Virgina Museum of Contemporary Art Engagement with the State Operated Programs for Music, Art Teachers, and Therapists-September 2024
Keynote and Workshop:
Get Lost: A Creative Guide to Accessing Social Emotional Learning Strategies
All participants engaged in a two part session:
-->(First Half: Creative Writing)
Participants spent time using the five senses (see, smell, hear, feel, taste) in order to write about a specific memory, which challenged them mentally or physically.
--> (Second Half: Artwork)
Participants will used pen, ink, and paint marker to create a miniature artwork based on a subject that symbolized their memory/creative writing piece.
-->Marrying the Concept of Making and Sharing
All participants will share their work in small groups and then a few artists will share their work in front of the entire workshop group.
Presentation:
All participants curated their artworks alongside one another on a velcro wall. The velcro allowed everyone to view the artwork as one finished product.
Gorman Crossing Elementary School Residency-March 2024
The Gorman Crossing Elementary School Residency allowed 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders the opportunity to paint a 12 X 40 ft mural on the wall of their school cafeteria. The composition of the mural was inspired by student submissions surrounding the theme of inclusivity and school pride.
John M. Clayton Elementary School Residency- March 2024
The John M. Clayton Elementary School Residency was funded by the Jacob M. Freeman Foundation in Delaware. The entire school participated in a collaborative artwork that depicted text and imagery centered on the theme of bravery. All students and some faculty designed a leaf or floral with a personally meaningful story that was shared aloud in their art classroom. This residency had some incredible visitors such as the First Lady of Delaware, Tracey Quillen Carney and Delaware’s Secretary of Education, Mark Holodick.
University of Maryland Residency-February 2024
The University of Maryland Residency was designed for undergraduate students in the Art Education program. Saz used her speech and SEL based creative writing/illustration techniques for students to create an artwork centered on the theme of loss. All students created individual sculptural/relief-based artworks that eventually were put together in a community artwork on masonite.
Dorchester County Public Schools Professional Development-January 2024
The Dorchester County Public School professional development workshop took place at Dorchester Center for the Arts in Cambridge, Maryland. Saz started off the PD with a speech and then facilitated a hands-on SEL/Storytelling workshop. All participants used creative writing and illustration to focus on a time in their lives involving loss. All work was individually created and put together in a community design that was shared and presented with tears, laughter, and empowering vulnerability. The SEL related content was then adapted to fit an arts education curriculum for visual arts, music, theatre, and dance.
Belair-Edison Mural Residency -January 2024
The Belair-Edison Mural Residency took place in Baltimore City, Maryland. All students submitted artworks based on the theme of community and Saz put the ideas together to create one whimsical composition. Third, fourth, and fifth graders all participated in painting the hallway of their school and built happy memories along the way.
Mount View Middle School Mural Residency -April 2023
The Mount View Middle School (MVMS) Mural Residency allowed grades 7 and 8 to participate in a mural that centered on the theme of belonging, unity, strength, and diversity.. All of the imagery and text in the composition of this design were created by the 8th grade students. All 4 panels of masonite were primed, painted, sealed, and then framed/displayed in the cafeteria of the school..
Bishop McNamara High School Mural Residency -February 2023
The Bishop McNamara Residency involved a keynote speech along with virtual creative coaching sessions for students who were interested in pursuing the arts as a career. This speech involved an uplifting personal story and inspiring motivational strategies for using storytelling to ignite confidence, embrace vulnerability, and succeed personally/professionally.
Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School Mural Residency-January-February 2023
The Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School (TRES) Mural Residency allowed every parent, teacher, and student (grades K-5) to participate in a mural that centered on the theme of belonging. All of the leaves in the trees of the mural have a different word that connects to the mission and vision of TRES. The mural is located at the entry way of the building and welcomes all community members into the school building.
Glenwood Academy Residency-Unity Installation Video
6 foam core boards with acrylic paint and protected by an acrylic shield.
All students from Glenwood Academy participated in designing two boards for elementary, middle, and high school. Every young artist was able to submit/contribute ideas for the compositions of the art panels. The theme for this creative and moveable art installation was centered on the school’s acronym/mission statement “TRUE, GRIT, ME” (truth, respect, understanding, empathy, growth, responsibility, integrity, tenacity, mood, and energy).
Glenwood Academy Residency-Oct. 2022 / 2nd-12th grade
Operation Arts Webinar/Residency / November 2022
thrive as a creative professional
portfolio link here
Saz Ross organized a team of artists across multiple disciplines to provide the virtual audience with tools, tips, tricks, and resources for building a creative business that thrives!
