Seamark Workshops offers fun and creative arts workshops for children and adults throughout the year.

Scholarships are available for all workshops.

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Seamark Community Arts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Seamark Art Appreciation Program (formerly the Poster Project) started in 1988 in the Deer Isle Elementary School. There was a perceived lack of quality graphics, ilustration and artwork in textbooks and teaching materials -- almost nothing with a personal style. Children were spending time coloring sheets similar to "clip art". Because these sheets were such a common classroom activity, a parent asked a first grade teacher if she could bring in a different variety of things to color. From art books and friend's drawings, copies of many types of artwork were brought in for the coloring activity.

From that beginning, it was suggested that poster reproductions of fine art be brought into every classroom in the Deer Isle and Stonington Elementary Schools each month. When the schools combined, the scheduling worked best for the K-5 classrooms. In the photo above, Farrell Ruppert presents Don Eddy's New Shoes for H to Ms. McGuffie's first grade class.

Now each month, volunteers do a 15-minute presentation during morning meeting and leave the poster in the classroom for the month. The presentation involves introducing the artist, period, and country and asking questions to get the children's response to the piece. The elements of composition, line, form, color and inspiration are touched upon in the discussion. It is hoped that during the month these posters are used by teachers to inspire writing or art activites.

Since many of the volunteers are artists, we now bring in an original piece of artwork every other month. This allows the children to explore the difference between reproductions and works which have been made by an artist or craftsperson.

Volunteer coordinator for the 2008/09 school year was Cathy Marshall, Executive Director of Seamark Community Arts.

2008/09 volunteers included: Abby Barrows, Dan Bouthot, Bruce Bulger, Robin Cust, Sarah Doremus, Fran Eastman, Larry Estey, Marissa Htchinson, Ben Jackson, Josephine Jacob, Macy Lasky, Michele Levesque, Fredrica Marshall, Holley Mead, Roger Olsen, Suzanne Ruch, Sloan Russell, Robert Starkey, Jackie Wilson, and Megan Wood.

Above, students from Mrs. Allen's kindergarten listen to Jennifer Morrow Wilson talk about Patrick DesJarlait's Woman with Blueberries.

Below, Abby Barrows shares a Papuan Story Board with students from Mrs. Graceffa's 5th grade classroom.