SCHOOL-BASED ARTS
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For 2016, our focus was Indigenous Culture and Urban Waters.
This year, for the first time, UPP Arts led workshops in two Cranston schools through a partnership with 21st Century Cranston Learning Center. This is a dynamic and energetic afterschool program led by Ayana Crichton.
Gladstone Street School
UPP Teaching Artist and Narragansett Tribal Member, Wanda Hopkins led an enthusiastic group of ten elementary school children at Gladstone Street School, sharing Narragansett family traditions by introducing them to her own family and stories that had been handed down to her. The children learned how to play the Moccasin Game and how plants suck up water, through capillary action, in order to grow. They were taught the many uses of cattails including for baby’s diapers and as filters for toxins in the water. They created dream catchers using only natural materials so the dream catchers were not perfect, “just like people,” one-third grader astutely noted.
Wanda led the students in a presentation at the annual UPP Arts Water Ceremony in the Procession, after which they placed painted rocks at the pond’s edge and suspended a large dream catcher between two trees by the pond. Ayana Crichton noted that ESL students especially benefited from Wanda teaching storytelling to these students. Wanda supplemented the storytelling with props and actions and the retelling of the story exercised the students' English speaking skills.
This year, for the first time, UPP Arts led workshops in two Cranston schools through a partnership with 21st Century Cranston Learning Center. This is a dynamic and energetic afterschool program led by Ayana Crichton.
Gladstone Street School
UPP Teaching Artist and Narragansett Tribal Member, Wanda Hopkins led an enthusiastic group of ten elementary school children at Gladstone Street School, sharing Narragansett family traditions by introducing them to her own family and stories that had been handed down to her. The children learned how to play the Moccasin Game and how plants suck up water, through capillary action, in order to grow. They were taught the many uses of cattails including for baby’s diapers and as filters for toxins in the water. They created dream catchers using only natural materials so the dream catchers were not perfect, “just like people,” one-third grader astutely noted.
Wanda led the students in a presentation at the annual UPP Arts Water Ceremony in the Procession, after which they placed painted rocks at the pond’s edge and suspended a large dream catcher between two trees by the pond. Ayana Crichton noted that ESL students especially benefited from Wanda teaching storytelling to these students. Wanda supplemented the storytelling with props and actions and the retelling of the story exercised the students' English speaking skills.
Bain Middle School
At Bain Middle School, UPP Teaching Artist and Narragansett Artist Dawn Spears engaged a group of 5-10 students in a workshop of ten sessions in the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program in Cranston. Together they experimented with a variety of art mediums, exploring visual elements of their environment in individual sketchbooks and on rocks and canvas. Ultimately their artwork was carried in the Procession on a traditionally woven net, made by the students. Together with her husband, Cassius Spears, Dawn opened up the world of the Narragansett to the students, inspiring their artwork.
At Bain Middle School, UPP Teaching Artist and Narragansett Artist Dawn Spears engaged a group of 5-10 students in a workshop of ten sessions in the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program in Cranston. Together they experimented with a variety of art mediums, exploring visual elements of their environment in individual sketchbooks and on rocks and canvas. Ultimately their artwork was carried in the Procession on a traditionally woven net, made by the students. Together with her husband, Cassius Spears, Dawn opened up the world of the Narragansett to the students, inspiring their artwork.
Back in Providence...
Alvarez High School
Filmmaker Denali Tiller led fifteen seniors in Alvarez High School’s AP Environmental Science Class in making a documentary film about Indigenous Culture in Rhode Island and its connection to Mashapaug Pond. They interviewed four representatives of three generations of RI Narragansett. These interviews, with Dawn Dove, Tall Oak Weeden, Sharente Harris and Loren Spears, were then used for their documentary film. Guest speakers Mike Freeman and Dennis Maynard, former residents of the old West Elmwood neighborhood, told students about growing up in the rural and integrated neighborhood, the last place around Mashapaug Pond where Indigenous People lived. Denali showed students several animation and stop motion clips and taught students how to make their own animations for the film.
