LowellArts!/Lowell Area Schools Partnership Projects
ARTRAIN USA – NATIVE VIEWS:INFLUENCES OF MODERN CULTURE In June 2005 LowellArts!, in cooperation with Lowell Area Historical Museum and the Grand Valley American Indian Lodge, presented Artrain USA’s art exhibition: Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture. Artrain USA was brought to Lowell to coincide with the opening of Heart of a Drum, a Native American art exhibit at LowellArts! featuring original artworks and creative writings originally created by Native Americans of the Great Lakes Region or by current State of Michigan residents whose creation is intended to honor and celebrate the lives and traditions of Native Americans of the Great Lakes Region. Lowell Area Schools elementary students visited Artrain USA with specialized guided tours by Artrain USA staff.
Support from the Lowell community include funding from Lowell Area Community Fund and Look Memorial Fund and support from the Franciscan Life Process Center and Lowell Light and Power.
UNITY HIGH SCHOOL - RIVERSIDE MURAL PROJECT
In 2005, the students and teachers at Unity High School in Lowell worked with Lowell artist Mary Kuilema to create a large exterior mosaic tile mural wall. One side of the freestanding wall depicts the Flat River area. The other side is a more abstract mosaic of the high school building and environs. Students made everything for the mural; contributing to its design, rolling out thin slabs of clay, glazing and breaking them into mosaic pieces, creating various naturalistic tile renderings of plants, flowers and fish, as well as bas-relief self-portraits. The wall itself, with its small doorway, symbolizes transition and passage. The mosaic wall is 7’ high and 12’ long and is located along the Flat River just north of the Lowell Library on the Riverwalk.
The Riverside Mural Project was sponsored by the LowellArts! with financial support provided by Steelcase Foundation, Meijer Inc., Lowell Education Foundation, Alticor, Inc, Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids, Overbeck Construction, Lowell Rotary Club and Lowell Women’s Club.
A DAY WITH(OUT) ART – LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL
In 2009, the Lowell High School Art Department teacher Nicole Bosco and Service Learning Department coordinator Carla Stone partnered with LowellArts! to sponsored LHS’ first Day With(out) Art on December 1 (World AIDS Day). The goal was to make people aware of the impact of HIV/AIDS from a global view down to a local level. Art was used to educate others about the impact of this disease and used to support local agencies who help families affected by AIDS and other hardships. Funding for art supplies was provided by Lowell Rotary Club.
Activities included:
- Canned-food drive competition. Items collected were used to create sculptures by art students and later donated to the Food Pantry at Flat River Outreach Ministries.
- Posters and videos were created to inform students about HIV/AIDs statistics, transmission facts, myths, and prevention.
- Fleece blankets and cards were be made for families affected by AIDS.
- Art students maked paper mache ornaments to sell at LowellArts! with proceeds to benefit St. Mary’s who helps families dealing with AIDS.
THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT
The Butterfly Project was part of LowellArts! 's year-long 25th anniversary celebration in 2002-03. As part of celebrating its 25 years of growth and the wonderful support provided by the Lowell community, LowellArts! embarked on a public art program utilizing the diverse beauty of the butterfly. The Butterfly Project brought kindergarten through fifth grade students from the Lowell Area Schools to work with 16 artists from Lowell and the greater Grand Rapids area to design and create larger than life butterfly sculptures (4’ diameter wing span). As a group project each classroom created one butterfly sculpture utilizing all of the ideas of the students. A total of 32 butterfly sculptures were created between the months of November 2002 and mid-February 2003. In March, the butterfly sculptures were “released” into the community including public venues at the Lowell Area Schools, Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, throughout the City of Lowell. On May 3, 2003 at a celebratory event and showcase, all 32 butterfly sculptures were sold to the public through a auction at Lowell High School The funds raised were used for future arts programs and artists residencies supplied by LowellArts! for students in the Lowell Area Schools.
LowellArts! received funding for the Butterfly Project from the Lowell Area Community Fund, Steelcase Foundation, Blodgett Foundation, Meijer Inc., Lowell Rotary Club, State Farm Insurance Companies, Alticor Inc., Mika Meyers Beckett & Jones, Michigan Wire Co., Ionia County National Bank, and individual donors.
LowellArts! 149 S. Hudson Street, PO Box 53, Lowell, MI 49331 616-897-8545
info@lowellartsmi.org
