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Traditional Folkcrafts Leave a comment

Traditional Folkcrafts

Posted on February 9, 2012 by bbowles
Location: Kansas City MO 
Curriclum Area(s) enhanced by this activity:
Best for grade level: K – 3, 4 – 8, 9 – 12, 12 – ADULT,

Description:
Workshops making traditional crafts can be designed to complement both social studies and language curriculum, or to simply celebrate a holiday. Existing examples of crafts in museum can be studied and offer historical precedents. Latin America is known for its colorful and festive folk art. In May 2011, the Maddie Rhodes Art Center helped a group of children create paper flowers and Ojo de Dios (God’s eyes) from yarn to celebrate the arrival of Cinco de Mayo — and provide decoration for the America: Now and Here opening reception.

Teacher/organization name:
Mattie Rhodes Art Center

How the educator led the project & inspired work:
Mattie Rose Art Center staff used their knowledge of Mexican traditions and crafts to inspire a group of children and to join the America: Now and Here celebration.
Summary: Making folk art can be a link to the past, a source of knowledge about our own cultures, and a way to build appreciation for the cultures of others.
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Art Ride Leave a comment

Art Ride

Posted on February 9, 2012 by bbowles
Location: Kansas City MO 
Curriclum Area(s) enhanced by this activity: Design/Architecture, Physical Education, Visual Art,
Best for grade level: 4 – 8, 9 – 12, 12 – ADULT,

Description:
In Kansas City, America: Now and Here invited the public to join the KC bicycle and artist communities for an afternoon of creative physical stimulation. Beginning with Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, participants were led on a journey of discovery in their own backyard culminating with a community BBQ. A bike valet was included so participants could leave their bikes before and after the ride to explore the ANH installation inside Leedy-Voulkos. Introduce your community to new and unexpected wonderments around town through your own Art Ride. Map a tour pinpointing celebrated city landmarks, public art, or planned performances. Have riders bring their own bicycles to a meeting point (possibly a new art opening) to begin the excursion and end with a picnic or community potluck. Don’t forget your helmet!

Teacher/organization name:
America: Now and Here in partnership with Volker Bicycles

How the educator led the project & inspired work:

Summary: Bring your community together through art and bicycling for a day of visual and physical stimulation.
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Bread Dinner Leave a comment

Bread Dinner

Posted on February 9, 2012 by bbowles
Location: Kansas City MO 
Curriclum Area(s) enhanced by this activity:
Best for grade level: 4 – 8, 9 – 12, 12 – ADULT,

Description:
While the core values of America: Now and Here (creativity and innovation, inherent exploration, discovery, and meaningful dialogue) are already popular topics of conversation among friends and family dinner tables across the country, an increasing number of forward-thinking groups are organizing unique community dining experiences to help transform great ideas into action. Bread KC, Detroit SOUP, and FEAST Brooklyn are just a few of these grass-roots types of organizations that have popped up in recent years. For a small fee (e.g. $5 for soup, salad, bread, and a vote at Detroit SOUP), these public dinner services are dishing out some good grub, and even yummier conversations. What’s better: all collected proceeds are awarded as micro-grants for deserving creative community projects.

Teacher/organization name:
Bread KC – http://breadkc.wordpress.com/

How the educator led the project & inspired work:
While in Kansas City, America: Now and Here partnered with Bread KC to create a similar dinner initiative, in which three artists were invited to present their ideas to the event’s dining guests. At the end of the night, $1,065 in micro-grant funds was awarded to Rob Lugo, who generously donated half of the pot back to Bread KC! Sound interesting? Then be sure to check your area’s local listings for similar events! If nothing of the sort exists, then why not consider launching your own ideas exchange dinner series? It’s time to take action, America, and transform our brilliant ideas into something tangible for artists and our communities.
Summary: In your community, organize a unique dining experience to help transformation great ideas into funded action.
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Printmaking and Famous Faces Mask-Making Leave a comment

Printmaking and Famous Faces Mask-Making

Posted on January 26, 2012 by bbowles
Location: Kansas City MO 
Curriclum Area(s) enhanced by this activity: Visual Art,
Best for grade level: K – 3, 4 – 8, 9 – 12, 12 – ADULT,

Description:
Presented in partnership with INKcubator Press and Wonder Fair, America: Now and Here invited the general public to join in on some live printmaking fun. Guests learned the process of silkscreen printing as the INKcubator Press and Wonderfair teams created faces of American historical figures and entertainers on site. Participants then transformed chosen prints into personal, unique masks using crayons, markers and scissors. Produce a “Famous Faces Mask-Making Party” in your town, supplying art materials, Popsicle sticks, and prints of recognized American faces. Having a printmaker on hand teaches your community the fine art of printmaking and encourages an appreciation of the art making process. Don’t have access to a printing press? Print masks from a computer or have participants draw faces of American icons. Which American figure would you like to transform into?

