Park’s campus has never been short of creativity. That’s clear when you walk through the doors of Kimball Hall and have a hard time finding space on the walls, cabinets, and even ceilings that isn't covered with artwork (potentially even yours that you created years ago)! Veteran Visual and Performing Arts teacher and developer Kyle Polaske has been improving the programs since 2001and always seems to find new and exciting ways to innovate and encourage students to utilize their potentially unrecognized creative talents. Art teacher Dan Loomis joined the department in 2021, and together, they bring art to life for all 290 of Park's students. How have you seen these art programs grow and flourish throughout the years? Kyle: There are so many projects, ideas and more that we touch upon every year, but the nice thing we can do here at Park is be flexible. We have so many things the students can try: drawing, painting, ceramics, woodworking, designing, photography, model making, creative crafts, and the list goes on and on. I believe it is my job to let the students be curious, let them try new things, and open their eyes to new ideas. We also have the chance to really get to know the students, and how to push them further, or in different directions. As far as Upper School electives go, we can ask the students where their interests lie and design a class around them! Even in the Lower and Middle School grades, if I hear someone is interested in trying something new that they saw somewhere, or a crazy idea they thought up, I try to work it in somehow. I think by really listening to students and getting to know them, it makes them feel comfortable in trying out different things, and being able to talk about the process they went through, and the discoveries that they made. How do you believe our art programs here connect with students? Dan: At Park, we design our classes and programs to be an inspiring journey for students! They not only learn about famous artists but also from their peers. Sharing ideas, techniques, and inspirations creates a rich environment where creativity flourishes through collaboration. I am always excited when we have an Artist-inResidence at Park. The way they engage with the students, bring wisdom, and real world experience shows students that a career in the arts is possible. Kyle: I think art is in everything! Creativity takes you a long way if you are open to it. Creative problem solving is a day-to-day thing in life. I once taught a visual and performing arts class called the "Art of it All." We talked about things like "the art of movement" in which one of the topics was sports. What does a moving ball look like through the use of line, pattern, rhythm. "The art of using your hands" lead us to learning some sign language, to drawing our hands holding objects, to using our hands to manipulate clay. "The art of storytelling" lead us to illustrating a self-portrait story, to using our body language and facial expressions to act out a story. "The art of music" lead us to listening to music and painting how it made us feel, using different items to make different sounds, and designing and building instruments. And the list goes on. The Kyle Polaske and Dan Loomis Help Our Students See That Art is in Everything fun thing about this was the kids had a voice in picking the topics! What are you most excited for in the near future regarding the art programs at Park? Kyle: I love that the Artist-in-Residence is back and in action! It is nice to bring in those whose career is being an artist! They get to come in, tell their stories and how they got there, share why they do what they do, and teach the students how they do what they do, and do it right along with them! I hope this continues for a long, long time. I could talk on and on. I love what the students accomplish, and the look in their eyes when they have found success. I also love that those who have been here at Park for most of their lives have no fear in working with techniques, ideas, materials, and such, and use what they learned with comfort in personal challenges, or hands on projects, or simply making something for someone. I love that those who have been here a while show newer students the ways to explore and experiment. These things all make me smile! Dan: I just love to be a part of the community here at Park. One thing I would love to highlight is the wide range of tools, mediums and techniques students get to explore here at Park. From traditional methods like painting and drawing, to digital art, printmaking, ceramics, and photography. All these options guide students to find their niche and experiment, really allowing them to find their own unique style. 12
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTcyNDA=