Young Artists at Centrum

More Photos from Tales, Texts, and Theater

Blue Heron Tales, Texts, and Theater week continues at Centrum. Here are a few more photos from Al McCleese.

   

 

Hot Off the Presses: Blue Heron Photos

We're honored to have the entire 7th grade of Port Townsend at Centrum this week working with an amazing group of artists. Our friend Al McCleese is taking photos, and he has started to send some our way. We'll be posting a few of these over the next few days.

 

Spotlight on Explorations Faculty: Nanda

We're excited to have Nanda on staff for the 2010 Young Artists Project. Their high-energy performances combine juggling, music, dance, stage combat, and much much more.

Seattle KING-5 TV's "Evening Magazine" recently featured Nanda on their program. You can view the video online, and we highly recommend that you do!

See what they do

Currently Darwin Nordin is working on a series of intricate prints which continue to be inspired by observations of the natural world. Darwin is teaching visual art at Explorations and Water World.

Vesna Pavlovic's projects develop as anthropological studies, analyzing different cultures and their visual representations through particular phenomena. Vesna will be here this summer teaching photography at the High School Summer Arts Camp.

 Mandy Greer has just completed work for “Zuster Sweostor Systir,” a companion show to her project from this past spring and summer “Mater Matrix Mother and Medium.” The show opens on First Thursday, February 4, 2010 at Ohge Ltd. Gallery in Seattle. At Explorations Mandy will show you how to transform a recycled piece of clothing into a costume, using all kinds of techniques not always considered "art."

Where craftivism can take you...

Mandy Greer's room-size installation, Dare alla Luce, first appeared in 2008 at the Bellevue Arts Museum. In December, 2009, Dare alla Luce was exhibited in Miami at Aqua Art Miami Wynwood. Aqua Art Miami is a contemporary art fair that takes place in Miami concurrent with Art Basel Miami Beach.

Based in Seattle, Aqua's organizers have made it their mission to promote innovative programming from the west coast as well as the greater USA and abroad, with a particular interest in young dealers and galleries with strong emerging artist programs.

Greer is a mixed-media installation artist with an MFA from the University of Washington. Her most recent projects blend community, installation and performance.

The term “Craftivism” was coined to define a new movement of DIY (Do it Yourself) craft, activism and community.  It is described as a way of looking at life where voicing opinions through creativity makes your voice stronger, your compassion deeper and your quest for justice more infinite.

Greer says, "I make large installations that transform spaces into enchanted environments, creating full body experiences, like trespassing on a theatrical set.  My current projects are about making visceral transitory states of the human emotional experience tangible through the overabundance of crocheted, knitted and sewn fabric." 

Students who come to Centrum in 2010 have the opportunity to bring attention their ideas using materials in a DIY  aesthetic and sculpting using found objects and papier mâché, basic crocheting and knitting, and simple sewing techniques. Mandy Greer is teaching at Explorations, March 7-12, 2010; Blue Heron Tales, Texts & Theater, March 29-April 2, 2010; and High School Summer Arts Camp, August 8-14, 2010.

 

Registration Open for Young Artists Project

As we enter November, we are excited to announce that registration for all 2010 Young Artists Project workshops is now OPEN.

From elementary school to high school, we have you covered. Head on over to the workshop of your choice and where it says "Register Now" we strongly encourage you to do so!

Young Artists Project 2010

 Pictured is Etienne Cakpo, dancing with students during Explorations, 2009.

In 2010 Centrum's Young Artists Project continues to offer dynamic creative experiences for elementary, middle and high school students. Professional artist faculty engage young artists in the world of arts and ideas, promote creative risk-taking; and teach best professional practices. These vital, contemporary artists guide and inspire young artists. The weeklong residential experience is one of intense immersion—practicing, listening, conversing, drawing, sculpting, painting, dancing, performing, writing, and reading.

EXPLORATIONS    March 7-12, 2010

Multi-cultural fine and performing arts for middle-school students. Designed to mesh with seventh-grade social studies curricula. To include: visual art, Japanese taiko, theater, creative writing, African dance, and circus arts.

