Archives

Self-Expression Through Self-Portraits

Join us for a drawing workshop focused on self-portraiture. Internationally known, multi award-winning Indigenous artist Tchin will guide participants through the artistic process, allowing them time to reconnect with their inner selves and come away with a powerful expression of their voice. Students reflect on their self-portraits together, exploring questions of identity, culture, and self-perception. […]

Beadwork: Connecting to Community

  Students complete a beadwork project that they can share with their classrooms, guided by We Are the Seeds’ Indigenous educators. Through this program, attendees will gain perspective and context about contemporary Native peoples — that we are still here, we are evolving, and we are thriving. Different types of beads and beadwork projects are […]

Modular Origami Suncatchers

This STEAM focused workshop gives students hands-on experience with modular Origami, by having them fold multiple simple Origami pieces, that when assembled form a beautiful 8 or 10 point star. The special paper used in the program is translucent, and when hung in a sunny window will reveal more complex geometric shapes and designs within […]

Creating a Multicultural Arts-Rich Classroom

In this workshop the art forms of storytelling, dance, poetry, and music will help educators to bring the culture and language of students into the curriculum. By altering classroom artifacts, daily rituals, and frequently used stories to reflect the first language(s) and culture(s) of students, educators design classroom environments that more intentionally reflect and affirm […]

Cajón (box drum): Heartbeat of Africa in Peru & The Americas

This program is designed to introduce educators (K-12) to the fascinating history, culture, and rhythmical magic of the cajón (box drum). Participants will learn to play the main rhythms of Afro-Peruvian music as well as typical songs that will be easy to learn by Spanish as well as non-Spanish speakers. Participants will also explore the […]

Joy Resides Here: An Interactive Justice Journey of Oral History & African Diaspora Drum and Dance Traditions

  Uncover how Diasporic African Polyrhythms from Africa, Brazil and America create mechanisms for place-making. Experience a Porch Choreo-Story from a Historically Black Neighborhood while learning about the Great Migration. Oral History/telling practices allow us to document our own stories, and speak for ourselves. Using dance as text, students will dance a friendship quality in […]

Afro-Puerto Rican Folkloric Music: la Bomba y la Plena

Segunda Quimbamba is a cultural gem based in Jersey City. Led by Master Drummer Juan Cartagena and Master Dancer Nanette Hernández, the band performs and teaches Afro-Puerto Rican folkloric music La Bomba and La Plena, honoring their ancestors and heritage through practicing this preservation. The call-and-response music creates a collaborative artistic space in Bomba for […]

Patterns in Nature: From Science to Art

This workshop (or series of) will focus on the beauty, design and function of patterns, forms and structures found in the natural world. Topics including branching, the spiral/Fibonacci, star/radial, retiform/mesh, hyperbolic geometry, symmetry, etc. will be explored. Students will observe and draw from natural specimens and images, define and study, then create 2D and 3D […]

Good Character

This performance includes a series of interactive stories about good character told by Muslim grandmothers to their grandchildren. The performance is accompanied by percussive instruments from each of the countries presented, including Pakistan, America, China, Mali and Guyana. Highlights include the sharing of values that are similar across Muslim and non-Muslim countries as well as […]

Music & Movement Where Muslims Live

Experience the music and movement traditions of Islamic communities. Karim Nagi guides students in a participatory experience of music and dance from different Muslim communities around the world. Karim shares art from communities in both the Near and Far East, demonstrating percussion instruments, uses of the voice, and detailed folkloric steps with audience participation. This […]