Fine Arts

November 1, 2012

My name is Isaac Sawle and this is my second year as Technical Director for the MPA Theatre Arts department. “So you’re the tech guy?” Is a question I’m often asked. While that is in some ways true I’d call it a bit of a mischaracterization. I do have a hand in almost every area of any event you see in the Nicholson Center or the Black Box. But it goes beyond just turning lights on and off, and often I’m not the only person involved.

 I have three main responsibilities in my Technical Director role. The first is managing the technical needs of the events in the Nicholson Center. Running lights and sound for the many choral, musical, and other types of events can be a big job depending on the requirements of the event. Running the mixing board that controls the wireless mics, speakers, and stage is typically the main priority during these productions, but there is also the matter of handling the lighting changes and at times projections and other effects.

The second role I fill is that of building the sets for the shows that the Theatre Arts department produces. If you’ve seen these shows you know that they are always of a high quality and this is due to the number of professional lighting designers, scenic designers, and scenic painters that the school enlists. These professionals, me included, work at many theaters around the Twin Cities and bring a level of expertise that makes our productions shine. I receive designs and am in charge of constructing them up to our high standards and under budget. If you’re ever in the building and it sounds like you hear power tools running, it’s likely to be me in our scene shop working on the next show.

My third responsibility puts me in charge of servicing or maintaining the equipment that the school uses to make our productions and events happen. I’m usually in the middle of a repair project on some part of our inventory. Currently the list includes a spotlight, some wireless microphones, and various shop equipment. Perhaps the best example of this part of my job is the new lighting control board in the Nicholson Center. Thanks to the help of members of the administrative and budget teams we were able to replace a nearly 20 year old analog board with a new, digital ETC Element 40-250. This board marks a vast improvement to our capabilities for the lighting in the Nicholson Center and I’m very pleased to have been able to help in the process. I’m also in the midst of several improvement projects in the MPA Scene Shop, including a new dust collection system that will improve air quality and general safety.

Of course all this is done in the context of an educational setting and I’ve had a handful of students who have been coming into the shop to assist. In the process they learn both theatrical and general skills that allow them insight into the way things are made, and at times unmade. This ability to understand basic components and how raw materials become end products is a lifelong skill that is useful both to the school when they help me build the sets, and to the student as they progress in their education.

In light of that I’ve also been teaching classes at MPA this year. Our Stage Management class just finished, and this week I begin a Stagecraft class that will focus on the areas of technical theatre that high school students rarely get to learn in a classroom setting. Both classes are taught with professional standards in mind, but with those standards viewed in the light of the educational setting of MPA. The students will learn new skills and in the process contribute to our arts community at MPA.

As we have the our performance of “MPOSSBLE: The Case of The Missing Letters” approaching, I’m going to close by encouraging you to come see what is sure to be a hilarious performance by our cast of Middle School students. The set is very different from anything that I’ve built before, and is sure to be impressive upon completion. Odd are you’ll never see me around the building (and if you do I’ll be covered in paint and sawdust) but trust me when I say that the productions here are unlike anything you’re going to see in any other place.

October 25, 2012

Congratulations to the following visual arts students who had work selected to be part of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Eighth Annual Art Invitational!

Laura Nicholson, Ceramics, First Place Award
Kip Hathaway, Ceramics
Nick Gardner, Ceramics
Isabella McKeown, Ceramics
Benjamin Neumann-Chun, Ceramics
Malachi Nidersson, Painting
Aaron Hathaway, Mixed Media

Their artwork will be included in an exhibit that was selected by juror, Andrew Wykes, Painter and Professor at Hamline University.
The exhibit will be in the Morgan Art Gallery at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, MN.

The show opens with an artist talk and presentation at 6:00pm on Thursday, October 25.   Following the presentation at 7:00pm the art opening will take place. There will be tasty food, music and conviviality!  The closing of the show Nov. 12th.  

October 18, 2012

This year Mounds Park Academy will be sending seven students to the Minnesota state American Choral Director Association’s honor choirs on November 16th and 17th as a part of their annual convention. These students completed an audition in late September that was sent in to be heard by judges and were chosen to be a part of the honor choirs.

