Annual Celebrate the Arts Week in ES
Last week students in the Experiential School of Tampa Bay explored a variety of art mediums during Shorecrest's annual Celebrate the Arts Week.
On Monday former Shorecrest teacher Alexis Arrazcaeta (aka Ms. Alexis) returned to demonstrate the process of throwing clay on a wheel. She talked students through every step. A projector allowed everyone to get a closer look at what her hands were doing. She even made a finished ceramic vessel while wearing a blindfold! During exploring later in the week Ms. Trayer opened up the clay room so students could run the wheel and practice some of the skills Alexis taught.
On Tuesday Ms. Supper shared music by playing the keyboard for JK students. A video projector allowed them to watch her hands playing the keys while also getting a typical performance view of her facing the audience. Some students recognized the song she played from Disney's "The Lion King."
Mrs. Hollenbeck, the Head of the Experiential School, was the art expert who shared on Wednesday. She gave an overview of what it is like to plan, carve, and string a wooden puppet to "bring it to life." She shared her plans, tools, in-progress puppets, and some finished puppets.
On Thursday a local dancer/dance instructor, Helen French, visited ES. She performed an interactive piece that expanded and changed as the children contributed additional choreography on the spot! The Chargers went through the dance, added more steps, and when they had practiced it a few times Helen added music. They attempted the dance routine to two songs with very different tempos and styles, and they made the dance work with both songs.
The final event for Celebrate the Arts Week in ES was a puppet show on Friday. "The Underwater Comedy Club" was written, designed and directed by Mrs. Hollenbeck. She hand carved wooden rod puppets and the ES team helped bring them to life in a silly, fishy show. Students giggled through the second puppet show of the school year created just for them.