BLUE HERON TALES, TEXTS & THEATER    March 29-April 2, 2010    

An extraordinary partnership between Centrum and Blue Heron Middle School (Port Townsend, WA) , in which the entire seventh grade at BHMS comes to Centrum for week of full immersion in the arts.

WATER WORLD    May 2-7, 2010

An integration of the arts with science for elementary students in grades 5-6. Water World has a curriculum that rotates through a two-year cycle and features a hands-on, in-depth program of visual art, dance and writing, integrated with marine  science.

WHALE CAMP    July 11-17, 2010

Middle school students join artists and scientists for a week focused on whales in Puget Sound. With the arrival of a new orca skeleton at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center comes a brand new collaboration between Centrum and PTMSC. Hands-on science and art.

HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER ARTS CAMP    August 8-14, 2010         

High school students choose a concentration from multiple genres. Focus for an entire week on filmmaking, visual art, music, creative writing, or theater, working with inspirational professional mentors.

DANCE This    August 8-14, 2010 

For high schools students, Seattle Theatre Group partners with Centrum in presenting a residential week of dance. Experience ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, salsa and funk along with choreography classes taught by top professional dancers.   DANCE This is for all levels of dancers.   

Centrum needs your help

Dear Centrum supporter and arts education advocate:

We urgently need your help.

For 37 years, Centrum has provided tens of thousands of Washington students life changing experiences through arts programs at Fort Worden State Park.  During this time, Centrum has received partial state funding ($170,000 per year) for these programs through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).   Even with the need to reduce Washington's state budget, both Governor Gregoire and the Senate understand the value of Centrum youth programs and have kept Centrum in their respective 2010 and 2011 OSPI budgets.

Unfortunately, Washington's House of Representatives has removed Centrum funding from its version of the budget. The loss of this funding would result not only in the termination of these valuable education programs, but would also seriously threaten Centrum's future as one of Washington's leading cultural institutions.

As well, these programs provide substantial income for the State through additional park fees.  During the last biennium (two year) budget cycle, Centrum paid the State $1.2 million in park fees through its programs.

If you or your children, or someone you know have benefited from Centrum's programs, we ask that you take a couple of minutes to send an email or make a phone call (ideally both) to your Washington House representatives.  It's easy; just follow the links and the steps outlined below.

Thank you for your consideration and for your support.

Sincerely,

John A. MacElwee

Executive Director
Centrum

   1. Link on to  Find Your Legislator (link provided below)
   2. Enter your address or  zip code
   3. Select your representative
   4. Click on email  (you may also want to take down their phone number)
   5. You will need to reconfirm your address or zip code
   6. Enter your contact information
   7. Check if you would like a response (recommended)
   8. Check if you would like to cc other legislators in your district (recommended)
   9. In the subject line please write:
      Please Reinstate Centrum Funding in House Budgets for 2010 and 2011
  10. Type your note in the comment section (sample provided below)

    BIG BONUS: Follow up your email with a phone call

FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR

SUGGESTED NOTE:

Dear Representative (Last Name):

I am writing to ask you to reinstate funding for Centrum's youth programs at Fort Worden State Park in section 511 of the House budgets for 2010 and 2011 as its appears in both the Senate's and Governor's budgets.

For 37 years, Centrum has provided tens of thousands of Washington students "life changing" experiences through the arts during residencies at the Park.

(Personally, Centrum has offered (me, my child, our community) the chance....)

(I feel strongly about Centrum because....)

Thank you for your consideration.

(Your name)

Congratulations to Blue Heron Middle School

The final drumbeat, from the final presentation at the 2009 Blue Heron Middle School Explorations program.

The entire 7th grade of the Port Townsend public school district just spent a week working with an amazing group of artist faculty. The results were spectacular. Congratulations on a great week of art!

Let's Start Sharing

Hi everyone! We've just launched a new community site for young artists at Centrum.

Check out http://centrumyouth.ning.com.

If you've come to one of Centrum's Young Artist Project weeks at Fort Worden, please share your photos, videos, artwork, writing--you name it!

If you haven't been to Centrum yet, feel free to join in and ask questions!