Project Impact

Playing Card Portraits – Students begin by drawing portraits on paper, and scanning them into the computer in this 4-6 day residency. Using Photoshop, students then manipulate their image, adding color, patterns and possibly text. The final result is copied, flipped and placed to create a “playing card” with the student’s imaginative image.

Grades 4-12

Salvador Dali Dreamscapes – Students will download images from the internet, learn about composition and put together the images using Photoshop to create a surreal scene in this 4-6 day residency. They will be taught to use a variety of tools, enhancements and filters to construct their images.

Grades 6-12 & Adult

Transformation of Wool to Felt

Felt has an interesting history and was used for many practical purposes. Recently, it has had a resurgence in popularity as a design material used in fashion, jewelry, and home décor.

This 3-7 day residency gives students the opportunity to create beautiful felt pieces - both flat and hand-shaped 3-dimensional forms - using wool fiber, moisture, agitation and pressure.

This art form has many curriculum connections as students learn the humble beginnings of felt and the historical uses of the fabric; the physical make-up of wool and the “sheep to wool” process; and how to calculate the amount (weight) of wool needed for a project, taking into consideration shrinkage.

Students will enjoy the amazing experience of the transformation of beautiful wool fibers to a new material – felt.
             Photo shows some of the many colors of wool
                 that can be blended to create projects.

Projects will be tailored to specific grade levels and can be individual projects (placemats, coasters, scarves etc.) that students take home, or a group project (wall hanging, rug, etc.) to be presented to the school as a lasting piece of art from the class. 

Grades 4-12 & Adult

In this 2 -5 day residency, artist Gerry Fierst builds on his single day workshop of examining and explaining the language of Shakespeare, so students will be able to understand and enjoy his works, through the use of innovative games and webbing brainstorming.

For students in grades 3 - 5, the additional sessions will be language oriented. Another Shakespeare scene may be introduced and/or students will create their own poem. This would depend on the length of the residency.

For students grade 6-8, the workshops are theatre/character oriented, with such exercises as students writing their own version of the text, placing it in a different era.