Rural Alliance for the Arts founder Jolene Rockwood called its arts in education program “the diamond in the tiara of RAA” at the recent annual meeting.
“We have a rich tradition of having a really fine program here. Schools have used RAA contributions as matches to get other grants.”
Over 2,500 students at six area public and private schools participated in the 2008-09 Visiting Artist Program. Each school that subscribes receives between $2,000 and $7,000 worth of programming based on the student enrollment. The total expense to RAA was $27,000.
These were some highlights:
Batesville High School – Spanish Fiesta in October; professional artists Shannon Newby, Atlanta, and Catherine Dart, Indianapolis, taught students encaustic, a process using bees wax from local beekeeper Jerry Brelage and paint that was used by the old masters to paint frescoes; a huge ceramic wall mural involving students in grades K-12 that says “We are Batesville Bulldogs”; Claire Kohlman, a former BHS student who is now a graphics major taught a special unit on using the computer as a design tool; artists Rex Oxley and Rebecca Davies worked with students on observational drawings, texture and mandala making; and a professional drama clinician advised on the BHS spring musical “My Fair Lady.”
Batesville Middle School – local artist Chaz Kaiser returned for the annual stained glass/copper lantern project with eighth- grade industrial technology students; local artist Rebecca Davies led a horse-themed residency, taking students to the Cincinnati Art Museum to look at horses in art history and allowing students to photograph a live horse to use as reference for large acrylic paintings; music teacher Leon Enneking added more authentic instruments to the steel drum program at BHS/BMS; seventh-graders attended a production of “A Christmas Carol” and visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Batesville Intermediate School – after Oxley taught observational drawing, students made mandalas; add more authentic instruments taught drama classes; dramatist and folk artist Kevin Stonerock performed “Hoosier Pioneer,” part of the BIS Indiana History curricula; Hoosier illustrator Patrick Gerard shared his ideas about self-expression, being an illustrator and the process of creating books at BIS and BPS; Davies painted a “Bulldog Buffet” mural in the cafeteria.
Batesville Primary School – residencies by electric violinist Cathy Morris and potter Don Edwards; performance by mime Reed Steele; Davies painted a mural called “The Land” in the cafeteria, aimed at improving student eating habits and childhood obesity; writer and performer Deborah Asante told stories and conducted improvisational stories and games.
St. Louis School – Richard Fruchnicht taught square dancing to the students; students viewed artist Diego Rivera traveling exhibit; Alborado, a Latin American music ensemble, performed; Fritsch Marionette Co. performed “The Wizard of Oz”; writer Dave Helper turned student writings into songs, then directed two eighth-grade workshops; Mad Cap Puppets performed for grades preK-5; local dance instructor Lydia Woodward choreographed “Suessical the Musical”; “Chicken Fishing in America” combined storytelling, drama, music and audience participation; performance and blues history by Kelley Richey; “The Magic Theater Trunk” featured magic, music and drama as students sang, danced and acted out a story; Bacchanal Steele Band performed.
Oldenburg Academy – one-day Renaissance festival; Fine Arts Week included a Degas art display, Cincinnati musicians performed during lunch hours; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra percussion duo gave a master class to orchestra members; Kentucky Shakespeare Festival performed “Macbeth.”
Last year RAA awarded over 100 Young Artist Showcase trophies and ribbons. The program, chaired by Roberta Cook, recognizes sixth- through 12th-graders who excel in art, music, writing, dance and drama.
The RAA Arts-in-Education Evening Series, coordinated by Anne Amrhein, presented two men who educated students in the daytime, Edwards and Gerard.
AIE volunteers included Rockwood and Kaiser; Amy McCabe, Mary K. Cambron, Sharon Mulvaney, Leon Enneking, Anne Amrhein, Rebecca Davies, Sheri Focke and Jim Roberts, Batesville Community School Corp.; Pam Burroughs, Oldenburg Academy; Sheri Kirschner, St. Louis School;
AIE funding comes from RAA, John A. Hillenbrand Foundation, Columbus Area Arts Council, Indiana Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, John W. Hillenbrand Vision Fund for Quality Education, PTO funds and BCSC.
