Fine Arts

Scene Shoebox

    Drama Students design their own stages for self-made plays in shoebox proportions.  The students paired up in groups of three or four and collected their ideas for the sets using multiple elements.
    Brianne Prins breathlessly explains her group's play: “There is this village of savages in Africa and some missionaries come into the village in our play.  They try to convert the savages to civilians with a little missionary girl who is a ballet dancer.  A little savage boy watches her dancing and wants to join even though it is not allowed by other savages.  The little girl teaches him ballet in secret.  One day they get caught by the savage chief.  He takes them to a giant pot of boiling oil as savages dance around it.  The chiefs’ daughter runs up to save them, but the guard’s pull her back as she ends up knocking the guard into the oil.  This ends up knocking the kids in as the little boy yells, 'I love you!'  She doesn’t understand him, saying, 'What?!'  They both fall in then the savage chiefs daughter runs away with another savage boy.  The daughter ends up learning ballet and comes back to teach the tribe.” The class adds fine arts in their play to make them match with our school’s plays next year.
    “We created our shoebox set with natural elements such as leaves, sticks, grass, and moss.  We made a little hut and a large pot and were probably going to use polly pockets for the savages,” says Brianne Prins.  Some students brought outside materials to class to make some interesting sets, no two alike.

Ellis Van Hoesen (11)

Are You Surreal?

    Since surrealism is a form of art that gives the audience an element of surprise, it is no wonder that the students of Mr. Rosteck's high school art were surprised to find out that they would be experimenting with creating their own surrealist piece of work. Surrealism makes people think outside the box when creating and looking at the art.
    "Everything we see hides another thing," says Rene Magritte, a famous surrealist. "We always want to see what is hidden by what we see."
    Think about what life would be like if you were looking at the sun and yet you see stars.  What about hearing a human being talk to you while you watched her get her arm painted back on? Literally.  What about if you saw people falling from the sky like what Magritte created?
    People look around them and examine life with many different points of view every day.  It is only different in surrealism because these artists see life as what it could be and then create it themselves.
    As Caleb Grams a tenth grade artist, works on creating his surrealism work, ideas pour into his head in an instant.  
    "Working with surrealism has forced me to think about life if it were different," says Caleb.  "It is a lot of fun and I like being able to draw whatever comes to my mind."
    Art students are being challenged every day to think and create what they see.  This project  has helped students imagine the world in their eyes and dreams.  These young and talented artists are able to share what they make of their lives.
    "Only thought can resemble.  It resembles by being what it sees, hears, or knows," says Magritte. "It becomes what the world offers it."
    How do you see life?  What do you have to offer to the world?

Lisa Spiewak (12)

Dance: A Team Sport

     Dance is a team sport and with any team you need to be able to rely on your team mates. When working with a dance team there are many contributions that a dancer must make to keep the team in tune. One of the greatest contributions a dancer can make is encouragement; even the worst dancer can look beautiful if their fellow dancers are behind them lifting them up on a pedistol showing them that they are the best.
     Hannah Gerrie had a lot to say about the improvement of her 7th grade dance class, and how working as a team made them better dancers.
     "At first we were not good dancers. So we worked hard as a group and now there are some pretty talented dancers," she said.
     She seemed to know the responsibility of a team mate and what to contribute as a team member. Because one good dancer can't wow a crowd if others are struggling to be as good as that particular dancer, they need to be as good as they can be and as a team they could receive a standing ovation.
     "When you have a friend who's discouraged it's really helpful when someone's there to encourage them," said Hannah.
     With some more smiles and encouragement the 7th grade could bloom into a team of beautiful and talented dancers. All they need to do is show each other that every single one of them is the MVP and they need each other to complete the team.

Evie Roisen (11)

Orff Graduation

    It’s time for the big leagues and the fourth graders are ready graduate to Band. This past week all the fourth graders tried six different instruments: baritone, trombone, trumpet, flute, clarinet, and saxophone.
    The room was quite loud during this hour. Between squeaks and low gurgles Mrs. Sarya managed to explain a little bit about each instrument and each student got to try them out. Eagerly everyone raised their hands, hoping to get the first blow.
    Gabe Milhelich was already a pro at trumpet. He blew into it and it sounded really good, which surprised everyone considering it was his first time playing.
    "I want to play the trumpet really bad because all three of my cousins play trumpet and it must just run in the family!" says Gabe.
    The clarinet was up next and there was one girl who was just jumping out of her seat to get the chance to play it. Bethany Priest has wanted to play clarinet for a long time.
    "I love the clarinet because it is really light and easy to hold," says Bethany.
    Even though all the fourth graders are really excited about being able to play in the band, they will still miss their fun times in Orff, but there are some things they won't miss.
    "I’m glad that we don't have to play recorders anymore and we can play much more interesting instruments," says Gabe.
    "I'm excited for the band because I can impress my parents more with my skills!" exclaims Bethany.

