We’ve just wrapped up an amazing week of arts immersion for students in grades 7-9 from throughout Washington state. In Explorations, students are introduced to the world of arts and ideas, creative risk-taking, and personal development. It’s a total learning environment that challenges the mind and body in equal measure.

Photographer David Conklin was on hand to document the week, and his photos are outstanding. Enjoy!

[FAGP id=13125] View all photos.

2017 CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Cut it out!  Cut and Sculpt Paper with Celeste Cooning (Visual Art)
Delve into the endless potential of paper in two and three dimensions. Visual Artist Celeste Cooning invites you to create your own utopia using scissors as drawing and sculpture tools. She will show you traditional paper cut images and how cut paper is used as an art form today, for example, creating site-specific installations.  Your observations of patterns found in nature, architecture and textiles will help you create dynamic images in cut paper.

Intuitive Printmaking with Romson Bustillo (Visual Art)
Learn about printmaking using inventive techniques in a traditional printmaking studio. Students will explore a variety of techniques that allow artists to develop mixed media prints. Using monotype, relief printing, mixed media and collage Romson will assist students to work intuitively. We will focus on technique, materials, and composition.

Inside-Out and Outside-In: Living Stories with Gillian Jorgenson (Theater)
In this acting workshop, we will explore pathways, movement, the natural world, personal stories, and found objects: every little thing we encounter to create a shared experience as we devise a new story filled with characters inhabited and honed by each individual actor. Practical acting skills will be woven together with imagined and real worlds to bring our stories to shared life.

Music & Roots with Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons (Music)
Learn to hear and play instruments and songs that laid the foundation for American music as we know it! This class will give you experience playing music with others on an instrument of your choice–guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin, singing and percussion are all options for students, beginners are welcome. Explore the amazing stories and heartfelt lyrics of some of the greatest music America has ever produced, all while having good fun with Ben and Joe!

Spoken Word with Daemond Arrindell (Poetry)
“Who are you?” is sometimes a difficult question to answer. Society often wrongly assigns labels that show only one small part of the complex, amazing human creatures we are. In this class with Daemond, you will address the ways that others see you and you will decide for yourselves who you really are and how you want to be seen. Spoken Word is a style of poetry that is meant to be performed. You will be bringing to life dynamic voices and stories through writing prompts, imagery, metaphor, and individual as well as group poems.

Breakdance! with Robert Eyerman
Using music as an inspiration, learn the foundation of breakdancing, or “breaking.” The four fundamental components, toprock, footwork, freezes, and power moves will be demonstrated and taught. With Robert teaching some new-found knowledge and skills, learn to create dance routines. Students will have the opportunity to battle against and perform with one another by exploring the arts of cyphering, battling, and performing. Perfect for those with little to no dance experience who are dedicated, enthusiastic, and open-hearted about learning.