25 July 2009
Teamwork: Building a New Community
Posted under: Artsbridge; Events .
Teamwork: Building a New Community - 2009 Summer Program Update
Friday, July 24, 2009
Here at Artsbridge, we’re wrapping up the first week of classes, trips, and conversation. It is hard to imagine that only four days ago the students arrived in Logan airport rubbing their eyes and lugging suitcases. Monday morning passed by in a blur, followed by staff introductions and a tour of the campus. By Tuesday, though, things had already begun to slow down. Students managed to catch up on their jet-lag, and everyone at Artsbridge piled into a bus to New Hampshire to find out more about the team we had just gathered.
We arrived at the University of New Hampshire’s Browne Center to begin a day of adventure and team challenges. The Browne facilitators greeted us with smiles and warm up games, and the kids began to learn about cooperation and teamwork. They supported each other as they took turns climbing high ropes courses and jumping off posts three storeys high. They scaled trees and climbed on wires suspended twenty feet off the ground. You can imagine how tired we all were upon returning to Boston College that night. On Wednesday, once regular classes began, the support system that had already formed was still there, but classrooms and cafeterias replaced the trees and nets of the day before.
When we began a regular schedule on Wednesday, the students adjusted well to the assignments and workshops administered by our instructors. Keren Shecter, an expressive therapist, works with the students when they meet together for the first time in the morning. From there the students leave for art class with Sara Roisen or film class with Christopher Gaines. Boston College has provided us with beautiful facilities, complete with a computer lab and four light-filled art rooms. After art and film, the students have time to research the art projects that they will complete in pairs by the end of the program. In the afternoon, students can take workshops with our tri-lingual drama instructor, Ibrahim Miari, or photography workshops with Simone Salvo. We are excited to observe the process of creative thought that is so quickly emerging from our participants.
Lastly, the dialogues that are such an important part of the process at Artsbridge are going smoothly. We are pleased to be working with talented and experienced dialogue facilitators Shai Fuxman, Ohad Hoffman, Dyana Ryzek, and Haneen Magadly. The students are cooperative and receptive, and we are confident that they will continue to challenge themselves with new ideas and perspectives while being fueled by their art.
An Artsbridge Gala will take place on August 6th at Boston College as the program winds to a close. We sincerely hope to see you there and share our students’ artwork with the community. Please look for our flyers in and around the BC campus, or request a postcard with information by signing up on our website.
That’s all for now, but keep checking this blog for updates!
All our best,
Debbie Nathan and the Artsbridge Staff
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