Celebration of Arts Ed: Camden-Rockport

Blaine House event – April 9

On Tuesday, April 9, we had a Celebration of Arts Education to recognize the accomplishments of artists and musicians from Camden-Rockport Elementary and Middle Schools and Camden Hills Regional High School. The First Lady, Ann LePage, Chair of the State Board of Education, Dr. Steven Pound, and the Department of Education came together to celebrate Arts Education. Twenty four students representing grades Kindergarten through 12 are exhibiting art work at the Department. Proud family members watched as the students were recognized for their accomplishments.

Grade 6 student, Mary with Steven Pound and First Lady LePage

Music students in the 8-member, student lead a cappella group The Off-Beats(!) performed the Stars Spangled Banner and Sweet Caroline at the reception held at the Blaine House. After recognition and refreshments families were invited to the Department of Education to view the art exhibit. The Off-Beats(!) stopped at the State House to see Senator Mazurek and sang in other spots in the State House and the Cross Office building. It was a special treat to have them sing in the lobby at the Department with about 20 Department employees watching and listening. The Off-Beats(!) make people smile and a reminder of why it is essential to provide quality arts education for all students!

The Off-Beats(!) student director Alex with Steven Pound and First Lady Ann LePage

You can see the artwork that is on display at the Department by clicking here or viewing the work from the front page of the blog, right side in the section titled “Info”. Look for “Camden-Rockport Schools: MDOE exhibit”. Even after the artwork leaves the Department it will remain on the blog and the songs will remain in my heart and memory! Thank you to the students who have shared their art!

Congratulations and thank you to the visual and performing arts teachers who have taken the time to provide this opportunity for their students. Kimberly Murphy, Camden Hills Regional High School music teacher, Carolyn Brown, Suzanne Southworth, and Russell Kahn, Camden Hills Regional High School art teachers, Kristen Andersen, Camden-Rockport Middle School art teacher, and Susan Dowling, Camden-Rockport Elementary School art teacher.

Camden-Rockport Elementary School student Alexandra, grade 3 with Steven Pound and the First Lady

Dr. Steven M. Pound, State Board Chair, Carolyn Brown and Suzanne Southworth, Camden Hills Regional High School, First Lady Ann LePage, Kimberly Murphy, Camden Hills Regional High School music teacher, Argy Nestor

The Off-Beats (!) perform Sweet Caroline at the Blaine House

The Off-Beats(!) perform at the Maine Department of Education

Grade 8 student Erin with her painting “Degas copy”

All smiles after an excellent performance – The Off-Beats(!) plus one

Thank you to Carolyn Brown and Janet Gallagher for the photographs included in this blog post!

Messalonskee High School Art Exhibit

Maine Department of Education

Brittany Dubuc, Gr. 12

During October, November, and December students from Leone Donovan’s art classes at Messalonskee High School have artwork on display at the Maine Department of Education. There is an outstanding collection that can be viewed by the public during business hours and enjoyed each day by the Department employees.

This week we will be recognizing the high school artists and musicians from Messalonskee High School at a reception and Celebration of Arts Education being held at the Blaine House. First Lady Ann LePage and Maine State School Board of Education Chair Steven M. Pound will be giving the students their recognition certificates.

Under the direction of music teacher Andrew Forster, two seniors will be performing a clarinet duet. And music teacher Kevin Rhein will direct the Ladies chorus accompanied by music teacher Pam Rhein.

At the conclusion of the program students and their families are invited to the Department to see the artwork on display.

The artwork is on the mearsted as well for viewing and can be accessed by clicking here.

Taylor Turcotte, Gr. 11

Kylee Knight, Gr. 11

 

 

Over 800 Works of Art!!!

Baby Journal

In early September students in grades K-8 were invited to submit artwork to be considered for the First Lady’s upcoming new family friendly Love.Read.Learn!™ Baby Journal. Over 800 pieces of artwork arrived at the Blaine House last week which represented all 9 grade levels from all regions of the state.

