by: Beth Carreno
Announcing MAKER BREAK: A Summer Makerspace Program
We are excited to announce a free summer makerspace program developed by IDEAS Academy and The ARTery of The John Michael Kohler Arts Center. MAKER BREAK is a series of summer workshops and sessions that explore a wide range of making practices and activities. Participants can explore everything from circuitry and mic building at IDEAS Academy to knotsmanship and screenprinting in The ARTery.
There are workshops for students 6 – 12 years old as well as sessions for students 12 and older. In addition to specific workshop programming, there are weekly open sessions for making and creating. These programs are open to all interested individuals within the stated age ranges. Please share these opportunities with others! The full schedule is below. Please note that some of these programs do require pre-registration.
Workshop Details
CIRCUIT BENDING WORKSHOP
IDEAS Academy
7/20 and 8/4, 1:00-4:00
ages 12+
Explore the sonic possibilities locked inside the simplest of electronic circuits. Through this workshop, students will learn the art of circuit bending, rewiring used children’s toys and other sound-making devices to create totally new, one-of-a-kind instruments. Basic skills will be covered in every workshop, but students are encouraged to return to build more advanced skills, hone their craft, and help others as well.
---
CONTACT MIC BUILDING WORKSHOP
IDEAS Academy
7/7 and 7/27, 1:00-4:00
ages 12+
Through this workshop, students will learn how to build their own contact mics, a simple tool that allows performers to amplify any acoustic (and some non-acoustic) instruments. Afterwards, students will have the opportunity to explore the sonic capabilities of this new tool, experimenting with both traditional and non-traditional instrumentation. For those students returning multiple times, there will be opportunities to invent new instruments to be used in conjunction with these devices.
---
PRINTMAKING / PUPPET BUILDING WORKSHOP
The ARTery
7/23, 1:00-4:00
ages 6-12, 12+
Dennis McNett, known for his detailed relief and silkscreen prints, has produced an eclectic body of work including large-scale Viking ships and Nordic giants. Last year, McNett and hundreds of community participants collaborated to create a 24-foot serpent as the main character in the original tale of Lake Michigan titled "The Serpent of Sheboygan."
Register for the opportunity to learn how to make puppets, props, costumes, backdrops, and masks as we create more characters for this tall tale.
---
SCREEN PRINTING WORKSHOP
The ARTery
7/21, 1:00-4:00
ages 12+
7/6, 8/3, 1:00-4:00
ages 6-12
In this workshop participants will learn the process of making screen prints and become familiar with all the equipment involved. We will learn about how to best create artwork for screen printing and the correct methods for creating screens, and printing. This workshop will share slight variations in screen creation between each date. Each share unique ways to create personal works.
---
KNOTSMANSHIP WORKSHOP
The Artery
7/14 1:00-4:00
ages 6-12, 12+
Working with Arts Industry Artist Christy George. Participants will learn the craft of tying a rope ladders along with other useful knots and rope tying techniques.
---
BLOCK CARVING WORKSHOP
The Artery
7/13 1:00-4:00
ages 12+
Learn about carving the large wood blocks for the extreme steamroller printing event at the Midsummer Festival of the Arts. Joseph Velasquez (WI), one of the founders of Drive-By Press, returns to the Arts Center in July for more collaborative printmaking.
To register contact aavery@jmkac.org
---
OPEN STUDIO TIME
IDEAS and The ARTery
Tuesdays, 12:00-5:00p.m.
ages 6-12, 12+
Open time for students to swing by either IDEAS Academy or The ARTery at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and use the tools at either space to start, continue, or finish a self-directed project. Students are free to come and go as they please, dropping in once or twice for a few minutes or using the entire time all summer. Students will also be encouraged to crowd source help from other collaborators as they refine ideas and collectively generate new ones.
---
PERFORMATIVE MAKING WORKSHOP
IDEAS Academy
Every Wednesday from 5:00-7:00, consistent weekly attendance is expected
ages 6-12, 12+
Applying the ethos of making and makerspaces to the performing arts, students will spend eight weeks collaboratively developing a brand new production to be performed at the Levitt Amp series on August 11th. This process will guide students through all aspects of the production, from writing and composition to staging and performing. Students of all artistic backgrounds and experiences are welcome: whether you are just starting out as a writer, actor, or director, or if you are an experienced dancer, visual artist, musician, or animator, we need your help to make this show come to life!
