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BY MATTHEW G. SOLOVEY msolovey@leader.net
Tuesday, February 08, 2000 Page: 3
Elementary schools in the Greater Nanticoke Area School District are
trying something new this year. The schools are participating in the Artist in
Residence program for the first time of what may become an annual program.
This years artist is Victoria Dillon, a sculptor and resident of Bloomsburg,
originally from Los Angeles. Dillon is concentrating on the American Southwest
during her 10 day stay at Kennedy. She will then present the program at K.M.
Smith Elementary. The residency is augmenting their studies of the the
Southwest, Dillon said. Im covering the Southwest desert environment, the ways
its similar and different from our environment, the history of settlement, the
poetry of the Southwest Native Americans, cowboy poetry, contemporary art and
music. Students having been working on paper mache masks based on Pueblo
Indian Kachina imagery. They also keep journals of what they have learned
where they are encouraged to draw pictures and write poetry. The kids are
getting a broad picture of the Southwest, the plants, the animals, things that
affected and influenced the settlers, Dillon said, They are getting a good
look at the diversity of the people. Dillon fits as much as she can into her
10 day session with each school. I have an integrated way of teaching, she
explained. I include art history and writing, plus a hands-on sculpting
project. Dillon also features many different forms of music while children
work, and reads poetry and stories. She also explains the process to apply for
commission work and shows the students idea sketches, proposals, budgets and
other aspects of the application process. I show students the writing I have
to do to propose a project, she said. I show them how important all their
subjects are in school. Even an artist needs to be a successful at writing,
math and figuring. Plus you have to be able to sell your ideas. While the
program is only for the third grade classes, Dillon presented an assembly for
the whole school. The assembly highlighted slides of Dillons work and
photography of the Southwest. Dillon is an accomplished sculptor who has had
her work shown in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Los Angeles and New Mexico. One
of her works is in the collection of the state museum. My most well known work
locally is a bronze landscaping at the entrance to the Northeastern
Pennsylvania Veterans Center in Scranton, Dillon explained. She specializes in
site specific installation, a form of sculpting that incorporates a sculpture
into the landscape. I design for a specific landscape, Dillon explained. These
are fairly large projects. Many of her works are large enough for people to
walk through. In Allentown, one of her projects included a bridge. Another
included a walk through Japanese garden. Dillon knows much about the Southwest
from experience. She is a fourth generation Californian with roots in the Gold
Rush. Relatives also were 1800s settlers in northern New Mexico. Her husband
John is a singer, songwriter and guitar maker. Together the two will perform
for the public on April 4 at 6 p.m. at the Greater Nanticoke Area Senior High
School. We will be doing an evening program for the public featuring my
photographic images of the Southwest and some western music, Dillon explained.
Childrens projects will also be on display. Assisting through the residence
have been several volunteer mothers, who help prepare materials for projects
and work with the students. Projects like this need volunteer moms and dads,
Dillon explained. Everyone has been so helpful. There is a real interest in
having this program and thats really important. Dr. Mariellen Scott, principal
of Kennedy-Lincoln School is very excited about the program so far. Its an
opportunity to expose students to the fine arts and to meet people in the
creative field, Scott said. Not only is this an art program, but a social
studies project, a writing project, a prosocial skills project encouraging
cooperation and teamwork. This is a good way to make the Southwest come alive.
Scott expressed gratitude to the Nanticoke Tower, Park Tower and Oplinger
Tower residents for donating many of the supplies required for the project
including newspapers and cereal boxes. Ultimately, Dillon hopes students have
a greater understanding of the different cultures, and of art in general. I
hope they get an understanding of the different cultures and peoples in the
Southwest, she said. Life in an area has a direct relationship to the physical
and natural environment. I hope they have a love of art. Art broadens and
enriches your experience of life significantly. Scott hopes to see the program
continue. Its a wonderful cultural experience for the students. I hope to have
it on an annual basis, she said. In an age of cutbacks, we still want to
expose children to the cultural side. Students are not complete unless theyre
exposed to art. We want to make sure our education turns out well rounded
individuals. Funding for the project comes in part from Northeast Intermediate
Unit 19 and from the schools PTAs. The program was coordinated by Scott and
Tom Kubasek, assistant principal of K.M. Smith.