On Friday morning it was a pleasure to work alongside First Lady Ann LePage and Becky Dyer from the Barbara Bush Foundation, art teachers Lynne Shulman and Kathy Smith, to select the student artwork.

Students were asked to create original artwork that represented what living in Maine means to them. It was evident that students were inspired by their favorite places and activities. The images were as wide and varied as our state and citizens including moose, deer, fish, lighthouses, the beach and mountains, blueberries, winter and summer activities, families having fun together, and so many other great ideas! The artwork was created using a wide variety of medium including pencil, color pencils, markers, water color crayons, paints, and much more. The techniques varied as well including collage, printmaking, and more.

Needless to say it was no easy task to select 32 pieces from the outstanding submissions. As you can see from the photos the artwork was on display in many rooms throughout the Blaine House. The First Lady had arranged them for us so we could jump right into the task of selecting the artwork using a rubric to guide our work.

The journal is to promote literacy and health to families of newborn babies in Maine and will be provided at no cost to parents of newborns. The First Lady, Ann LePage, has partnered with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy with the Maine is ME book theme.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all the teachers who helped guide students and submitted student artwork for consideration. THANK YOU to the over 800 students who used their artistic knowledge to create the outstanding work!

The artists work that was selected will be announced and posted on the meartsed blog in the near future.

Becky Dyer, First Lady Ann LePage, Lynne Shulman, Kathy Smith discussing artwork

Maranacook Community Schools: RSU 38

Art Exhibit at the Maine Department of Education

The January, February, and March art exhibit at the Department has 24 pieces of art from Maranacook Community Schools. A great big thank you to the following art teachers for providing the work from their students.

• Linda Nichols Phillips, Maranacook Community High School
• Hope Lord, Maranacook Community Middle School
• Dona Seegers, Mt. Vernon Elementary School
• Katharine Ayer, Manchester Elementary School

The online students art work is at https://meartsed.wordpress.com/artwork/rsu38-maranacook-area-schools/.

Students will be recognized at the Celebration of Arts Education at the Blaine House on Wednesday, March 14th. First Lady LePage, Commissioner of Education Stephen Bowen, and State Board Chair Jim Banks will present each student with a certificate and an arts education button.

Musical selections will be provided by Maranacook High School students under the direction of music teacher Drew Albert.

The celebration will include recognition of the work of Carol Trimble who was the Executive Director of the Maine Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE). Dance teacher MaryEllen Schaper and Principal Brian Walsh will receive MAAEs arts advocacy awards.

After the Blaine house ceremony guests are invited to the Department of Education to view the artwork on display.

Maine Alliance for Arts Education Awards

MAINE ALLIANCE FOR ARTS EDUCATION ANNOUNCES 2012 AWARDS

The Maine Alliance for Arts Education is pleased to announce Brian Walsh, Principal at Hermon High School and MaryEllen Schaper, dance educator and teacher at Bonny Eagle Middle and High School as the winners of its annual awards for excellence and service to arts education in Maine.

Walsh was selected as the 2012 Outstanding Administrator Advocate for Arts Education Award, which is given each year to a school or organization administrator who has:
demonstrated outstanding leadership and support of the arts, established exemplary or innovative arts education programs, and promoted the importance of arts in education.

Schaper is the recipient of the 2012 Bill Bonyun Artist/Educator Award which is given each year in honor of Bill Bonyun whose career as a folklorist, storyteller, singer, writer, and educator spanned over half a century. The award is given to someone who has:
made significant contributions to arts education, shown outstanding commitment and dedicated service in arts education, and been an inspiration to students, teachers, and the community.

In nominating Walsh, Cheryl Olson Lorenz said, “In a small community with a high school known as a ‘sports school,’ the support of the principal can make the difference between the arts acting in anonymity or stepping into the spotlight. Brian Walsh has made that kind of difference at Hermon High School through his leadership and support of the arts, arts advocacy, and artistic expression.”

And in her nomination letter for Schaper, Nancy Salmon describes her contributions to dance education by saying, “MaryEllen has provided countless students with their first taste of the joy of dance and movement.”

