[KHTS] – To give students first-hand experience in what it takes for an artist to create a work of art, from concept to finished product, the city of Santa Clarita will begin fostering artist residencies in local elementary schools.
For the pilot program, artist Suzi Kades will come to Rosedell Elementary School in Saugus from Monday, Sept. 23 to Friday, Sept. 27.
For one week, Kades will turn a Rosedell classroom into her art studio, where she will create an original piece of art that will be displayed in the school’s multipurpose room.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the week, students will be able to come through the room to talk with Kades and watch her work.
Rosedell Principal Jeff Pettipas said that the finished product will be a multimedia mural “based on the exploration of education.”
“The idea was trying to portray a realistic setting of students studying and working in the classroom,” Kades said, “and the knowledge of what they’re learning is exploding behind them.”
The finished product will be six feet long and more than two feet wide.
Pictures of students in black and white superimposed with dictionary entries, will represent the students as vessels of knowledge, Kades said.
The other parts of the mural will be in color.
“What they’re reading and what they’re learning through words are actually becoming who they are,” Kades said.
She will present her finished work to students at a closing assembly on Sept. 27.
“We hope the students really can appreciate not just the creation of art, but the process of art,” Pettipas said, “deciding what subject to create, analyzing the materials that are going to be needed.”
Pettipas hopes the students come away not only with a better understanding of art, but also a desire to try it for themselves.
“We hope to inspire children to continue the creation of art,” he said, “to explore and communicate their view about themselves and the world.”
Kades echoed the sentiment.
“I want them to learn that art is available to everybody,” she said, “whether they think they’re good at it or not.”
About Suzi Kades
Suzi Kades’ role as an artist over the last 30 years has ranged from illustrator, fine artist, hand weaver and sculptor to decorative painter, muralist and teacher. Kades currently serves as the director of Allstars Enrichment in Valencia, an after school enrichment company providing art classes to elementary students.
Artist-In-Residence Program to Debut at Rosedell School
