Art education survives through pandemic
FORT BRAGG » In early September, 800 Creative Art Learning Packs were delivered to Redwood and Dana Gray elementary schools for families to pick up for their children. The program is called Art@ School, and with COVID-19 and the constraints of distance learning making things difficult this school year, the Flockworks team was certain that getting art-making tools, materials and ideas into children’s hands at home would help make a difference.
Art-making helps reduce stress, enhances learning, and generates optimism and fun. Something the Flockworks team knows well, as its volunteers led weekly art lessons for all Dana Gray students and were exploring ways to bring more art lessons to Redwood School.
The response from families, children and teachers to the new program was very positive. The “art packs” added new ways that teachers could engage and encourage students within the con
straints of distance learning. Information in the art packs was in Spanish (and English) to ensure that all families come become involved. The enthusiastic response was evident as distance-learning classes talked about the packs and appreciative notes were sent by teachers and children. The positive community response was also notable, with donations including a $5,000 grant awarded from the Jantzen-romelli Fund at the Community Foundation of Mendocino County.
“Mask Heroes” was one activity in this first art pack as part of the “MaskUp Mendocino Project” led by North Coast Opportunities. Ten cloth masks went to each student, and aimed to involve kids with using masks and becoming mask advocates within their households. Children added colorful designs with markers on the cloth masks and gifted masks to household members.
Lucy K ramer, Nor th Coast Opportunities coordinator for the overall project, saw the success of Flockworks’ effort first hand. Kramer said.
“I was in Willits and saw a man wearing one of the ( North Coast Opportunities) masks. He said his grandson received it with art supplies! His grandson is in elementary school in Fort Bragg. He went on to gush about how much he likes the mask and how much fun his grandson had decorating masks. He was very grateful.”
Another round of masks will be made available after the Thanksgiving holiday to school teachers and staff.
By late October, a second art pack was ready to go, with a partnership from Safe Passage Family Re
source Center to help fund materials for this outreach. Focused on puppet making, the aim was to give children positive ways to express emotions, voice their ideas, tell stories, and use their imagination. A special insert also highlighted ways that Safe Passage could help families.
Making a shadow puppet
theater from a paper grocery bag and a mini-flashlight became the centerpiece for Dana Gray’s thirdand fifth- grade students. Several teachers brought Flockworks’ Resource Artist, Norma Trejo, into their classroom to work with children directly to construct their theaters and puppets.
Trejo said finally being back, talking to students, raised her spirits and determination to help kids stay positively engaged during these challenging times.
“I was nervous and excited to work with the kids in this new format. Classrooms now have a camera that focused on my hands, making it easy for the kids to follow along. Everyone was extremely attentive and it was fun,” Trejo said. “The teacher said the students were really excited about art time. I hope to get invited into many classrooms.”
Other puppet types and materials were enclosed including a roll of masking tape donated by Gerry Matson and Matson Building Supplies. For Redwood students, the focus was on making simple finger puppets with popsicle sticks, spoons and paper. With each art pack, teachers are of all the materials and ideas going out, and some ways they might adapt them to their classroom. They also have an open invitation from Flockworks for help to integrate art into their overall curriculum activities.
The next project pack with a roll of aluminum foil and pipe cleaners will go out to Dana Gray students before the holidays with science and engineering challenges: Create a boat and see how many pennies can be floated in it before it sinks; or create a 3-D sculpture or action figure as another challenging activity. Several teachers expressed excitement about the tie to classroom reading about canoes and said they looked forward to challenging their students with these materials.
Joanna Wigginton, creative leader for the Flockworks project, took advantage of the fall sunshine to undertake a special art installation project out at Dana Gray.