SUNDOWN SCHOOLHOUSE: THE ALDRICH WORKSHOPS
A part of the exhibition Fritz Haeg: Something for Everyone at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum / June 27th, 2010 - January 2nd, 2011 / download exhibition poster-brochure pdf
Do you have a skill or interest that you’d like to share with others? Or perhaps something you’d like to learn more about? Visit the geodesic tent on the museum’s front lawn from July 2nd until early October, from Fridays to Sundays, noon until 1:30pm, for a series of casual classes, workshops, and seminars lead by locals. * Open call to use the Schoolhouse dome for your workshops - see details on the Aldrich Museum website or contact assistant-at-fritzhaeg-dot-com to make a proposal)
CURRENT WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Creativity Communiversity: Collective Spinning - with L. Mylott Manning - October 10 - Explore the ancient technology of spinning fiber on a traditional spinning wheel. The process of preparing fiber and spinning yarn will be demonstrated during this hands-on workshop. In addition, visitors will be invited to participate in a work of art! Bring on old piece of clothing with you to be transformed and memorialized. You will have the opportunity to share a memory that the clothing item carries with it. The artist will cut the cloth into fragments and spin the pieces together with fiber to create a continuous string. Eventually the collective yarn will be hand-knit into a sculptural costume to be worn in a future performance piece. Plus, try the spinning wheel yourself!
Buckminster Fuller’s Geodesic Ideas - with Educator Mallory Bagwell - Sunday, October 3 - The Sundown Schoolhouse is held underneath a geodesic dome tent. While the geodesic dome is one of Buckminster Fuller’s most-known ideas and artifacts, his true impact on the world today can be found in his continued influence upon generations of designers, architects, scientists and artists working to create a more sustainable planet. In this hands-on, visual session, learn more about his ideas about sustainability, maximum contributions from minimal technology, and housing and society relationships, as well as some of his creations related to architecture and energy. Part of Creativity Communiversity organized by Steven Dahlberg.
Meditation and Poetry Workshop with Visual artist and poet, Shelley Lowell - Sunday, September 26th - will read a few of her poems and lead you through the meditative process she uses to create her poetry. Then, she will take you through the process so you can experience it first hand. If you ever wanted to write poetry and didn't know how to begin, or if you have written poetry, this technique could stir your creative juices. For teens through adult.
Workshop: Personal Spatial Design - with Mary Little - Saturday, July 10 and Sunday, September 12 - Designer Mary Little, of bius, will hold a Spatial Design Studio at The Aldrich Museum. In the studio Mary will encourage visitors to discuss how they want to feel when sitting within their own personal space while she takes their measurements and sketches a concept. For each person she will focus on creating a framework that will provide comfort in a posture they feel at ease in, setting aside issues of décor or taste. While design copyright belongs to Mary, for a donation of $100 to The Aldrich Museum, visitors can have the signed original of the sketch concept mailed to their home. (links: Bius Boutique / Blog / Design studio )
Exploring Animals Through Drawing - with First Grader Annabelle Cherniske Colonna - Sunday, September 12 - Learn more about animals as you draw them with direction from first-grader Annabelle Cherniske Colonna. Bring your kids and stick around yourself! All ages are welcome and no experience is necessary. Come and feed your imagination! Part of Creativity Communiversity organized by Steven Dahlberg.
The Art of Cartooning - with Sixth Grader Gabe Bardo - Sunday, September 5 - Whether or not you like to – or think you can – draw, come and explore your creativity through cartooning with sixth-grader Gabe Bardo. This session is open to participants of all ages. No experience necessary – just bring your imagination and curiosity. Part of Creativity Communiversity organized by Steven Dahlberg.
Creativity and Sustainability in Communities - with Creativity Educator Steven Dahlberg and Community Farmer/Educator David Cherniske - Sunday, August 29 - As Fritz Haeg’s “Edible Estate #9: Aldrich Staff Gardens & Compost” comes to end this fall, explore the symbiotic relationship between creativity and sustainability. Challenge yourself to think in new ways and imagine new possibilities about food, agriculture and the environment. Explore how creative thinking helps us understand systems, connections and alternatives better as we consider what we eat, where it comes from and its impact on the environment. Part of Creativity Communiversity organized by Steven Dahlberg.
