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ArtsBridge 2007-2008 Projects Summary In fall 2007, Utah State University launched its new USU ArtsBridge program as an affiliate of the national ArtsBridge America network. During the 2007-2008 academic year nine ArtsBridge projects in six schools deeply impacted close to 200 K-12 students in visual arts, landscape design, interior design, photography and poetry. USU ArtsBridge scholars went into classrooms in Logan and Cache County Schools, working one-on-one with K-12 students throughout an entire semester. Our scholars' presence in the classroom also provided unique training in the arts for their classroom host teachers. All participating K-12 students visited Utah State University as a part of their USU ArtsBridge experience. Now in its second year,
USU ArtsBridge has already received national recognition from ArtsBridge
America and the Center for Learning Through the Arts, on the campus
of University of California, Irvine for the quality of our program.
We applaud our outstanding 2007-2008 USU ArtsBridge scholars! Their
creative energy and commitment has brought a new kind of
arts infusion into our schools, making a positive difference in
the lives of our youth. We proudly present highlights from our 2007-2008
USU ArtsBridge program.
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| Fall
2007 – USU ArtsBridge program development |
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Project #1: The Elements of Design A hands-on exploration of Line, Color, Value, Texture, and Shape Gallery of images from the project
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6-week pilot project was developed at Edith Bowen Laboratory School,
4th Grade Dates: November 2 – December 7, 2007 Scholar: Shirece Sorensen, senior Interior Design major. Career emphasis: architecture Host Teacher: Linda L’Ai Faculty Mentor: Darren Brooks Highlights: a private tour by faculty mentor Darren Brooks of the new Performance Hall at USU. Professor Brooks did the interior design elements of the concert hall, lobby and dressing rooms. |
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Project #3: Mural & Mosaic Projects
Gallery of images from the project - Mural: The Four Seasons of Cache Valley
Gallery of images from the project - Mosaic: The Four Elements: Earth, Air, Water, Fire (420-piece all-school mosaic)
Semester-long double project with 5th graders culminating in the May 3 Comcast Work Day at Millville Elementary School.
Project #4: Landscape design |
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| Dates: February 12 – May 3, 2008 Scholar: Liz Pedersen, junior landscape architecture major. Career emphasis: native landscapes Host Teacher: Dave Nagata Faculty Mentor: Caroline LaVoie |
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| Highlights: Learning about native plants and outdoor environments; actually planting the new outdoor classroom; and visiting USU where students got to meet mentor Professor LaVoie’s own students and see professional landscape designs. | |
Project #5: Poetry Power – using poetry as a tool for learning Gallery of images from the project Created a Poetry Power broadside featuring all the students’ work. A semester-long project for 3rd graders at Hillcrest Elementary School culminating in a poetry reading and reception for parents and relatives in the school library/media center |
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| Dates: February 12 – April 29, 2008Scholar: Jacoba Mendelkow, graduate creative writing student. Career emphasis: English Host Teacher: Chris Davis Faculty Mentor: Maria Melendez |
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| Highlights: Mrs. Davis’ students participated in the Stokes Nature Center Children’s Celebrating Nature Poetry Contest. One student won 3rd place in her division! Learning similes was fun and rewarding; the English language learners in the class gained many new skills through writing, reading and reciting poetry. |
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Project #6: Cartooning |
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| Created a cartoon book featuring all the students’ work, each having 4 pages with 4 panels. A 12-week project using cartooning as a therapy tool at Youthtrack alternative high school. | Dates: February 13 – April 30, 2008 Scholar: Steve Weller, senior English education major. Career emphasis: high school English teacher Host Teacher: Reva Rosenband Faculty Mentor: Nadra Haffar |
| Highlights: Two trips to the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art; exploring how to create cartoons, characters, facial expressions, and dialog enhanced each student’s life. |
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Project #7: Alphabet Book Gallery of images from the project |
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Project #8: “The Elements of Design” Gallery of images from the project |
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This was a repeat of Shirece’s fall project. This time taught after school at the Boys & Girls Club at Thomas Edison South, working with grades 2-5. |
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| Dates: February 26 – March 28, 2008 Scholar: Shirece Sorensen, senior Interior Design major. Career emphasis: architecture Host Teacher: Matt Kazy Faculty Mentor: Nadra Haffar |
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| Highlights: The fieldtrip to the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art was great fun. Also, mixing colors and creating textured designs were highlights. |
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| Summer 2008 - Project #9 Gallery of images from the project |
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| Boys and Girls Club at the Whittier Center, Logan |
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| Dates: July 7-18th, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 3-5th graders. 8 sessions + show. 15 contact hours. Project: “Castles, Cottages, and Fortresses” Hand building big stuff with clay Scholar: Denny Gerwin, senior ceramics major. Career emphasis: clay artist Host Teacher: Matt Kazy Faculty Mentor: Dennise Gackstetter |
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| Highlights: This project met every day for two weeks. Students were involved in everything from rolling out the clay, to building, firing, and painting their works. A trip to the USU ceramics and sculpture labs were highlights where they got to see their castles and cottages in the kiln being fired. | |