---
SUMMER MAKER CONSORTIUM
IDEAS Academy
Every Thursday from 10:00-12:00, consistent weekly attendance is expected
ages 12+
A service learning opportunity for students hoping to give back to the community. The summer maker consortium will meet every Thursday with the goal of developing student led maker workshops for other students in the Sheboygan area. Students will draw on their own experiences and expertise, as well as the resources at The ARTery and IDEAS Academy, to design and implement at least two maker experiences for younger children in the area.
MAKER BREAK Schedule
---
July 5 / Open Workshop
IDEAS Academy & The ARTery 12:00-5:00p.m.
July 6 / Screen Printing
The ARTery 1:00-4:00p.m.
July 6 / Performative Making
IDEAS Academy, 5:00-7:00
July 7 / Contact Mic
IDEAS Academy 1:00-4:00p.m.
July 12 / Open Workshop
IDEAS Academy & The ARTery 12:00-5:00p.m.
July 13 / Block Carving Workshop
The ARTery 1:00-4:00p.m.
July 13 / Performative Making
IDEAS Academy, 5:00-7:00
July 7 / Contact Mic
IDEAS Academy 1:00-4:00p.m.
July 19 / Open Workshop
IDEAS Academy & The ARTery 12:00-5:00p.m.
July 20 / Circuit Bending
IDEAS Academy 1:00-4:00p.m.
July 20 / Performative Making
IDEAS Academy, 5:00-7:00
July 26 / Open Workshop
IDEAS Academy & The ARTery 12:00-5:00p.m.
July 27 / Performative Making
IDEAS Academy, 5:00-7:00
August 2 / Open Workshop
IDEAS Academy & The ARTery 12:00-5:00p.m.
August 3 / Screen Printing
The ARTery 1:00-4:00p.m.
August 3 / Performative Making
IDEAS Academy, 5:00-7:00
August 4 / Circuit Bending
IDEAS Academy 1:00-4:00p.m.
August 9 / Open Workshop
IDEAS Academy & The ARTery 12:00-5:00p.m.
August 10 / Performative Making
IDEAS Academy, 5:00-7:00
August 11 / Maker Break Showcase
Levitt Amp @ JMKAC 5:30-8:30p.m.
by: Lori Ladiges
ESAA Literacy Parent Connections: Reading to Children at Home from Birth to Age 8 and BeyondNew News Article
Dear Parents,
by: Beth Carreno
ESAA World Peace Games Challenge 4th and 5th Graders
Students in the 4th and 5th grades at ESAA spent time this spring participating in the World Peace Games and were guided by the essential question, “How can people better understand each other?”
by: Beth Carreno
ESAA 2nd and 3rd Graders Skype with Lightning Thief Playwright
ESAA 2nd and 3rd graders recently had the opportunity to attend a matinee showing of Theatreworks’ The Lightning Thief at the Weill Center. Exposure to theater is important to everything from developing creativity and imagination to lengthening attention span. It’s also a powerful connector to reading. We were fortunate that our students had the chance to attend a live production of a book so many of them enjoy.
by: Ted Hamm
IDEAS Students Shape Tradition
Many of you have noticed that we changed the name of Morp this year to May Ball. As with any decision in our school, this was not a decision made without student voice and research.
by: Beth Carreño
Expanding Horizons: Opportunities of Experience for Our Students
A core part of our educational philosophy is to provide our students experiences outside of the traditional classroom. These opportunities are critical to developing background knowledge, one of the strongest indicators of how well a student will learn and succeed.
by: Beth Carreño
Jeff Tweedy: A Sheboygan State of Mind
The 2015 – 2016 season for the Étude Sessions is winding down, but not before Wilco's Jeff Tweedy brings his musical stylings to Sheboygan’s Historic Weill Center on Friday, April 29th. This will be a memorable night of Good Music + Good Cause in Sheboygan.
by: Beth Carreño
Etude Sessions Sponsors: Good Music + Good Cause
The music you hear at the Etude Session is a reminder of the learning that takes place at ESAA[/elementaryschool/], Mosaic[/middleschool/], and IDEAS Academy[/highschool/]. Money raised through this concert series supports our schools and learning without limits.
by: Beth Carreno
The Étude Group's Maker Movement
There is a lot of talk in education these days about “makerspaces.” It seems to be a new buzz word. The reality is that while it may be a new concept for some in the education community, it’s one of the foundations for The Étude Group. While the concepts of making and creating are not new for us, our role in sharing this concept at a greater level with the community is.
by: Ted Hamm
A Parent Maker Night Primer
Dear Parents, Students, Staff, and Friends:
