One of my endeavors this year was to agree to direct a new performance team at nearby Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities, which serves grades K-6th. Among the list of previously existing performance teams are: juggling, chorus, marimbas, african drums, strings, theater, stage tech, peace patrol, and chess. I approached the principal last year with the suggestion that the lineup is missing something significant: the fine arts. He countered by suggesting I start such a team. And so here I am. I meet with the team members twice a week, and we've spent a lot of time working on value, a little on color, and a lot on seeing. The kids have done some great work so far and I've really enjoyed teaching.
As the school approaches the time of year for its annual auction extravaganza that funds all these amazing programs, it seems about time that I post something about my performance team. We recently finished an involved, collaborative piece which I then designed into a poster that the school will sell. I did this with the Tubbs Hill poster after my residency at the school two years ago. This year's piece turned out beautifully, and achieves the group's goal. We wanted it to reflect the theme of this year's auction: Viva! Sorensen, which itself is a reflection on the survival story of this school. Seven years ago it was declared that the school would close due to low enrollment. Parents, teachers, staff, and the downtown community came together in a joint effort to save the school. The magnet school idea was hatched, an auction was planned, money was raised, and enough interest was generated that there was soon a waiting list for the school. Over the past seven years, the school has become one of the top performers, I believe in the state. Looking back on the success story, the auction planners felt that Viva! was a fitting motto. Just seven short years ago the slogan around town was Save Sorensen! Now we can say long live this great school. For this art piece, we have Sorensen embedded in its neighborhood, the downtown area, surrounding mountains, lakefront, and Tubbs Hill and Lake Coeur d'Alene.
If you're interested in purchasing a poster, please contact the main office at Sorenen Magnet School, 310 N 9th St, Coeur d'Alene. 208-664-2822