Jessica Z Schafer
JZSchafer@ramart.org
Racine Art Museum is reaching out further into the community by taking museum-quality education programs on the road to Western Racine County. RAM on the Road has begun a four-week Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program for third graders at Yorkville Elementary School. RAM on the Road, also known as Wustum on Wheels, is a vehicle covered with art and loaded with materials and supplies to bring the joy of creating art to kids and adults of all ages free to the city of Racine.
RAM education staff has introduced the third grade classes at Yorkville Elementary School to RAM and Wustum, as well as to the museum’s contemporary crafts collection with a special presentation and an introduction to glass art, which is the main focus of this four session experience.
This is the first time RAM on the Road is not only extending further into Racine county, but also putting on a four-week series of a themed workshop to complete a project for permanent installation.
The creative process has already begun with the students making several drawings and paintings that represent their color stories, designs and patterns–with an emphasis on cool vs. warm colors. Then, using famous glass artist Dale Chihuly’s macchia series, bowls made from blown glass as inspiration, each student will make mini macchia style “glass” objects utilizing permanent markers on clear plastic cups.
Working collaboratively to conceive the final project, students will organize the finished pieces into a collective design mounted onto several display boards to form a permanent installation at Yorkville Elementary School.
