency roster features artists of diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds, who bring a depth of experience and expertise to their work in a school setting. ArtStart is prepared to custom design a residency that fits your specific need using the talents of our artist roster. Or ArtStart can bring a pre-established residency based on exploring the Mississippi River through the arts to your school.
Generally, an ArtStart residency consists of 20 student contact hours over the equivalent of 5 days with at least one core group of students who work with the artist daily. Each residency includes a teacher staff development component and a celebration of student work at the conclusion of the residency. In addition, many unique art-making materials are provided by ArtStart from its ArtScraps Creative Materials store. For the cost of a residency, please contact Laurie Watson, ArtStart Education Director at 651-698-2787 or laurie@artstart.org
If a school is unable to follow this model, we recommend selecting an ArtStart Community Workshop, which involves less contact time with an artist and flexibility of grouping. Community Workshop pricing is available upon request.
