Thursday, October 29, 2015

College Theater

Arts Track teamed up with the NIC Theater Department on Wednesday, October 28th to explore stagecraft and acting.  Judith McGiveney, costume designer and costuming teacher, let students explore her vast costume collection while teaching them about the art of costume design.  Students were also treated to a tour of the scene shop, where scenery and props are built for productions, the prop storage room, and the stage/auditorium.  The current production of Godspell is in full swing, so students were able to look at a set up close.  Joe Jacoby, acting teacher and production director, joined the tour and elaborated on his vision for the production.  Students were also able to visit the dressing rooms, see costumes for the current productions, and see the green room.  At 11:00, the Arts Track trundled downstairs with Joe to sit in on his beginning acting class. Students joined in with the college actors to do acting warm ups, and then watched as Piper, one of Joe's students, performed a Shakespearean monologue.  Joe worked with Piper to enhance her performance, so students were able to see how an actor takes direction to improve a performance.  It was a fabulous day, and a wonderful introduction to the world of theater for the Arts Track.
Alexis and Lia rest after pretend sword play

Lia and Emily tip their hats as English Bobbies

Kristi, Jane, and Leslie twirl parasols (and an umbrella)

Kristi, Shyla, Veronica, and Lydia rest in the furniture room

Allsion, Danielle, and Emily try on wigs

Maddie listens as Joe explains the purpose of the lights in the dressing room

Maria, Naomi, and Danielle get in touch with their inner cheerleaders as Brian and Evan look on

Jane, Leslie, and Lia participate in acting warm ups with college actors
Cicorra, Zoe, and Emily prepare for No Shave November

Zoe adds a hat to the ensemble

Ellie, Monique, and Maddie add some embellishments to their outfits

Lucy and Monique demonstrate the Greek masks representing comedy and tragedy

Alex gets in touch with his inner Carmen Miranda

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Sandpoint Art Gallery Scavenger Hunt

Mrs. Lutzwolf worked closely with local art gallery owners and artists to arrange a scavenger hunt in downtown Sandpoint on Tuesday, October 20th.  Students found a myriad of public art installations around town in addition to visiting local galleries to critique pieces and talk with artists.  Students learned many lessons in addition to art critique, including gallery etiquette, time management and teamwork.  Students represented Clark Fork well, and happily discussed what they found on the bus trip back to school.  Thank you, Mrs. L., for all of your hard work and dedication in setting up this excellent activity, and a big shout out to all of the business owners in downtown Sandpoint for supporting our school.

As a closing activity after lunch, students created sidewalk art with chalk at City Beach, literally leaving their mark on Sandpoint.

Next week students will travel to North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene to tour the theater department.

Leslie finishes a beautiful mandela out of chalk at City Beach.

Arts Track 

Monique mimics one of the many art installations in downtown Sandpoint

Emily, Alex, Lily, Monique, and Reba pose for their next album cover

Sammy, Jean, Maria, and Eliska show their admiration for an abstract bicycle

Reba poses in front of some street art in Sandpoint



Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Collaboration

Tuesday, October 13th brought a collaboration project between the Outdoors Track and the Arts Track.  Students traveled out to Kaniksu Land Trust property where Arts Track students taught Outdoors Track students the ins and outs of Plein Air.  They then participated in a scavenger hunt with photography, all the while practicing the art of composition.  It was a beautiful day to be a Wampus Cat!  Click the link below for pictures of their day.
Plein Air Collaboration

Monday, October 12, 2015

Let's Dance!

Students in the Art Track worked on collaboration and cooperation with a fun activity on Thursday. Together with a group, students had to develop a choreographed lip sync to a school-appropriate song, and perform it for others. This fun activity taught students some valuable lessons about team work and following through with a plan.  Every student got up and performed on stage, even though he/she was nervous.  Students practiced conflict resolution with peers when things weren't going the way they wanted them to go. Below is a video of students bustin' a move.  Students enjoyed it so much, they asked to do this activity again, with more time to prepare and polish.  Mrs. L. and Ms. P. agreed, so stay tuned!

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Scenic Design

There is so much more to the world of theater than just the actors on stage.  There are designers and crews who spend months creating an imaginary world for the audience.  Thus far, Arts Track students have dipped their toes into the world of costume design.  Today, they also experienced scenic (set) design.  Students were asked to create scale model representations of a set that included some basic furniture and backdrop pieces.  The technical math involved in the process helped students apply algebra, ratios, geometry, and proportion--skills that will benefit them later in life.  Although they didn't have a lot of time for completing their set models, they still pulled together as teams and did a fantastic job!

Hope, Kristi, and Sophie discuss their set plan.

Lia shows off her stage while Zoe, Eliska, and Sara look on.

Hannah demonstrates the use of the knives used to cut out the foam core.

Sammy concentrates as she cuts out the pieces for her set.

Maria and Nona measure carefully.

Brian, Veronica, and Naomi display their set.

Lily, Emily, and Leslie display their set.

Eliska, Sara, Zoe, and Lia

Allison and Maddie show their set

Kristi, Hope, and Sophie show off their hard work.

Ashly, Hannah, and Jane 

Shyla and Ellie show their work

Cicorra, Maria, and Nona show their set

October Newsletter

Please enjoy our October Newsletter, which includes our learning objectives and plans for the month. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Ms. Palmer or Mrs. Lutzwolf at any time through this blog!

October Newsletter

Friday, October 2, 2015

Painting on the Beach and Makerspoint

Tuesday the 29th brought the first field trip for the Arts track.  Students were given an exclusive tour of Makerspoint in Sandpoint.  Makerspoint is an artist cooperative that provides the space and tools to do just about any kind of art.  For a monthly fee, members can do woodworking, welding, sewing, 3-D printing, and so much more.  Students got to see all of the equipment, much of it in action, and ask questions about possible projects.  They also received laser-cut monocles and mustaches, much to their delight (and to Ms. Palmer's and Mrs. L's).

Arts Track students after their tour of Makerspoint.  Don't they look dashing with mustaches and monocles?

In particular, Mrs. L. looks quite sophisticated.


Following the tour, the group traveled to City Beach in Sandpoint.  It was a beautiful day, and students took advantage of it by honing their watercolor painting craft in the Plein Air style.  Spread out around the park and beach, students had unique perspectives on their paintings.  Most included the water, but some did tree scenes.  The Arts track will be teaching this form of painting to the Outdoor track on the 13th.  Lastly, local business employee Donna Brundage gave students an impromptu look at how arts are applied in business at I Saw Something Shiny.  Students learned what it takes to create clothes with hand-placed rhinestones and sequins, and about the marketing behind the store.

Kristi and Leslie pause for a moment while painting from the lifeguard tower

Brian, Evan, and Alex claim a section of the beach

Maria shows off her beautiful Plein Air of the lake and mountains