he era of the pandemic has eliminated in-person arts teaching, but it hasn’t stopped some artists from getting art to the people. More than a dozen South Dakota Arts Council (SDAC) teaching artists on the 2020 roster switched creative gears by transforming their engaging live presentations into accessible virtual experiences. Each of the 24 videos on the new series’ playlist on the YouTube channel features 30 to 60-minute arts lessons, including a description and materials Nicole Gagner created “DIY Heart Art” for the you can find at home. Some artists SDAC Educational Video Series. Here she stands in front of her handpainted window. created multiple presentations for a more in-depth series of lessons. There are videos for all ages, from kindergarten age to senior citizens. “I always believed I had to have an Nicole Gagner travels and teaches audience or I could not perform,” Scholz in rural South Dakota communities and said, “and the energy would come from contributed to the series. the audience in order for me to give it “We’re dealing with so much and back, but what I discovered was that the By Sarah Carlson, things change so quickly,” she said, “so for energy seems to be in me, too, so that I SDAC Arts Program people to have quiet time where their brains can generate it back out.” Coordinator can entirely focus on mixing paint or designing Impact may not be palpable by the artists, windows can be so healing—a way for us to process but the impact on students may last long past the everything that’s going on.” pandemic. The online video process may be new territory for some “Someone 10 years from now might watch your video and artists who are accustomed to a live, public setting. In creating a learn something from it,” said Mark Zimmerman, a painter and recorded video, there is no real audience responding. SDAC teaching artist who created four videos for the series. “Normally there’s so much interaction and you get live “I’ve been inspired by feedback from my videos and will feedback,” Gagner said. “With the videos you don’t really get to continue to expand my audience in this way,” Gagner said. “It’s feel the impact you’ve had.” never been anything I would have thought was on my path.” Markie Scholz has been a touring teaching artist with SDAC Scholz was already providing live stream instruction early for 49 years, and has been trying new things. in 2020 because of the pandemic, having the teachers in their classrooms helping to instruct. “The economy is hurt and people are dying, but there’s an energy that’s happening that’s going to change the way we do a lot of things—for the better,” she said. “I just remember, ‘this is why I keep doing what I do’—and I’ll do anything to adapt for it.” The roster artist educational video series is free to the public. The playlist of 24 videos (and counting) is available through a link at artscouncil.sd.gov or by searching for South Dakota Arts Council on YouTube.com.
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Teaching artists are getting off the road and
going online
www.ArtsCouncil.sd.gov
At left is a video screenshot of SDAC roster artist Markie Scholz who created “How to Make and Manipulate A Sock Puppet.”
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