PSA Videos from MS 258

07 Jun 2011, 5:23 PM by keith

Students in MS 258 Community Action School's after school photo and video program worked with teaching artist Alain Davis to create public service announcement videos.  After examining and discussing various examples of video and print PSAs, the students reflected on issues faced by teens.  They chose two issues to focus on (bullying and suicide) and thought about how to effectively communicate a powerful message to their audience by appealing to specific emotions.  We're proud of students' hard work and willingness to raise awareness for these important issues. Check out both videos below: 

IS 237 Original Dance Performance

02 Jun 2011, 10:40 AM by keith

Students from IS 237's after school dance program in Flushing, Queens recently performed an original dance piece at the Urban Arts Festival set to "Run" by French band Air. They choreographed the piece collaboratively based on the music and lyrics of the song, and used movements from various dance styles they explored during the year (such as West African, Modern, Ballet, Hip Hop, Crumping, Waacking, and Jazz.) The piece also aims to tell the story of the struggles of today's urban youth, including self image, bullying, peer pressure and abandonment.  They also created their own unique costumes by tie dyeing and customizing tee shirts.  See this beautiful and thought-provoking performance below: 

Year End Celebration at IS 230

01 Jun 2011, 1:20 PM by keith

Urban Arts Partnership’s two after school programs at IS 230 in Jackson Heights are both coming to a close for the school year.  The programs culminated with students showcasing work created during the year at a recent evening event for families and friends.  We’re proud of all the hard work and creativity that these amazing students have put into their projects this year!

Students in the Photo Club displayed “Epic Jackson Heights,” their original photo guidebook to their beloved neighborhood, as well as their individual photo portfolios of images taken during the year.  The book collects students’ original photos and articles about the community, including its attractions, food, culture and history.  Students presented selections from the book by reading their work aloud to the audience while images from the book were projected.  Each student received her own copy of “Epic Jackson Heights,” and a copy of the book was donated to the school library so that their work can live on within the school for years to come.

“We decided to make a book about our neighborhood, like a brochure about the neighborhood.  I really liked writing an article and taking the pictures.  I think our neighborhood is magnificent and beautiful, and the book is written in our own words.  It tells about how we feel about the neighborhood.” said 6th grader Kayla.

“I liked the way we learned different techniques to take photos that look cool.  I will remember my friends and our teacher by looking at the book we made.” remarked fellow 6th grader Amber.

“I like that our book shows how to get to Jackson Heights.  I want people who see the book to know how much work we did.  This year I learned how to take good pictures, and more about Jackson Heights.” added 7th grader Julissa.

The students also solicited book reviews from their classmates that were not part of the Photo Club:

“My favorite part of the book is how it shows and describes Jackson Heights.  I like how it’s organized.  I want people outside the area to know what Jackson Heights is like” – Syeda, 6th grade

“I like the part about the bowling alley because I go there a lot with my family.  I also like the biographies of the students because it reflects and shows how the kids are.  It’s interesting and helpful to check out the book to find out places to go.” – Ashley, 6th grade

Besides the Photo Club, students in the Mask Making Club also celebrated their accomplishments at the culminating event.  They displayed a large number of both large and small Vejigante masks that they created in paper mache.  Students painted and decorated the masks so that they represented various aspects of their personalities, interests and heritage.  The group also presented an animation they made featuring their masks, which can be seen below.    

 
“I learned how to make masks and paint them.  We also made sculptures and statues.  My favorite part was making the masks because it was fun.  I made a lizard mask with a long tongue and big eyes.” – Charlie, 7th grade

“This year I learned how to make a mask with a round shape out of recycled cardboard and newspaper.  I like painting the best because it was some time to think and decide which colors to use.  My favorite project was a sculpture of a person, and the little Vejigantes we made.” – Carolina, 6th grade

Stand-Up Comedy Master Class at IS 62

13 May 2011, 11:12 AM by keith

The students in IS 62's "Laughter's Cool" after school theater program recently had a Master Class led by stand-up comic Dan Wilbur.  The students have continued their yearlong exploration of comedy by moving into writing and performing stand-up routines.  Dan spoke with the students about the process of writing material, different kinds of jokes and what it’s like to perform stand-up.  The group discussed how every successful joke needs to have a premise that’s something simple that everyone can understand, as well as how to find humor in life’s annoyances.  By sharing annoying or embarrassing parts of life with an audience, stand-up comics give the audience the opportunity to recognize universalexperiences that we all have in common.  The students and Dan also explored the importance of exaggeration and hyperbole in making something funny for an audience.

“They seem to be really funny kids and they understand comedy.  I bought my first stand-up album when I was 12, and it’s important for kids to learn how to laugh at themselves at this age.  Comedy helped me deal with growing up.”  said Dan.  We look forward to seeing these young comedians debut their materials on the stage soon!

“Today I learned about improv and comedy.  We learned that comedy isn’t all about jokes… it’s also about personality.  This class helped me learn more about how comics write and tell jokes.  I thought that comics just made up jokes on the spot, but now I know they work hard on writing.” – David, 6th grade

“It was really fun and entertaining.  We learned how to make jokes funnier to make people laugh.  I love working with everybody.” – Jessica, 6th grade

IS 230 Photo Class Creates a Visitor's Guide to Jackson Heights

26 Apr 2011, 11:20 AM by keith

The students from IS 230's after school photography club have been working with teaching artist Elise Rasmussen to produce a guidebook for their Jackson Heights neighborhood.  Students have been exploring the unique and diverse aspects of the community through neighborhood walks to shoot pictures for the visitor's guide.  They have broken up into a staff of "departments" that are each responsible for content pertaining to a specific aspect of the guidebook, such as attractions or restaurants.  The departments will also write brief articles to go along with their images, and everything will be compiled into the book celebrating and documenting Jackson Heights.  Each student will receive a printed copy of the visitor's guide in May.

Recently, the group went on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to examine the work of photographers Steiglitz, Strand and Steichen, as well as the museum's displays of contemporary photography.  Students each took inspiration from one of the pieces they viewed, then went on an outdoor shoot in Central Park to capture an image in response to the piece they studied.  

Additionally, these young photographers have been developing skills for being professional artists, such as editing and titling their work, and creating their own artist statements.  Elise and the students have maintained a rotating display in the school over the course of the year so that students can share their work with the school community.