Please join me in congratulating the following students:
Sixth grade: Maria L and Nina R
Seventh grade: Annika I
Eighth grade: Eloise B-B, Isaac E, Gracie D and Will O

Leah Abbe Bloem
Lower and Middle School Vocal Music Teacher

October 11, 2012

Simply Learning, Simply Folk
By K. Rossbach

Selecting themes as a way to move through educational material is certainly not a new idea.  It does not change basic concepts we want children to learn from year to year nor does it alter the content of specific disciplines or curriculums.

What they can do is give us a framework to refresh our approach and experience new content in way that makes better connections with the world around us.  They can provide for parallel learning by helping children find ways to apply and connect new concepts to their own life experiences and/or to a more representational context.  

In Lower School the art and music teacher have been selecting a different theme each year to help provide this kind of framework and to help students with knowledge transfer between the two disciplines.  This year our lower school students will be learning a bit more about folk arts along side basic art and music concepts as we illustrate our theme, “Simply folk”
 
 Exactly what is folk art and how does it differ from fine art or craft?

Ezinearticles.com (2012) defines:
Folk art is not art as most people would think. You would not find it in the galleries of New York. You find it in people’s homes, garages, and attics. The best way to describe folk art is to say it is the craftsmanship of people from a local area which depicts the everyday life and times they shared. From the weather vane on the barn to the handcrafted rag dolls the children played with.  This (art) was not created by a named artist but by ordinary people who needed certain things. These items were used everyday. They were created to make life simpler or more enjoyable. The people who created them would never have dreamed of selling them at some upscale auction house. The items were passed out to family and friends. There was no price tag.

We all most likely have a piece of folk art in our homes.  Something handed down from our families, a piece or souvenir we brought home from a vacation, or perhaps a painting completed by our great grandmother who was never took an art class.  Some more traditional forms of folk art can be seen in quilts, Ukrainian stencil designs, Amish furniture, pottery, woven baskets, early toys and even fishing and hunting decoys.   These pieces of art or craft can be a valuable expression of who we are and what we value in our families and communities. They can give us context for cultural differences and celebrating those differences.

Folk art represents the traditions and practices of closely connected groups, preserving cultural and community identity through artistic expressions such as music, dance, art, and craft. (Introducing Your Child to the Arts: Folk Arts, https://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref).

They suggest Folk arts can enrich our lives by:

– fostering a sense of group belonging;
– giving us similar experiences as a basis for meaningful communication;
– helping us reflect on basic life questions and concerns;
– making life interesting by creating beauty and fun in unexpected places; and
– upholding creativity as an important value, often by utilizing existing (sometimes taken for granted) resources in unique ways.

This same article goes on to say, Children comprehend their world and the cultural significance of events by witnessing and participating in celebrations and ceremonies, creating objects, singing, dancing, and sharing stories with family and community. In this way, children learn from these practices, develop self-awareness, and form relationships with others. As parents and teachers, we can help our children explore connections between their own life experiences and artistic expressions. We can also help them observe and respect their own cultural traditions and those of other people.

We look forward to learning about more about folk art and music this year along side learning basic art and music curriculum concepts.   We will enjoy creating some of our own expressions based on both traditional and contemporary forms of folk art and will enjoy sharing them with you at our spring art and music extravaganza.

September 27, 2012

As published in the White Bear and Vadnais Heights Press:

September 27, 2012

It’s time to dust off those dance shoes, tune up that violin or guitar, and warm up your vocal chords–or juggling skills, or magic act, or whatever your special performing skills are–the MPA Talent Show is back!  The MPA Student Council and Thespian Troupe 4173 are co-sponsoring a showcase of talent at 7:00 PM on Friday, October 12, in the Black Box Theatre. Admission will be a donation of a non-perishable food item, which will be delivered to a local food shelf.

Students in grades 7-12 are eligible to participate, as are members of our school community.  Signing up is easy:  there will be sign-up banners posted in the Upper School Commons and the Cafeteria on Thursday, September 27.   Deadline for signing up is Monday, October 8.  You can also email Mrs. Bradley (bbradley@moundsparkacademy.org).  One rehearsal will be held in the Black Box after school at 3:30 PM on the performance date, October 12.  Participants will compete for prizes for the top three places.   Get out that comb and tissue paper and join us!

September 20, 2012

On Sunday, September 16th, 2012 Mounds Park Academy had 48 fourth and fifth graders perform the National Anthem at the Twins game. At the start of the year every fourth and fifth grader learns the National Anthem in their music class. We learn about phrasing, staggered breathing, singing vowels and how to end our words at the same time with consonants.

