There’s buzz in the air at the Cobblestone Arts Center in Farmington, and it’s more than just spring fever. Students are busy creating projects for their art classes, learning new combinations in dance class, and rehearsing for the upcoming Animals in Art production.
“The students have been working for the past three months,” said Lori Benson, Executive Director of the center. “I feel very confident that the students will do a wonderful job with the performance, because of their enjoyment and the subject matter we’ve chosen.”
The production of Animals in Art will take place at the Cobblestone Arts Center on Route 332 in Farmington on March 28 at 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend and will be able to see the performance and the artwork created over the last several weeks.
In preparation for the Animals in Art production, students visited the Humane Society’s Lollypop Farm in January and took a field trip to the Rochester Museum and Science Center to see the Extreme Mammals exhibit in late February.
Music for the production includes animal themed songs such as “Rockin’ Robin”, “Feed the Birds”, “Black Bird”, and “See You Later, Alligator.” Students learned choreography to these songs for their performance, and have written their own wildlife poetry. They have even written lyrics to a musical piece called Jammin’ in the Jungle, similar in nature to Peter and the Wolf.
“They all have favorite songs associated with the animals that they love — and they’ve chosen exotic animals as well,” said Benson. “There’s a treat with one of the pieces that we’re doing. Our family used to own a lion named Keenja in 1980. (When she died) we brought her to a taxidermist so he could mount her body. She will be part of the performance during A Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
Visual arts exploration of Animals in Art included making and coloring paper animal sculptures, sculpting clay animal plaques, making 3-D mixed animal part sculptures from found objects, painting animals on rocks and glass, and animal collages made out of pictures.
To complete their immersion, students met with Wayne Williams, sculptor and FLCC Professor of Art at the Oxford Gallery in Rochester for a personal tour of his animal sculptures on display.
The center’s program for adults with disabilities gives students a unique freedom of expression through the arts, and in turn, a sense of achievement and pride in what they can accomplish.
There’s buzz in the air at the Cobblestone Arts Center in Farmington, and it’s more than just spring fever. Students are busy creating projects for their art classes, learning new combinations in dance class, and rehearsing for the upcoming Animals in Art production.
“The students have been working for the past three months,” said Lori Benson, Executive Director of the center. “I feel very confident that the students will do a wonderful job with the performance, because of their enjoyment and the subject matter we’ve chosen.”
The production of Animals in Art will take place at the Cobblestone Arts Center on Route 332 in Farmington on March 28 at 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend and will be able to see the performance and the artwork created over the last several weeks.
In preparation for the Animals in Art production, students visited the Humane Society’s Lollypop Farm in January and took a field trip to the Rochester Museum and Science Center to see the Extreme Mammals exhibit in late February.
Music for the production includes animal themed songs such as “Rockin’ Robin”, “Feed the Birds”, “Black Bird”, and “See You Later, Alligator.” Students learned choreography to these songs for their performance, and have written their own wildlife poetry. They have even written lyrics to a musical piece called Jammin’ in the Jungle, similar in nature to Peter and the Wolf.
“They all have favorite songs associated with the animals that they love — and they’ve chosen exotic animals as well,” said Benson. “There’s a treat with one of the pieces that we’re doing. Our family used to own a lion named Keenja in 1980. (When she died) we brought her to a taxidermist so he could mount her body. She will be part of the performance during A Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
Visual arts exploration of Animals in Art included making and coloring paper animal sculptures, sculpting clay animal plaques, making 3-D mixed animal part sculptures from found objects, painting animals on rocks and glass, and animal collages made out of pictures.
To complete their immersion, students met with Wayne Williams, sculptor and FLCC Professor of Art at the Oxford Gallery in Rochester for a personal tour of his animal sculptures on display.
The center’s program for adults with disabilities gives students a unique freedom of expression through the arts, and in turn, a sense of achievement and pride in what they can accomplish.
“I just know how much enjoyment they get out of connecting with each other with using the arts. And that connection, that communication with each other — not only intellectually, but emotionally — we see it happening every day. It’s great to see them so caring about each other and their work.”
Parents of high school students with disabilities transitioning out of school are encouraged to see our production and tour the facility. A full day program is offered five days a week along with transportation.
The Cobblestone Arts Center is located at 1622 Route 332, Farmington. Visit www.CobblestoneArtsCenter.com or call (585) 398-0220 for a personal tour.