Brianne Prins (11)

Masked Musicians

    Who's who? At the open house you may never know with the fourth grade Orff piece.
    This piece was called "The Great Unknown" and all the fourth graders wore white masks that covered their identity and it added mystery.
    There were three types of instruments used: the triangle, roto toms, xylophones and metallophones. Lilly Ingersoll played the roto toms, which were the main instruments in this piece.
    "I would always experiment with the roto toms during solo times, and then I actually got to play them in a concert which was awesome! They are my favorite instrument because you get to hit them really hard and then they make loud noises in different pitches," says Lilly.
    "The Great Unknown" also had movements in it, which the kids made up all by themselves. On Fridays the kids get what’s called solo time where they get to be creative and do whatever they want with music.
    "One Friday during solo time a few girls got together and started to make up dance moves for the piece, and with a lot of hard work they incorporated them into the piece and it was wonderful," says Mrs. Sarya.
    The movements added to the mystery of the piece and the fourth graders did a great job incorporating them with the music.
    "It was really fun making up movements and pretty easy, because we just started moving while the music was on and after brainstorming a little bit all the movements were decided on. We were like robots in a hurricane!" exclaims Hannah.

Brianne Prins (11)

Cearra Bennett wins art award

     The Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey has a showcase where students from schools all around are able to have their artwork shown in the light.  This is a great opportunity for students to represent their talents.  During the first night of the student art exhibit, they offer awards to the artists that they believe to be the best with the best art pieces. There are very few awards given out and there are many schools represented.
     It is a great honor to say that one of our very own students has won an award for her outstanding work.  Cearra Bennett, an eleventh grade art student, has developed figure studies for our schools Art 9-12 art class.  After many hours of hard work, Cearra has won Honorable Mention in the show.
     "It was definitely a confidence booster to be able to win an award," says Cearra.  "There was so much artwork displayed, it's a privilege for them to especially notice mine."
     She has made our school noticeable to many art lovers and citizens.  People who had not known that Concord Academy Boyne even existed now know that we are here and obviously offer a great art course to students.
   The Crooked Tree Arts Center has helped our students gain attention and confidence, helping them to not give up, but strive for greatness.
     Student artists who want to get their art displayed in next year's showcase should work hard and not give up, no matter how hard the project is.  Cearra says, "don't hold back, don't think, just draw and have self-respect."

Lisa Spiewak (12)

Ride 'Em, Cowboy

     In Ms. Christensen’s class students are dancing what they call "The Cowboy Piece."    
     "The students dance with their classmates and then break off into their parts with their partners,” said Christensen. The students seem to enjoy this piece a lot!
     “I love being in modern jazz dance class; it is so much fun,” says McKenzie Sulak, who is dancing with Andy Mathers in this piece.
     “We have to wear daisy duke shorts, a flannel shirt that is tied up so that it is short, and a cowboy hat,” says Sulak. “I really enjoy dance because it is my favorite sport; it is very athletic, it sometimes is a challenge, and it is always a good time,” said Sulak.
     “This dance piece is my favorite piece,” said Cassi Johnson, who is also in this piece.     
     “I really enjoy dance, it keeps me active and it is always fun,” says Johnson. “I dance with Cody Bullock; he is my dance partner and it's very fun dancing with him,” said Johnson.
     The students all agree that dance is really fun and they all say that they like Ms. Christensen.
     “We perform at so many different things, open house and dance review in front of many people,” said Johnson.

Cheyanna Hawley (9)

Watercolor in Middle School Art

     Every day at Concord Academy Boyne, students doodle in their notebooks and use their creative talents to incorporate art in their schoolwork.  
     In middle school, the seventh graders rush to Mr. Rosteck’s class to put their passions to work.  Mr. Rosteck teaches them to work with many different mediums, from charcoal to tempera.  Currently, he is teaching them to work with watercolor paints and how to create the color wheel.  
     Mr. Rosteck explains to his students the importance of primary and secondary colors, and that you need to keep the paint wet in order to blend the colors to perfection.
     “Painting with watercolor is fun and stressing all at the same time.  It involves concentration, focus, and timing,” says Austin Oslin. “You have to make sure you have enough water in the paint so it won’t dry out by the time you switch colors.”  
     Before the students are able to use this fun paint, they have to finish the line drawings that they started last week.  After they are finished with their animal line drawings, the seventh graders top their work off with a nice coat of watercolor to enhance the details of the creatures.  
     Ros Cassidy, a current seventh grade art student, says, “I like watercolor because I enjoy painting and being able to mix colors to get just the colors I want for my project.”
     Students at Concord Academy Boyne have great talents and are not afraid to open their eyes to new projects and mediums.

Lisa Spiewak (12)

The Two Stooges of Dance

     Want a laugh? Just go and see the "Two Stooges" of the 8th grade dance class. Trenton Sulak (8) and Clayton Shelly (8) work together to make the audience roar with laughter while dancing a bluesy piece.
     "They are open to exploring all kinds of movement. Their personalities allow them to show off, not worry about their peers, and have fun," says Ms. Christensen.
     You know they’re "funny guys" when you watch their expression through movement. Being able to be graceful is one thing, but it takes a lot of talent to loosen up and put on a smile and contort your body to show the looser side of dance.
      "My favorite part of this piece is that we get to be goofy and just express ourselves," says Trenton.
      For some people, being funny is hard, but for these two it's nothing. Just let them put on some crazy clothes and move their feet and you'll witness a hilarious comedic act!

Evie Roisen (11)