The Shawnee News-Star

Oct
26
OKLAHOMA FALL ARTS INSTITUTE
2019
Shawnee educators retreat to Quartz Mountain for Fall Workshops
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Page Oklahoma educators and
artists journeyed to the
A008 Quartz Mountain Arts
and Conference Center
Clip this October for hands-on
resized training at the Oklahoma
Fall Arts Institute (OFAI),
35% a series of intensive week-
end workshops taught by
nationally renowned art-
ists in the literary, visual,
and performing arts. The
following educators from
the Shawnee-area attended
OFAI:
Epic Charter School – Kelli Goodnight
Vida Carey
Jefferson Elementary
School – Dee Dee Hall
Sequoyah Elementary
School – Heather Dunn,
Jeanne Swinney
Shawnee High School Dee Dee Hall
– Jeremy Burnett, Bruce
Bushong
Shawnee Middle School
– Kendra Butler, Kelli
Goodnight, Trecia Leach
Tecumseh High School
– John Carey
Since 1983, the Okla-
homa Arts Institute has
offered the workshops,
which allow artists the
opportunity to sharpen Jeremy Burnett (left) and Bruce Bushong (right)
their skills, or learn new
ones altogether, in an im- Workshops especially de- skills that can be applied
mersive environment with signed for educators in- to radio and podcasting.
LQQRYDWRUV LQ WKHLU ¿HOGV cluded Social Emotional Throughout the work-
For years, OFAI has con- Learning and the Arts, A shops, participants also
nected Oklahoma teachers World of Rhythm, Bring- enjoyed activities and Trecia Leach Kendra Butler
with some of the nation’s ing Fiction to Theatrical electives in yoga, guided
Life, and Folk Dance in the stargazing, community OFAI, which include tu-
leading teaching artists,
drum circle, meditation, ition, room, and board.
offering professional de- Classroom.
“OFAI is by far the best drypoint printmaking, tai Shawnee-area educator
velopment and valuable
scholarships are made
training for educators to training for fine arts in chi, hiking, and more.
the state,” said Swinney. “It’s imperative that possible through funding
take back to their class-
from the Oklahoma State
rooms across the state. “I have attended four dif- Oklahoma educators have
Department of Education,
Oklahoma public school ferent times, and I always access to professional de-
Avedis Foundation, Banc-
educators attend OFAI on learn something I can use velopment opportunities
in my class. This year I of the highest caliber,” said First Charitable Founda-
full scholarship.
tion, and E.L. and Thelma
“OFAI was one of the brought back several folk Julie Cohen, Oklahoma
Gaylord Foundation. Addi-
best educational devel- dances I can share with my Arts Institute President &
CEO. “OFAI gives these ed- tional program support is
opment experiences I’ve students.”
Participants had the ucators the unique chance provided by the Oklahoma
experienced,” said Burnett.
Arts Council.
“Being immersed in poetry, rare opportunity to study to broaden their artistic
Next summer, Oklaho-
surrounded by like minds with digital journalist Suzi horizons while learning
ma high school students
challenged the best in us as Pond. In her workshop, techniques they can take
can also study with the
writers, as educators, and Introduction to Audio Sto- back to their students Heather Dunn
nation’s top artists at the
as occupants in this shared rytelling, Suzi instructed across the state.” gram. More information is Arts Institute is a private,
participants in capturing Every year, the Oklaho- Oklahoma Summer Arts
existence.” available at oaiquartz.org. nonprofit organization
Institute, held June 13-28,
The workshops are audio and editing content ma Arts Institute reaches This project was sup- founded in 1977, with a
to create a compelling nar- over 50,000 Oklahoma 2020. Auditions for this
geared to a variety of in- ported in part by the Okla- mission to provide excep-
prestigious program begin
terests and teaching back- rative. Participants gained school children through homa Arts Council, which tional multidisciplinary
familiarity with recording their teachers’ attendance in January at locations
grounds. This year, partici- receives support from the arts experiences that de-
across the state, and every
pants chose from classes in equipment, editing soft- at OFAI. Oklahoma public State of Oklahoma and the velop individual talent and
ware, methods for audio school educators receive accepted student receives
photography, printmaking, National Endowment for inspire a lifelong passion
a scholarship to the pro-
painting, poetry, and more. storytelling, and other full scholarships to attend the Arts. The Oklahoma for the arts.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.