Grassroots Grant

RhinoLeap: 2022 - 2023 Artist in Residency

RhinoLeap sent two well-trained and experienced puppeteers for a week-long workshop with my technical theatre students.  They were able to do some characterization and storytelling activities with puppets for the first portion.  The next four days were spent on making puppets and making them physical.  They made large puppets with paper and tape (where the joints would be) and created scenes with them, making them move believably using three people to manipulate the puppets. They also created rod puppets, which were made by creating a face and small body.  The students were able to move them via a rod/thin stick which was attached to the head and arms.  During the week, the students were able to build their confidence in the characterization of puppets and believable manipulation.  We would love to have them back next year.

Senora Lynch: 2022 - 2023 Artist in Residency

Senora Lynch is nationally known for her creation of exquisite American Indian handmade pottery. She creates each piece using a traditional hand-coiling method out of red and white clay, while adding a contemporary twist with her own style of etching designs into the surface.

“The spirit of clay has always inspired me. Working in clay takes me back to my childhood days of playing in mud, a free spirit.”

Senora became interested in making pottery at age fourteen after having been previously shown ancient pottery shards and assisting with a pottery class for her Haliwa-Saponi tribal elders. She also weaved chair bottoms alongside her mother and grandfather, learned to do beadwork, and started making American Indian regalia.  Years later, her passion transformed into a business that she named “Living Traditions” because the designs on her pottery are full of living traditional stories and beliefs of her people. The designs come through the Night Sky and are revealed to her in her dreams. She uses many American Indian symbols and motifs found in the natural environment, including bowls, turtles, lizards, maidens, smudge bowls, wedding vases, bears, which work in unison to convey the story being told on that piece of pottery. Senora’s pottery has evolved to include different shapes, including bowls, turtles, lizards, maidens, smudge bowls, wedding vases, bears, and plaques, among others.

Cheryl Halver, Libby Brown, and Charlie Kluttz: 2022 - 2023 Artist in Residency

Libby, Cheryl and Charlie spent time working with chorus students on their concert repertoire. During their residency, each artist used their specialized skill to work vocally with the students in both a group and individual setting. Libby and Cheryl predominantly worked with the ensemble as a whole to better prepare them for their March concert and Music Performance Adjudication (MPA). Charlie predominantly worked with the lower voices in Concert Choir (beginning level choir) on octave displacement and being more confident in producing a strong vocal sound.

Steve Campbell & Dancing Drums : 2022 -2023 Artist in Residency

Steve Campbell spent the day engaging every student in the school with his drum circle!  Assemblies at all 6 elementary schools were about 45-50 minutes long and were done by grade level in the gym.  Every student got to play every instrument through a circle drum rotation.  Instruments included Djembes, Tick Tock blocks, bongos, maracas, and wood drum boxes.  The focus was on rhythmic patterns and teamwork.  Steve offered two different programs, World Drumming and Character Building.  The world drum offered agogo bells and Steel Drums.

Steve’s energetic teaching style left the students wanting more!  A great time was had by all!