Printmaking

Region 7A MSHSL Art Contest

South Ridge School participated in this year’s Region 7A MSHSL Art Contest which was held at the new Moose Lake School on April 3rd. Nearly 120 entires were submitted region wide with 12 categories. South Ridge students were awarded two “Best of Show” – A Johnson, “Neon Clown”, Digital Art and C Dufton, “Butterfly Barrette”, Craft.  A Johnson, “Neon Clown”, also was awarded our only Excellent rating receiving 20/20 points.  C Dufton, “Butterfly Barrette”; “G Gundy, Succulent Sculpture”; K Graves “Diamond Bee,Printmaking; I Dean, “Portrait, Digital Art; and A Johnson”Succulent Bowl” all received Superior Ratings.

Student from through the arrowhead region were able to spend time together painting on a mural (to be installed at the Moose Lake school), drawing henna designs on to their arms and hands, ordering (and watching) a silk screened Tshirt made for them, throw clay on the wheel or enjoy drawing with friends. Great work everyone! We had a wonderful time!

A Johnson “Neon Clown”, Digital Art, Best of Show/Excellent Rating

L Schmelz “Portrait of an Older Person”, Painting

A Johnson “Succulent Clay Bowl”, Ceramics

I Dean “Portrait”, Digital Art, Superior Rating

C Loumala “Powerlines”, Digital Photography

C Loumala “Snowy Owl” (Porcupine Quill on Birchbark) Craft

G Gundy, Succulent Bowl”, Ceramics, Superior Rating

C Wallace “The Wolf and the Crows”, Painting

L Schmelz “Claw” (Porcupine Quill on Birchbark), Craft

N Olson “Nick” Digital Photography

S Vlaminick “Start of Fall”, Painting

K Graves “Diamond Bee” Printmaking, Superior Rating

J Class “Fox in Snow”, Painting

C Dufton “Landscape Near the Coast” Painting

C Dufton ‘ Butterfly” (porcupine Quill on Birchbark), Best of Show in Craft/Superior Rating

GSA Smoke Free Banner

A banner was created by South Ridge School Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) with the support of Fond du Lac Reservation (FDL), South Ridge Art Dept., Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) and Clear Way of MN.

South Ridge GSA works together to educate youth by raising awareness – learning how to be personally healthy, promoting healthy attitudes and choices in life. We support a safe and supportive community for all – whether a person is straight or gay, bi-sexual or transgender, queer or intersex – however students define themselves is supported.  Students are encouraged to be who they are – embrace love – not hate, embrace diversity and inclusiveness.

Students participate is a number of activities throughout the school year to share with their community what they are learning in GSA. We often focus on life choices. Studies show that queer and American Indian kids choose to smoke because of the added stresses these kids live with each day. They are more susceptible to substance abuse.  To preempt this South Ridge GSA and Fond du Lac’s SHIP joined together providing an opportunity to promote healthy lifestyle choice – to live smoke free.

Using a technique taught by Duluth artist Kirsten Aune, students cut words out of freezer paper creating stencils. Additional patterns and designs were again cut out of the letters and the stencils were ironed down on to a large sheet of muslin. Textile inks were then painted on top of the fabric. Areas where the original fabric remained were protected by the stencils.

Students worked for about a month to complete the banner which was unveiled Feb 28th when SHIP representatives visited school. They brought healthy snacks and shared simple breathing and stretching exercises (Yoga) students could do to relieve stress.

The stress of living in a society that is hostile to the people of color and LGBTQAI communities creates social stress that makes many of these young people at greater risk for substance use. Teaching students to be aware of this in their own life choices will better prepare them for a healthy future.

 

Printmaking, Digital Arts and Graphic Design Students Visit Local Businesses

     
     

Two local businesses welcomed South Ridge art students to participate in real life work for artists.

Community Printing in Cloquet taught students how to print a three color design on a T-shirt (designed by our own Marriah J..!!) Students were able to position the shirt, flood and pull the ink across the silkscreen – printing the shirt. The bee art was created in Printmaking class last Fall. We studied the Bee Colony Collapse Disorder and created images of the various bees in MN that are affected by this disorder. The study (and ultimately prints and T-shirts) bring public awareness to the serious issue of bee population decline.

MakerSpace in Duluth is a cooperative work space for those interested in learning how to use a variety of tools as well as learning new skills. From CNC cutters to 3D printers, industrial sewing machines and lapidary skills, local crafts people and artists are working together to provide a collective space to work.

Thanks to Target for their generous support of the South Ridge School through their Field Trip grant.

MSAB Art Learning grant Fall/Winter performance 2016

Great performance by South Ridge 3-4th graders and 7th grade!! Special thanks to MSAB, NEA, Legacy Amendment, Northland Foundation, Essentia Health, ISD 2142 American Indian Student Services and the Northland Learning Center.

Minnesota State Arts Board arts Learning grant with Frank Theatre at South Ridge School – Fall/Winter 2016 from Carolyn Olson on Vimeo.

GSA and Art Club at Community Printing

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Art Club and GSA visited Community Printing in Cloquet. They learned how to silkscreen a two color T-shirt – one screen was black and the second a rainbow! Silkscreen in taught in South Ridge’s Printmaking class. It is an interesting process for reproducing art on T-shirts, posters, etc. Community Printing prints all sorts of textiles as well as off-set, blue prints, and large format prints.

GSA hopes to sell the T-shirts to assist them in attending the Minnesota LGBTQIA and Ally Choir concert in Duluth and meet with other GSA  groups on Transgender Day of Remembrance. If interested in purchasing a shirt ($15 each) see Ms. Olson.

Students Screen T-shirts

IMG_2683IMG_2693 IMG_2703 IMG_2717High school students in printmaking class are screening all the t-shirts needed for the MSAB “Lettin’ Off STEAM with Frank Theatre” . The process is meticulous and time consuming but students are excelling with the work!

Silk screens were prepared with a photo emulsion solution and a “positive” on clear plastic of the black and white image (to be printed) is “burned” on to the emulsion. The “positive” image is washed out of the screen leaving a beautiful sharp stencil. Textile ink is pushed through the screen with a squeegee. Students “flood” the screen and then “pull” the squeegee across as evenly as possible.

Students work in teams – printing, preparing, stacking in the rack to dry, replenishing ink, cleaning up ink, etc.

Everyone involved in the Frank Theatre Artist Residency , as well as the Printmaking students will receive a free t-shirt!