our 2012 - Silvermine Arts Center

silvermine arts center
Art Partners Report 2012 - 2013
Begun in 1992, Art Partners is dedicated to creating and executing
hands-on, curriculum-based studio art classes for under-served
students in Stamford and Norwalk during the school day and in after school
programs. Connecticut has the highest education gap in the country, and
these free or subsidized programs deliver exciting and meaningful,
educational experiences through the arts.
Art Partners and our extraordinary Teaching Artists work in close
collaboration with classroom teachers and program directors to enhance
the academic achievement of students through stimulating art programs
that meet Connecticut State K-12 Standards. These programs
incorporate the 21st century vital skills of innovation, critical thinking, and
collaborative, cross-disciplinary learning, while enhancing social/emotional
skills. The new Common Core requires students to think creatively, deeply understand the materials and consider other
perspectives—all tenets of our distinctive art programs.
Maintaining our quality programs
In 2012, Silvermine Arts Center reinvigorated its Art
Partners program by hiring Sophia Gevas as Director
of Outreach Education. Having a dedicated director
overseeing our programs has enabled us to expand our
evaluation procedures and deepen our engagement. We
have the commitment of our Teaching Artists and the
interest and cooperation of the schools and social service
agencies we serve. Our programs engaged over
700 students, ages 6 - 16, with 4500 hours of
joyful artclasses! We are appreciative of the contributions of our supporters,
but in order to continue to reach these students in need, we need to increase
our funding.
Benefitting: Norwalk Students in - Brookside Elementary, Columbus
Magnet School, Silvermine Elementary, Nathan Hale Middle School, Ponus
Ridge Middle School, Norwalk Housing Authority and Family and Children’s
Agency. Stamford Students in - Davenport Ridge Elementary and
Trailblazers Academy.
Brookside Elementary 3rd Grade,
“Garden People” Fodor Farm Installation
Teaching Artists: Page McBrier & Marta Kot
Nothing succeeds like successes: 3rd grade Brookside Elementary students create “Garden
People.” Third grade is a critical time for literary development and two of our Teaching Artists collaborated with
classroom teachers and students, as well as the City of Norwalk and the Fodor Farm Community Garden, to create an
educational, public art installation. While meeting literary and science curriculum requirements, nine 6-foot Garden People
(scarecrows) were created and installed near the entrance and at both community gardens—colorful figures that “wore”
laminated information and odes to plants and vegetables—a learning tradition that will continue with each subsequent
third grade class. The public ceremony with the Mayor congratulating the students as they viewed the final installed
works was jubilant!
The 5th grade Mural Program at
Silvermine Elementary is in its 12th year. This
much anticipated rite of passage involves all 5th grade
students and requires collaboration, research and
creativity—necessary skills for executing the final art
project. In partnership with the classroom teachers, the
Teaching Artist led the students in creating the 20-footlong mural—Multicultural Games—that was the
students’ parting gift to their school.
Silvermine Elementary School
Teaching Artist: Marta Kot
Columbus Magnet School first graders traveled
to Weir Farm for drawing and watercolor instruction. They had
one session at the farm where they learned techniques and
drew the landscape, not minding the October snow on the
ground! Paying strict attention to their instructor, they carefully
observed the trees and stone walls and then completed their
works back at their school.
Columbus Magnet School First Graders at Weir Farm
Teaching Artist: Marta Kot
At Nathan Hale Middle School 15 to 18 students meet
Nathan Hale Middle School, After-school program
Teaching Artist: C.J. Guerin
weekly throughout the school year in a program that focuses on
providing in-depth, personal instruction in drawing, painting and
printmaking, in a safe environment. Students develop a portfolio
of work and learn communication skills through peer critiques,
helping them to understand the critique process while learning
subtle lessons in comportment. The program provides them with
the ability to continue their artistic development along with students from more advantaged schools.
At Davenport Ridge Elementary, Trailblazers Academy
and Ponus Ridge Middle Schools our Teaching Artist used his
graphic novel on bullying to hone in on the connection between developing
good social/emotional skills with a student’s behavioral success and
academic performance. One cartooning workshop incorporates the science
curriculum as students develop their own characters. In another school, we
conducted a short exam to assess their retention a week later. When
tabulated, the lessons were so effective the class scored 97%!
Davenport Ridge Elementary
Teaching Artist: Jerry Craft
Working with Norwalk Housing Authority
adolescents, we created a costume workshop for a
performance by traditional Brazilian Maracatu dancers
featured at the Silvermine ArtsFest. Art Partners
programs go far beyond academic and drawing skills to
have an effect on the self-awareness and self-esteem of
participating students. We may never have a more
eloquent statement of the worth and value of our
programs than the one overheard recently at ArtsFest. “No
boy is going to trash-talk me after this!” from a young girl in
the group, who learned the dances and were subsequently
invited to perform with the professionals, in front of
hundreds of people. Their gradual transformation from shy
adolescents to confident performers was exciting to
witness. This was a life-changing experience.
After-school art classes at the Family and
Children’s Agency use drawing and painting
projects designed to provide opportunities for a student to
plan and organize, manage time, stay focused and pay
attention to details—all elements of good executive
function. Throughout the program, the Art Partners
Teaching Artist works with the program director to assess
executive functioning skills.
Norwalk Housing Authority Students at ArtsFest
with Brazilian Maracatu Dancers
Workshop Teaching Artist: Inez Andrucyk
Guided Gallery tours were presented to
sixty 6th grade students from
Trailblazers Academy, many of whom had never
Trailblazers Academy Galleries Tour
Guild Artist: Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong
been to an art gallery before. Prior to their visit, teachers
were provided with vocabulary lists to share with their
students. Leveraging our resources, Silvermine Guild
Artists were coached to teach observational skills
through a series of questions designed to elicit
conversations with the students about the work.
Afterward, their teachers used some of the exhibited
works to teach a social studies class. A follow-up
meeting with the teachers confirmed the effectiveness
of our teaching tour. Subsequently, we received additional
funding to execute a four-day cartooning workshop at
their school!
Gallery Tours for Seniors were also added.
Sessions were created and tailored to the group’s
interest. Some included artist’s demonstrations while
others, with the efficient use of our Guild Artists as docents,
included discussing the work on display.
Encore Club with Guild Artist Nomi Silverman
Creating an atmosphere of opportunity
Executive Director Leslee Asch and Outreach Education Director Sophia Gevas are active participants in Norwalk ACTS
(Achieve/Collaboration/Teams/Success), a diverse collaborative of fifty City leaders and organizations working
collectively to improve the education and future of Norwalk’s children. We are dedicated, through this work, to find
more robust measures for the benefits of arts education and social/emotional learning.
An opportunity to participate—for everyone
Art Partners has an effect on its participants and its supporters alike and one cannot exist without the other. There is an
enormous opportunity to fill a very real void—by helping us create programs that are dedicated to improving the lives
and outlook of everyone involved. We cannot offer these programs without the interest and support of people like you!
Ths past year individual donors stepped up to sponsor outreach programs in Trailblazers Academy, Davenport Ridge
Elementary and to assist in supporting Silvermine Elementary’s mural program and Nathan Hale’s After School program.
We are grateful for their help in reaching students in need.
These annual programs need annual support!
Please consider a gift today!
Here’s how you can join us in making a difference:
Provides Art Supplies
Support a One-day Project
Support a Two-day in-school Project
A Full in-school Program
Support an Arts-integrated, Curriculum-infused,
in-school Project (10 days, plus planning sessions)
Teachers and Teaching Artists collaborate
$ 7,500. - Support a year-long after-school program
$ 10,000. (or more!) - Be a Project Angel
$ 250.
$ 500.
$ 1,000.
$ 2,500.
$ 5,000.
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Have a share in a project. Every gift is appreciated!
We are deeply grateful to our 2012-13 supporters*:
Fairfield County Community Foundation
Patti Hansen and Keith Richards
2012 Gala Patrons
Anonymous
Ron and June Ahrens
Theodora and Marc Bergschneider
Julie Brown
Victor A. Cohen and Claudia Renfro
Connecticut Office of the Arts
Kathy and Port Draper
Tina and Woodson Duncan
Exchange Club of New Canaan
Fairway Market
First County Bank Foundation
Stephanie and Brian Foster
The Maurice Goodman Foundation
Robert Graham
Hearst Connecticut Media Group
Barbara and Bill Hilson
Stephanie Joyce and James Vos
Lumpkin Family Foundation
M.E. Hart Foundation
Maurer Family Foundation
Midler Family Foundation
New Canaan Community FoundationYoung Philanthropists
Carol and Scott Perry
Purdue Pharma, L.P.
Alan Sheriff
Janet and Keith Sherin
Target Stores
Arthur and Vivien White
*All donors will be acknowledged in our Annual
Report. These gifts reflect donations of $500 and
above.
For more information, please call Sophia Gevas at 203 966-9700 x 19
or email sophiagevas@silvermineart.org
www.silvermineart.org