July 2, 2011
 Issue 21

Sitka Fine Arts Camp  


Greetings!
What are the things that influence us and help shape who we are? People, experiences, knowledge. How do we come in contact with the things that have such an influence on us? I've begun to realize that the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, even though it is a few short weeks out of the year, offers some powerful opportunities.

As the High School session begins, the Middle School session just ended.  Are your campers coming home with stories about who they met? Or what they discovered about themselves?

WT McRae teaches partner acrobatics, musical theater for the Middle School session.  He asked his students what they were most proud of and one camper raised her hand to say that she "learned self-confidence." 

The Commissioner of Education for the State of Alaska, Mike Hanley, came to visit during the Middle School session. In a conversation with some of the campers he asked, "Why is it important to keep art in the schools, when we need to be focusing on math, reading and writing?"

In response the campers talked about art as motivation for those that don't learn well with traditional styles. They argued that art in the schools encourages  future more open, for individuals to choose their own career path.

Through role models, peer-to-peer learning, encouraged risk-taking, the teachers, the peers, the attitude, Sitka Fine Arts Camp has an open-ended, significant way of creating connections and opportunities that will help shape what we become.

I've seen how meaningful this experience can be.  If you believe in what we do at camp please make a contribution.  If you see the potential in extending these opportunities to the entire community, and visitors to Sitka please make a contribution. 

We have taken on a huge project to make the Sheldon Jackson place to make connections and make opportunity. We continue to need the support of those that believe in that.

Recognizing local business supporters

We've continued to have support from local businesses and families.  Thank you so much for your belief in us and in the vision we have for making the SJ Campus a vibrant place for the whole community!


We don't have a picture accepting the contributions from all of our business supporters, but wanted to share this as an example of personal connection with the individuals behind each business. Thank you for your support:

 

Alaska Airlines, Alaska Computer Center, Alaska Marine Lines, Allen Marine, Angling Unlimited, Inc., Anthony's Flooring, Aurora Business Supplies,  Backdoor, Baranof Chiropractic, Belly Meat, Birch Equipment, CBC Construction, Chocolate Moose, Craft Homes, ConocoPhilips, Crane Construction, Crow's Nest Art Works, Dumag Roofing, EagleWolf Electric, F. R. Bell and Associates, Inc., Fairweather Prints, First Bank, First National Bank Alaska, Fishermen's Eye, Fisherman's Quay, Foreign Automotive, F/V Coral Lee, Garden Ventures, GCI, Gordon's Mechanics, Greater Sitka Arts Council, Gurdy Docs, Heating Concepts, Holland America, Home Plus, Howard Pitts Enterprises, Jay's Tree Service, Jet Steam, Juneau Electric, KD Painting, KIFW, Larkspur Cafe, Local Machine, Ludvig's Bistro, MacIntyre Construction, Mike's Floors, Millard and Associates Architects, LLC., Modus, Mt. Edgecumbe High School,  Petro Marine, Porky's Equipment and Sales, Pizza Express, Precision Boatworks, Pundit Productions, Raven Radio, Reif Hammers and Pipes, Roy's Electric, Russell's, Russian American Co., S & S Construction, Saline Services, Schmolck Mechanical Contractors,

SeaMart, Sealaska, Shaffer & Co., Shelter Cove Publishing,  Sitka Bottling Company, Sitka Counseling and Prevention, Sitka Electric, Sitka Monthly Grind, Sitka Ready-Mix and Rental Equipment, Sitka Sentinel, Sitka Physical Therapy, Sitka Total Fitness,  Southeast Fire Protection, Southeast Glass Company, Southeast Herring Conservation Alliance, Spenards Builders Supply, Tisher Construction, the United States Coast Guard, Weiland Construction, Wells Fargo, Welsh Enterprises, West-Hardwick Marine, LLC.,Westmark, White's and Harry Race Pharmacies, Wilderness Woodworks  

 

Capital Campaign   

 

Donate 

 or

Send Checks to

Alaska Arts SE

PO Box 3086  

Sitka, AK 99835 

 

Please make a note if you would like to remain anonymous  

 

Born to be a Mime

When Amanda Crocket did a check-in with her Middle School mime class near the end of camp, one camper said "I learned that, well apparently I was born to be a mime!"

 

Shattering Expectation 

Jodi Gelbman told her Shakepeare class they would take on an abridged version of the entire script of Midsummer Night's Dream and asked if they were feeling particularly nervous about this undertaking:

 

One girl, in particular, raised her hand and expressed her fear and trepidation at speaking Shakespearean text. We went on to have a wonderful first session full of techniques and clues into unlocking Shakespeare's words. At the end of the day I decided to cast the trepidations young lady in a prominent role. I think it was a shock to her that she had been cast in such a large part, but I knew she had the potential to rise to the occasion. Frankly, it was not important to me that she had a "good" or "inspired" performance, but rather that she took on her fear and gained invaluable confidence along the way. Not only did she rise to the occasion, but she was proud of the work she had done and the voice she had found. All of the students in that production went the extra mile and then some to make the show a success.

Volunteer Hours

 

A special thanks to Miranda Peeples, Tiffany Lind, Matthew Johnson and Emma Barash.  These individuals are  volunteering as full-time staff and have done an incredible job to help make the camp so fun and run smoothly!


Evening Art Shares

Join our evening Art Shares! Each evening the Sitka Fine Arts Camp faculty and staff will put together performances to share what they do and love with the campers and the community. 


Art Shares will be at the Hames Center at 7pm, free

 

  Sunday July 3 at  

Performing Arts Center: 

Silent Movie with musical accompaniment 

  Monday July 4:

Faculty Showcase

  Tuesday July 5:

 Camper Talent Show

  Wednesday July 6:   

Faculty Collaboration 

 

Campers' Final Performances and Show will be at the Performing Arts Center at 7pm, on July 7- 9 and at Sitka High School 2-4pm on Sat. July 9.   

 

Thanks for the ongoing support,
Cassi Olson, Development Coordinator

Wendy Alderson and Laura Schmidt, Volunteer Coordinators

Join Our Mailing List!

www.fineartscamp.org/sjc

www.facebook.com/sitkafineartscamp  

Sitka Fine Arts Camp/Sheldon Jackson Revitalization
Sitka Fine Arts Camp/Sheldon Jackson Revitalization