Alvarez High School
Filmmaker Denali Tiller led fifteen seniors in Alvarez High School’s AP Environmental Science Class in making a documentary film about Indigenous Culture in Rhode Island and its connection to Mashapaug Pond. They interviewed four representatives of three generations of RI Narragansett. These interviews, with Dawn Dove, Tall Oak Weeden, Sharente Harris and Loren Spears, were then used for their documentary film. Guest speakers Mike Freeman and Dennis Maynard, former residents of the old West Elmwood neighborhood, told students about growing up in the rural and integrated neighborhood, the last place around Mashapaug Pond where Indigenous People lived. Denali showed students several animation and stop motion clips and taught students how to make their own animations for the film.
Voices of the Small Points from Denali Tiller on Vimeo.
Reservoir Avenue School
At Reservoir Avenue Elementary School UPP Teaching Artist Kate Lacouture, director of Green Circle Design, worked with two 2nd grade classrooms and teachers to design and build a native plant garden, completing the school’s Oasis Project. The students were taught about watersheds, stormwater run off, Rhode Island’s indigenous plants and the importance of pollinators. The 50 students dug up the area of hard dirt designated for the garden, added compost and planted 50 native plants. Under the guidance of Holly Ewald and Met student Marisol Martinez students created their own pollinator hats, which they wore during the Procession. The classroom teachers organized a presentation by ten of the 2nd graders at the Procession finale, which allowed eleven students to present what they had learned.
At Reservoir Avenue Elementary School UPP Teaching Artist Kate Lacouture, director of Green Circle Design, worked with two 2nd grade classrooms and teachers to design and build a native plant garden, completing the school’s Oasis Project. The students were taught about watersheds, stormwater run off, Rhode Island’s indigenous plants and the importance of pollinators. The 50 students dug up the area of hard dirt designated for the garden, added compost and planted 50 native plants. Under the guidance of Holly Ewald and Met student Marisol Martinez students created their own pollinator hats, which they wore during the Procession. The classroom teachers organized a presentation by ten of the 2nd graders at the Procession finale, which allowed eleven students to present what they had learned.
Also, on June 16, 2016, Oasis was officially opened to the public. The whole school gathered around the new play space designed by 4th and 5th graders at Reservoir in 2013 and built by adults, with the guidance of DownCity Design, over the past three years. The present 2nd graders assembled on the stage area of the structure in anticipation of performing and welcoming Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Providence School Department Superintendent Chris Maher.
The Mayor kicked off the event recognizing the contributions of these various organizations and individuals and the importance of children having natural spaces to play in and learn from. Superintendent Maher had had the opportunity to watch the progression of the Oasis build as he often visits the school. He thanked the teachers for their participation in the project and said that Reservoir Avenue Elementary is one of his favorite schools because of its sense of community and the spirit of the students. Principal Danny Smith pointed out that Oasis provides a space for the students to gather for quiet activities and provides new hands-on learning opportunities for the students. UPP Arts Executive Director Holly Ewald shared the history of the project, recognizing the initial role of Principal Potter along with the PTO and many partners and artists who have worked with the students in designing the structure and helped to build it.
Standing on the Oasis stage, the 2nd grade classes led by teachers Carrie Allen and Mary Wise sang for us. To cap off the event, students helped Mayor Elorza and Superintendent Maher to pump water into watering cans and water the garden they had planted with plants native to Rhode Island. Principal Smith has set up a group to oversee watering the garden during the summer.
The Mayor kicked off the event recognizing the contributions of these various organizations and individuals and the importance of children having natural spaces to play in and learn from. Superintendent Maher had had the opportunity to watch the progression of the Oasis build as he often visits the school. He thanked the teachers for their participation in the project and said that Reservoir Avenue Elementary is one of his favorite schools because of its sense of community and the spirit of the students. Principal Danny Smith pointed out that Oasis provides a space for the students to gather for quiet activities and provides new hands-on learning opportunities for the students. UPP Arts Executive Director Holly Ewald shared the history of the project, recognizing the initial role of Principal Potter along with the PTO and many partners and artists who have worked with the students in designing the structure and helped to build it.
Standing on the Oasis stage, the 2nd grade classes led by teachers Carrie Allen and Mary Wise sang for us. To cap off the event, students helped Mayor Elorza and Superintendent Maher to pump water into watering cans and water the garden they had planted with plants native to Rhode Island. Principal Smith has set up a group to oversee watering the garden during the summer.