Teacher/organization name:
INKubator Press and Wonder Fair

How the educator led the project & inspired work:
INKubator Press and Wonderfair led participants through the printmaking process teaching the power of the handmade and the importance of shared experiences in art.
Summary: Engage your students in the art of printmaking and lead them in creating a one of a kind mask.
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Messages to America Leave a comment

Messages to America

Posted on January 26, 2012 by bbowles
Location: Kansas City MO 
Curriclum Area(s) enhanced by this activity:
Best for grade level: K – 3, 4 – 8, 9 – 12, 12 – ADULT,

Description:
America: Now and Here in Kansas City asked participants to write their own Send Your Message to America and to share A Place that Inspires on specially designed postcards. Postcards were then collectively displayed for public engagement in the ANH gallery. Discover what your community or school has to say to America. Invite people to write their messages on postcards or index cards, and then post them together in a community setting. Create your own postcards or download ours here. Seed community action and ideas in your own town! America: Now and Here would love to hear your responses. What is your message to America?

Teacher/organization name:
America: Now and Here

How the educator led the project & inspired work:

Summary: Send your wishes to America and engage your community through a wall of collectively displayed postcards.
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Drawing America Leave a comment

Drawing America

Posted on January 26, 2012 by bbowles
Location: Kansas City MO 
Curriclum Area(s) enhanced by this activity: History, Visual Art,
Best for grade level: 9 – 12, 12 – ADULT,

Description:
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School KC brought an evening of live model drawing classes to the America: Now and Here gallery in Kansas City. Featured models portrayed historical American icons, such as Paul Bunyan, George Washington crossing the Delaware, and Betsy Ross. While drawings were being made the mood of a lively social club prevailed, with participants and visiting viewers discussing the work, making art, and American icons. Invite amateur and veteran creative spirits to bring sketchpads and supplies to a drawing session in a community setting or art gallery. Have models pose as your town’s favorite icons or American historical figures for 10-20 minutes each. Which American icon would you like to see celebrated?

Teacher/organization name:
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School

How the educator led the project & inspired work:
Sessions are non-instructional allowing for the models and conversation to serve as creative inspiration.
Summary: Give a nod to American history, and ignite creativity and conversation through a lively drawing session.
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31 NIGHTS Leave a comment

31 NIGHTS

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Michael Bell
Location: Annapolis Maryland 21401
Curriclum Area(s) enhanced by this activity: Creative Writing, Visual Art,
Best for grade level: 9 – 12, 12 – ADULT,

Description:
Ignite passion and creativity in your students through learning how to engage them in 31 Nights of self-portraiture. The instructor provides the inspiration through a series of “31 titles” and then students interpret these titles as passionately as they can Monday – Friday over the course of 31 Nights (as drawings from life or photographs). This innovative approach engages students in an intensive visual journaling process. Exploring interconnections between visual and verbal language becomes their potential key to unlocking their own creative processes and often leads to improvement in both technical and conceptual approaches.

Teacher/organization name:
Michael Bell / Southern Senior High

How the educator led the project & inspired work:
31 Nights is a project I invented after viewing an inspiring photographic series entitled “30 in 24” by David Leeson (which essentially were 30 self-portraits as photographs taken over the course of 24 hours). I put an original spin on Leeson’s concept and extended the time frame, which turned into 31 drawings over the course of 31 nights from direct observation, using a mirror. For my students, I set them up with a schedule so they can see which works are due when — by date and title. At the conclusion of their 31 nights, their technical and conceptual skills are at an all time high. I’ve also developed 5 different levels of 31 Nights for students who want to try this more than once. I have done this with students in Painting and Drawing classes as well as Photography classes. Each level is inspired by different master artists and titles. View the YouTube video clip below to see 31 Nights in Drawing and Photography!
Summary: Ignite passion and creativity in your students through learning how to engage them in 31 Nights of self-portraiture. I believe our job as an artist is to draw a line from our life to our art that is straight and clear. It’s a teachers’ job to motivate students through explorations by providing a variety of visuals, master artist exemplars, tools, methods, media, and criteria. 31 Nights is intense, but it will grant your students permission to explore themselves visually in ways they never have before through a project that’s exciting, engaging and practical as a valuable tool in their creative arsenal.
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American Family Community Portrait Leave a comment

American Family Community Portrait

Posted on December 29, 2011 by gobrandgo
Location: Kansas City MO 
Curriclum Area(s) enhanced by this activity:
Best for grade level: 9 – 12,

Description:
Content to be added soon

Teacher/organization name:
Content to be added soon

How the educator led the project & inspired work:
Content to be added soon
Summary: Content to be added soon
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