Riverside & Art4Trails Sculpture
July - Current, A Blog Updated Regularly...
About This Blog
This timeline or blog will be regularly updated to show our progress and highlight the incredible students who have given their hearts and hard work to this project at home and at school.
The Send-Off Installed!
Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust Grant!
This project made possible in part through funding from Greater Rochester Arts snd Cultural Trust.
United Way Awards Banquet
The opportunities that the students reference are supported by United Way of Olmsted County as well as dozens of other community partners and advocates including SEMAC, Rochester Area Foundation, Minnesota Children's Museum, Rochester Arts and Framing, Youth Services of America, Rochester Community Ed, 21st Century Grant, and dozens of other donors.
We genuinely thank advocates and allies of Public Education.
United Way Installation
Title, art, Installation and Design by Lucky, Damari & Kenzaria (3rd Graders in Ms. Repede’s)
Butterflies symbolize hope and life. We chose it because people have hope that the United Way can help our community. We want to show gratitude to United Way. We want you to remember our Riverside Community School that helped them make a new exhibit.
These three students also worked up the nerve to talk to the United Way board following the installation. Lucky was able to share his connections and explain the installation and Damari read the bold print above. Kenzaria said that she was too nervous to speak but that she was proud to have been able to have been a part of it. She thinks that next time she might be able to read some prepared remarks.
Photos to come!
March
Whitewater State Park Installation
Minnesota Public Radio Highlights Riverside
Here is a beautiful story by MPR that I hope you take time to hear (it's great to read, but the audio is outstanding).
At its heart is a group of deeply committed teachers, school staff, students, families, advocates, friends, volunteers and community partners who work relentlessly to support every child, every day.
Working among the staff and students at Riverside is a gift.
February
Installation at Cafe Steam
January 2019
Maquette: "The Send-Off"
If you are wondering what a maquette is, you are not alone. A maquette is defined as a sculptor's small preliminary model or sketch. In this case, our maquette is aptly named, "The Send-off," by sculptor, Sébastien Richer.
The beauty of this piece is that it has been inspired by the art of all the tiny but mighty hands at Riverside Central Elementary School as well as many others beyond our walls. When these exhibits come to a close, all the intricate origami designs by Riverside will be placed inside of the base, serving as a kind of time capsule.
On Friday, January 18th some members of the Art4Trails team and a few Riverside staff met for a "sculpture critique" of "The Send-Off." It also lived in the Riverside Trophy case for a few weeks soliciting conversation via Visual Thinking Strategies and interest from students. Unfortunately, this also happened to coincide with a good chunk of our weather-related closings. Nonetheless, we felt comfortable moving forward with the design with a few adjustments including:
1. More of a rounded head
2. Less gender specific so as not to distract from the piece
Beyond this team, this sculpture has also gone before the park board and received confirmation with the same critiques.
Aside from that, every time I look at this piece I smile and think of all the hands, partners and advocates who have allowed this project to embody their space. And the good news is we are not done. Next up, United Way and Whitewater State Park!
Installation at Old Abe Coffee Co.
February 8, 2019
Abe's Honor
Title and Installation Design by Omar and Bedijiwa
"The installation is in the shape of a triangle symbolizing strength in our community."
Bedijiwa and Omar (scroll down to see their dragon video) installed a triangular shape of doves at Old Abe's Coffee Co. Through their planning process, the two talked about how a triangle is the strongest shape. After more conversation and sketching, they lovingly and appropriately named it "Abe's Honor." They named it because of how Abe helps to strengthen our community and specifically helped Riverside this year when he traded kids coats for coffee and shared those coats with us. With the record low temperatures we have had this year, winter outerwear has been absolutely critical. We are thankful for his support and willingness to share his swanky space with our student's art and message.
The installation artists left Old Abe Coffee Co. with a gift of hot cocoa and a coffee for each of their teachers. Upon arriving back at Riverside, I heard Bedijiwa say to Omar, “That was the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had! Do you think he put magic dust in there? It tastes like candy!”
Abe Sauer was one of twelve who received the Mayor's Medal of Honor in the category of Industry. Below is a video that Riverside shared at the event highlighting the coats for coffee campaign from the fall.
Thanks Abe!
February 2019
Weather Delay
Installation at Rochester Public Library
"Marching Together"
Title and design by Ms. Hampl's Kindergarten Class
Final Design and installation by Ella Kruse and Hanna Kruse of ALC
Penguins are the simplest to origami to fold, which helps when you're in Kindergarten. With the help of Ella Kruse from ALC, the students folded penguins in small groups. Their teacher, Ms. Hampl also read non-fiction books about penguins. The students noticed things like penguins stay together, they live in a community, and they march. Marching came up in almost every penguin statement made by students.
Among the names for consideration by this hard-working group of Kindergarteners were:
1. Marching to Shore
2. Marching Community
3. Marching to Solid Ground
4. Marching Together (winner)
5. Marching together to Get Food
Installation in Mayor Kim Norton's Office!
"Flight of Hope"
Title and Installation Design by Bianca, Bria, Jae’Ana, Kailey, PJ & Sonida (5th grade)
We were incredibly lucky to have been invited to install our design at Mayor Kim Norton's office on her first full day in office! She was kind and gracious and shared conversation and answered questions brought up by the six young women we brought to her office.