Songwriters Circle - with local singer/songwriters Chris Belden, Jamie Daruwalla, Darryl Gregory & David Wheeler - Saturday, August 28th - playing songs & discussing the songwriting process.
Lessons from Prison for Creative Education - with Community Activist LaResse Harvey - Sunday, August 22 - Come and explore the role of arts, writing, creativity and imagination in prison programs and their implication for integrating more of these topics into education. You will hear the perspective of a formerly incarcerated mother who credits her creative writing and arts experience in prison with helping transform her life. Join us to hear LaResse Harvey's story and what it means for creative education. LaResse is African American Policy Director for A Better Way Foundation in Hartford. Part of Creativity Communiversity organized by Steven Dahlberg.
Bean Agency - with Dash N - Sunday, June 27th (3:30 - 5:30) - artist Dash N will prepare and serve beans from the region while telling stories about those bean varieties
BIOS
Mallory Bagwell is a visionary, creative educator who is just completing construction with his family of a completely off-grid house in Storrs, Connecticut. He has been described as a professional kid, a consummate gamesman, and a source of unlimited energetic thought that connects laterally across a multitude of topics and content areas. Intelligent and credible play is his “modus operandi.” He was professionally trained as a Ringling clown, toured Europe and Mexico as a performer, has published several games, received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, and presents nationally at schools, colleges, agencies and conferences. He uses intensive movement-based workshops that merge cross-curricular content with a variety of art forms (mime, dance, theater, music, art) in a hands-on, supporting and integrated fashion to the specific curriculum content of K-8 classrooms. Much focus is given to demonstrating the interrelationships between language arts, music, science, mathematics, art, physical education, creativity, problem solving and group dynamics within a framework of kinesthetic processes. (website)
David Cherniske is a community farmer and educator. He is currently collaborating with middle school students on a garden project at the Pratt Nature Center in New Milford, Connecticut. He has a deep interest in integrating age-old farming practices with cutting-edge thinking about farming, agriculture, land and animals.
Annabelle Cherniske Colonna is a first-grade student at Northville Elementary School. Her imagination works non-stop on generating ideas and shows. She is a persistent creator, constantly drawing and making things. And she likes teaching others. Oh yeah, she loves animals, too.
Steven Dahlberg is director of the International Centre for Creativity and Imagination, which is dedicated to applying creativity to improve the well-being of individuals, organizations and communities. He teaches “Creativity + Social Change” at the University of Connecticut, and leads professional development workshops for educators, nonprofits and businesses. He facilitates creative thinking and problem solving sessions, writes about creativity, and contributes to various media about creativity, imagination and innovation. He currently curates a monthly Creativity Networking series in Connecticut and organizes Imagination Conversations in Connecticut as part of a national initiative of the Lincoln Center Institute. He has worked with Yale University, Guggenheim Museum, Yahoo!, Americans for the Arts, Danbury Public Schools, World Knowledge Forum, City of Providence, 3M, Aldrich Museum, State of Connecticut, and Rhode Island College, among other organizations. He helped toy inventors launch a creativity consulting business and taught an undergraduate creativity course for incarcerated men. He is particularly interested in creative education, creative community building, local food and sustainable agriculture, and creative aging.
LaResse Harvey, African American Policy Director for A Better Way Foundation, is a formerly incarcerated single mother with more than 10 years experience in community activism on issues of a women's right to choose, housing, reentry, drug treatment, and custodial parental rights. Ms. Harvey holds associate degrees in human services, liberal arts and science, and general studies. In spring 2009, Ms. Harvey will receive her bachelors in social work from Saint Joseph's College. Ms. Harvey currently is organizing residents, business owners, advocates, and social agency staff to address issues of reintegration, housing, homelessness, hunger, and child support. She also works with young women ages 10-14 years old on racial justice, advocacy, life skills, and public speaking.