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 River of Words inspires teachers and studentsShaler Area visual arts educator Chris Lisowski has redefined "school" at Reserve Township Elementary! After participating in last fall's River of Words Workshop put on by partners 3 Rivers Wet Weather, RiverQuest, The Arts Education Collaborative and Carnegie Museum of Art, Lisowski and his colleagues who teach science and language arts engaged students in an exploration of the connections between science and art.
Mr. Lisowski and his fourth graders are shown here displaying the model paddlefish they created using recycled cafeteria trays, among other materials. Paddlefish are an unusual species of plankton-eating fish found in the fresh waters of our three rivers. "Finding plankton on the RiverQuest boat and exploring the International Exhibit at Carnegie Museum of Art transformed how we looked at our rivers and the world around us," Lisowski said. We all learned a lot from our field trips and had an enriching experience that will last a lifetime." Chris found that the combination of environmental science and creative arts was a catalyst for students. "It was a great way to engage them on a science-based level-- and they were very into it. I asked the students to paint indicator species from the perspective that they were that species. I received some unique drawings from that perspective!"
"I attend a lot of workshops," Lisowski says. "This one caught my attention because I hold a degree in environmental science." Chris gave the workshop his vote of approval: "Best workshop I have taken." Chris is a naturalist and artist who works in both 2-D and 3-D artwork, with a focus on nature and the wild. His background includes both environmental studies and art education, and his work has been displayed all around Pittsburgh--at venues including the Three Rivers Arts Festival, the Children's Museum, SPACE Gallery, and Remedy Lounge in Lawrenceville, to name a few. You can check out his own "wild" brand of art at his website, www.feralfarm.com.
Students and teachers present Art & Poetry for our Watershed at Three Rivers Arts Festival
On Saturday June 7, a small crowd gathe Student artwork, displayed on the stone-walled tree planters and incorporated into the flowerbeds of hosta and impatiens, ranged from landscapes to interpretive compositions, from poetry and photography to video. Artwork on display represented several schools and teachers, including:
Several students from Allard Elementary School were on hand to read their poems on stage, as were art teacher Kristin Hartman and science teacher Christine Duschak. Olivia Lindstrom presented "Help the Water and our Earth," Justin Dushack performed "A Stream and Three RIvers," and Gwen Kachmar recited "Water and Land."
Student works from River of Words will appear around the area as a part of 3 Rivers Wet Weather's community education efforts. "Not everyone realizes they live in a watershed," says Tracy Schubert, Public Outreach Manager for 3 Rivers Wet Weather. "The artwork and poetry will help us get the message out that we all live in a watershed, and we all have to protect it."
An example of student artwork inspired by the cross-curricular study of art and science
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red at the Community Stage at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Arts Festival to view more than 100 works of student art, and to listen to poetry and writing performed by students and their teachers, in response to the River of Words experience.
South Fayette Middle School art teacher Diane Lally favored the audience with a reading of student works by Matt Guyan, Evan Levine, Hunter White, and Nicole Knepp. Ms. Lally's students wrote their poetry in conjunction with nature photography, also on display.