The students met outside Target Field and then walked as a group down to the basement of the building where we rehearsed for about 35 minutes before going on the field. As we walked out onto the field the students were energized and ready to sing. Even the microphone manager commented on how well behaved our students were while waiting to sing! Singing the Anthem was a great experience for everyone, and I am extremely proud of how well our students performed!

Leah Abbe Bloem
Grades 3-8 Music Teacher

September 12, 2012

“I am going to play the viola!  I am going to play the baritone!”

During the first week of school, 5^th Graders and their parents attended the 5^th Grade Instrumental Recruitment Night.  On this night, students had the opportunity to try every possible brass, string and woodwind instrument to help them decide what instrument they wanted to play in the 5^th Grade Band or Orchestra.  Students and parents are often surprised at the instrument that ends up ‘choosing them.’  A 5^th grader may come into the evening thinking, ‘I really want to play the flute’ but then after trying the flute, realize they are unable to make a sound.  That same student will then try an instrument they never dreamed of playing and discover not only could they make a beautiful sound, they loved how it felt in their hands.  After trying all of the instruments, students were then asked to choose their top two instruments they would like to play based on the comments given to them by the instrument experts and their own personal feelings.  For many, the choice was easy but for others, it required a lot of thought and reflection with their parents before they were ready to choose.  

Next week, the 5^th Graders receive their instruments and have their first lesson.  They will learn how to hold the instrument, take care of it and play their first sound. This is just the beginning of their musical career at MPA.  The study of a musical instrument provides a significant number of benefits to a child’s development.  Research has linked active music making with better language and math ability, improved school grades,enhanced coordination, and better communication, memory, and listening skills.  Being a member of a musical ensemble can also help foster responsibility, mental discipline, teamwork, and self-esteem. 

We are very excited for all of our 5^th Graders starting their instruments next week.  Parents, get ready for an amazing year of music! 

Rosa Glade Arnold-Orchestra Director

Renae Wantock-Band Director

August 29, 2012

Visual Arts teacher Renee Sonka had a painting selected to be part of the Sumi-e Society of America Juried Exhibition.  The exhibition is held annually, and is hosted by a different state each year. The Minnesota Chapter of the Sumi-e Society is hosting this year, curating the exhibit and also offering several days of workshops.

To be considered for the exhibition, the submitted works must be painted using Sumi-e ink on rice paper or silk. Other mediums, such as watercolor, may be used in conjunction with the traditional Asian materials.  Sonka’s painting is a composition of waves entitled “Rush”.

The exhibition will hang at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center from September 21-October 28, with an Opening Reception on September 21, 5-7pm.  For further information, please go to https://www.mingchiaosumie.org/

May 24, 2012

Students in Applied Painting class have been studying the relationship between art and music.  They explored this theme through a variety of ways, including presentations, discussions, and also the collaborative painting of a piano.  Studying the Harlem Renaissance was a great way to introduce the theme, considering that the art and music movements were so intertwined at that time.  In particular, they referenced the work of Harlem Renaissance painter and collage artist, Romare Bearden.  
 
All twenty students in the class had a hand in painting either the piano or the bench. They also each created their own individual collage compositions inspired by music and influenced by the style of the Harlem Renaissance.
 
The piano was loaned to us by Keys 4/4 Kids, a non-profit organization founded by MPA alum, Newell Hill.  The piano will be returned to Keys 4/4 Kids so that it can be part of their float for the Grand Old Days Parade on June 3!  The piano will then be on display in a public location, yet to be determined.  Eventually, it will be auctioned by Keys 4/4 Kids and proceeds will go to support art and music programs in low-income neighborhoods.  We are thrilled that a Keys 4/4 Kids representative is coming to our art show opening to help us celebrate the completion of the piano!  The second semester Upper School Art Show opening is on Wednesday, May 23 from 6:30-7:30 in the gallery.
 
Applied Painting students are:  Liza Amaral, Jackson Beck, Chloe Casaneda, Lindsay Coleman, Jimena Del Solar, Eliza Edwards, Louise Edwards, Annette Eneanya, Mollie Heil, Alyssa Hokanson, Casey Jahn, Betsy Krenkel, Shane Lavers, Ellie Lawin, Kelvin Okada, Sam Sauer, Kendra Stone, Emily Swanson, Cindi Venters, and Rebecca Zeglovitch.