Schaper and Walsh will receive their awards at a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion, Blaine House on March 14.

MAAE will also honor Carol Gardien Trimble at the March 14th Blaine House Arts Education Celebration for her dedicated service as its Executive Director. In December 2011, Carol stepped down from her post, having served ten years in this role. During her tenure, Carol guided the organization through a period of program and service expansion and helped the board of directors to make major changes that strengthened MAAE as an important state and national networking and advocacy entity. Under her leadership MAAE created and managed two important programs that offered direct services to Maine students and teachers: Learning in Community – Arts (LINC) in Hancock County) and (with Susan Potters), Building Community Through the Arts (BCTA). To support these programs and other MAAE initiatives, Carol garnered funding through innumerable, federal, state, and foundation grants and corporate supporters. Her administrative skills and gracious presence at the heart of MAAE is greatly missed.

Bucksport Celebrates Arts Education at the Blaine House

Student artists recognized at Blaine House

Brandon Snow accepts his award

Student artists from Bucksport schools were recognized at the home of Maine’s Governor Paul LePage on September 27 for their achievements in arts education.

The 24 students from Bucksport Middle and High School, Orland School and Miles Lane School have had artwork they produced in classes with Holly Bertrand, Leah Olson, Linda Babb, and Margaret Jones displayed at the offices of the Maine Department of Education for the past three months as part of a rotating exhibit of student artwork.

First Lady Ann LePage, Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen and State Board of Education member Marilyn Tardy congratulated the students during a Celebration of Arts Education at the Blaine House attended by the students, family members and friends.

Ashleigh West

The student artwork on display at the Maine Department of Education changes every three months. The student artists are recognized at the end of the three-month period.

Photographs by Matt Stone

Celebration of Arts Ed. in Augusta

A Grand Day!

Tuesday marked a wonderful day. For eight years the Department has had a student art display representing grades PK-12 from many Maine schools. The artwork has been enjoyed by Department staff and visitors.

During this time few students and families have actually seen the display. We know that exhibiting artwork is an important part of the art process and that our Maine Learning Results include Exhibition – Performance Indicator B4. For many months I have been thinking about ways to provide the opportunity for students and parents to actually see the display and how to create a celebration of arts education, not just visual arts. Yesterday the ideas all came together in one grand afternoon!

Mom and daughter view the art

Student artists and musicians from Wiscasset primary, middle and high schools were invited to the Blaine House to be recognized for their accomplishments. Over 100 people attended the reception in the beautiful gardens and watched and listened while 30 students received a certificate, a letter from the First Lady Ann LePage, and a button. The Wiscasset High School Acapella group performed beautifully under the direction of music teacher Molly Winchenbach. State board chair James Banks helped present the awards. Proud Wiscasset art teachers Donna Barnes, Molly Carlson, Sarah Sutter, and Tom Block attended. Tom received the “Golden Paintbrush award” as he retires after 37 years in the classroom.

Carol Trimble, Executive Director from the Maine Alliance for Arts Education, presented the Administrator Advocate Arts award to Stewart Kestenbaum and the Bill Bonyun Artist/Educator award to Susan Webster. They have contributed many years to arts education programs for young people.

Tom Block and students perform at the Department

Student artists, their parents and invited guests moved from the Blaine House to the Department where they went on a guided tour of the exhibit. Music groups performed in the lobby area of the Department where staff and visitors could appreciate the musical selections. It was an arts education afternoon in Augusta!

Congrats to Camden Rockport Student

Lizzie Cox, a junior at CHRHS, had  her artwork selected as First Runner Up in the Congressional Art Competition for the State of Maine. Lizzie is in Advanced Art Portfolio class with Ms. Carolyn Brown, and additionally takes a painting class outside school with instructor Ron Frontin.

Recently Lizzie attended a reception at the Blaine House with Governor and Mrs. LePage. At the reception, she was awarded a $24,000 scholarship ($6,000 a year for 4 years) to Maine College of Art, if she chooses to attend.

BIG congratulations to Lizzie for this award and to her Carolyn, her art teacher!