This winter, The Myrna Loy partnered with PEAK teacher Katie Knight on her multi-faceted residency exploring Human Migration. Katie contracted with us to bring teaching artist Julynn Wildman into her classrooms at HMS and CRA to develop movement mapping projects with middle school students, inspired by their independent research around human migration. At the end of the residency, the students performed their movement pieces and original poetry on The Myrna Loy stage and displayed their artwork in our gallery. More info about the event, including the Independent Record’s coverage of it, can be found below!
Creative Human Flow
At 12 noon on Feb. 28, students in the Middle School Gifted and Talented Program read original poems and presented creative movement works at The Myrna Loy. Students wrote poetry under the guidance of poet Sean Hill. They engaged in creative movement led by Myrna Loy artist-in-residence Julynn Wildman. Guided by their teacher Katie Knight, they created one-of-a-kind artists’ books which were displayed in the Jailhouse Gallery. This project was made possible with support from The Myrna Loy, The Helena Education Foundation, and the Montana Arts Council. Parents, educators, friends, and the public were invited to this event.
A note from Katie Knight about the process:
Two forms of flow intersect in this dynamic project: movement of human populations and psychological immersion in the creative process. We experience a state of flow when we are totally engaged and enthused. Students conducted independent study research into aspects of human migration of individual interest to them, then used their learning as inspiration for creative expression.
Click here for the Independent Record’s coverage of the event.
Photo Credit: Jason O’Neil
Special thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation for their generous support of our programming.