We're nearing the end of the school year, which means the end of After School! All the instructors and students have had really positive experiences with their classes this spring. But just because it's the final weeks at STEM doesn't mean that we aren't continuing to create awesome projects that go above and beyond the instructors' expectations!
It was a very exciting Drama Class a few Wednesdays ago. The students were welcomed with a surprise: former Youth Guidance instructor, Ms. Frazier!
Students who were with the after school program last year will remember Ms. Frazier as one of the most creative, energetic instructors at Youth Guidance. She taught a variety of digital media, dance, and singing classes. As well as being a multidisciplinary artist, Ms. Frazier is the happiest person in the entire world! Her presence is nothing short of inspiration for these students, and it's always great to have her back!
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| 'Technicolor', a studio album by Allyson Frazier. The students in After School helped create art work for the album! |
Ms. Frazier came to Drama Class to get some help with her next project: a music video for her studio album, 'Technicolor'. Ms. Frazier knew that the kids are incredibly energetic and love to dance, so we set up a scrim (a curtain that allows shadows to be seen when light is projected from behind it), opened a window in the dark music room to let some sunshine in, and TA-DA- a homemade shadow studio!
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| Ms. Frazier shows Drama Class how the scrim works... |
While Ms. Frazier played her song, the students went behind the scrim and used their body language to create an array of characters that weave in and out of the music's funky beat. The students used big, bold gestures to create intense shadows that went perfectly with Ms. Frazier's music!
Thanks so much for visiting us Ms. Frazier!!!
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| Emily goes behind the scrim and casts a luminous shadows for the video camera. |
Watercolor class also helped out Ms. Frazier with her album. Ms. Frazier needed an album cover and who better to turn to then the Watercolor students! Mr. Nall played samples of Ms. Frazier's songs and asked them to try and paint the mood of the songs: happy, techno, soulful melodies were converted into lush, gorgeous designs, and Ms. Frazier couldn't have been happier!
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| Album Artwork inspired by Ms. Frazier's music, created by the Watercolor Class |
Mr. Nall really likes comics, just ask any student in his Comics class. He's always talking about them! This weekend is an especially important weekend for Mr. Nall and his comic book obsessions...
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| CAKE Poster by Ivan Brunetti |
This weekend is the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE), a two-day celebration of independently published comic books! Mr. Nall will have a table at the festival at the Center on Halsted (3656 N. Halsted) on Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM-6 PM, and he'll be selling the comics created by the students in his comic class! The proceeds made from the sales of the students' books will go towards funding the Comic Book class, printing costs, and a special end of the year surprise for the students: All their comics bound together to take home! These students have been working incredibly hard to make full-length comic books and it's exciting to see their work in the public eye!
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| Comic Books made by the students will be exhibited at CAKE! |
On top of creating some amazing books, the Graphic Design class is helping prepare for the big CAKE weekend as well! Mr. Nall requested a banner be made to hang over his table, so that everyone passing by could see what great artists STEM has! The students did a great job painting the banner with bright colors, cartoons, and eye-catching signs. Wonderful job STEM students!
