“Falling” Into Place

by Amanda Davis, Guest Blogger

Fall has been my favorite season for as long as I can remember and one that inspired me in the art world immensely. There is something about the fresh clean air, the color of leaves and the briskness that appears with fall that brings about this creativeness. Each season can be an inspiration, but the natural painting of fall is my inspiration.

Now you may ask why I talk about fall with such love, well the weather plus events seem to “fall” about at this time of year.

In the fall as the Marketing Associate for Theatre Action Project last year, I had the opportunity to see the wonders of creation come together at many Skill Shares put on by Miss Cassie and the Teaching Artists. After what seemed like a long summer, I enjoyed seeing these inspiring people come back together and share their skills with each other.

P.S. Fall not only brings about beautiful colors but wonderful memories as well. This was also the time that I would normally head back to school as a kid and be thrown back into the wonder that was art class. I never failed to make it feel like Christmas as I arrived in art class that first day and BRAND NEW art supplies were passed out. I was so overjoyed that I wasn’t even sure if I wanted use it, mostly because it looked so lovely (which is silly of course and I used it anyway, but with great caution).

Week 1 Summer Camp Recap: Adventures in Art a Blast from the Past

Campers learned about Greek Mythology by making masks and putting on a play for their final sharing

Campers learned about South Africa, making drums and putting on a drum march outdoors during final sharing

Campers learned about Egypt, painting scarabs

Campers drew the different countries they “visited” in their passports

TAP teaching artist Natalie shows locations on the globe

Volunteer Laurel Hunt having fun with the campers

For more information and to register for TAP Summer Camps: http://bit.ly/bxLo5w

Springtime Brings Renewal

by Amanda Davis, Guest Blogger

“Ohio Falls” by Mandolin Artworks

There is something in the air that brings out my creativity in the spring and having the luxury to sit outside while creating makes it even more special. The inspirations to glance around at the colors that surround us within this season bring about many artistic ideas. This brings into thought for me about how we can take something so out of the ordinary in everyday life and spice it up to be extra special.

I have had many opportunities for springtime art, but one of my favorite paintings was born during this season. I was in a painting class my sophomore year at Benedictine College with a professor by the name of Dr. Carol. This man was absolutely incredible and known for teaching just about any student how to paint. He loved to inspire us, by telling us to truly connect with our art by becoming a kid again. To have the passion to reconnect with that inner child just made the art blossom so much more. The painting that I created was of a waterfall I had photographed on a trip to Ohio that spring and had been in awe and wonder at how it would look as a painting. I still wish at times that I was in possession of this painting, but I had painted it for a friend. The way the spring and Dr. Carol had inspired this painting was by allowing me to reconnect with that kindred spirit of mine, by allowing me to be free like the spring air.

Every day at Theatre Action Project there is that opportunity for the teaching artists to connect with their students and bring about that sense of renewal. TAP is fully inspiring students to always stay connected to that part of them that makes life extra special.

Amanda Davis is a former AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer who served Theatre Action Project from 2011 to 2012.

Actively Artistic in your District

by Natalie Goodnow, Artistic Associate

On Saturday, March 3, Theatre Action Project (TAP) hosted all ten Active Play Project leaders from ten campuses in Del Valle ISD and Bastrop ISD.  Artist consultant Griffon Ramsey led our team in painting several practice playground markings outside our TAP offices; our project leaders are now ready to take their own campuses by storm!  They’ve got their design proposals ready and are currently hard at work preparing their own original stencils and recruiting volunteers to help them paint out in Del Valle and Bastrop. Pictured here on the left, project leader Sophi Hopkins puts the finishing touches on a bean bag dart board.

PS: I will always love Whitney Houston’s hairstyle the best. Want to enjoy good food and support a good cause? Come to TAP’s Big Hair Country Fair on March 24th at the Salt Lick Pavilion! To buy tickets visit: TAP Big Hair. Proceeds benefit Theatre Action Project.