This team of young women did a great job of designing the installation and naming it. As usual, their insights and symbolism are beyond their years.
"Doves are a symbol of hope, peace and renewal. The design is in the shape of a star to symbolize good luck, guidance and protection." - Bianca, Bria, Jae'Ana, Kailey, PJ and Sonida
FIRST INSTALLATION at the Minnesota Children's Museum Rochester
"Find Your Way"
Title and Installation Design by Gregorio (4th Grade) and Bedijiwa (3rd Grade)
We partnered with the Minnesota Children's Museum Exhibit for their newest exhibit, "Young Architects: Designing the Future."
As such, we agreed that airplanes designed by our students would be a symbol of community, of the future and progress. Bedijiwi and Gregorio liked the idea of all the planes beginning at the same place, but traveling in different directions, sometimes straight, sometimes not. How very poetic.
Thanks for visiting!
December 2018
Omar Teaches Bedijiwa to Make a Complex Dragon
It is often said that teaching is the highest form of learning. As such, it's always incredibly heartwarming to see students teaching others the skills they have mastered.
The video above is an example of two resilient learners collaborating to create something magical (literally and figuratively).
Confirmed Exhibit Locations
January 1, 2019
Here is a list of the locations we have confirmed installations. Our strategy is to engage students and families as well as others in the eventual sculpture. Student perspective is always a wonder to see, hear and watch unfold.
- United Way of Olmsted County (January – May)
- Kim Norton’s Office (Early January – May)
- Rochester Public Library (January – May)
- Steam Coffee (January – May)
- Old Abe Coffee (January - May)
- Minnesota Children’s Museum (January – June)
- Whitewater State Park (March – Summer) – K and 4th Grade will work on birds that Whitewater State Park has saved through conservation efforts. This will be highlighted in Whitewater’s Minnesota Artists display.
Student Designs
We met with our sculpture artist, Sébastien today. We poured over some of the student pieces that have been created. Sébastien also thought it would be interesting to see what students might create based on what they've already created and based on our theme of flight.
We only had a few days to share this activity with classrooms before holiday break, but we got a about 200 back. Here is just a tiny sampling of some of the pieces.
It's impossible not to love a little pencil led on paper and enjoy the beautiful work from the most beautiful minds.
Visit to Sébastien's Studio
Before sharing the details to students and staff at Riverside, Leslie Meyer and Lida Casper went to Sébastien's studio to take photos, experience forging and document the journey so that we could share this piece with the students.
Below is a student broadcast the talented Leslie Meyer produced to communicate this collective effort. You'll also find some photos following the video.
November 2018
SEMAC Grant Awarded to Art4Trails and Riverside Project!
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
October 2018
Art4Trails, Wilderness Inquiry, Hoover and Riverside Explore Art and Nature
October 21st, 22nd & 23rd
- Introduce students public art and sculpture in a nearby park.
- Empower students to think, look, talk about and appreciate the natural and human-made world around us while making connections to our own lives.
- Riverside students will be partnering with local artist Sebastien Richer, to create a sculpture on the trail. We saw this opportunity as an natural entry into talking about public art and particularly sculpture.
To discuss the sculptures, we used a strategy our staff has been trained in though TurnAround Arts called Visual Thinking Strategies. This strategy is similar to Number Talks for math. Visual Thinking Strategies is a research-based education nonprofit that provides a teaching methodology, a developmentally appropriate image curriculum, and a learner-centered professional development program. VTS cultivates an evolving, global community of practitioners in schools, museums, and beyond.
Students made incredible observations and connections to the world. One reoccurring theme was noted was the 'S shape' of the sculpture, "Perfect Canoe." Many students asked if the artist, Sébastien Richer intentionally made it in the shape of an S, like his first name. While Sébastien denies that connection, we still wonder if it was perhaps done unconsciously. Either way, student questions and connection to the world were incredible. We are so lucky!
We owe tremendous gratitude to our artist Amarama and Art4Trails folks Barbara Beck, Allie Good, Helen Roland, and Barb Depman. We thank you for the dozens of hours you contributed to improving access and opportunity for ALL students.
Sculptures Students Visited
Fantastical Fruit, by Amarama
Perfect Canoe, by Sébastien Richer
Sunrise, Sunset, by Richard Brubaker
“Arts education in Minnesota is a basic educational right for all Minnesota children—not just the gifted, or the talented or the economically advantaged. It has a very strong grounding in state statutes and rules. ”
-Perpich Center for the Arts
First Meeting
It seems that when important things happen, we always remember where we were at the moment. At this one, I recall standing in a freshly cut field with my two children. We were harvesting monarch caterpillar eggs to keep them in the life-cycle. In that moment, I got a call from Principal Matt Ruzek. He had met with Helen Roland and was thrilled about a potential project with Art4Trails.
Days later, on July 9th, a team of us met at Riverside with ideas flowing. At the meeting were artist Sébastien Richer, Alison Good, Helen Roland, the late Dr. Richard Brubaker, Barbra Dempman and Riverside staff.
While we had grand ideas, I don't think any of us could have anticipated the journey of art, friendship and community that this experience has taken us. How lucky.