Welcome to the Statewide Art and Enrichment Roster, Hosted by CiTi BOCES
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This directory of artists, presenters and vendors is for contact information only. Please note that all
approvals are determined by individual BOCES and/or District criteria and do not guarantee acceptance of
proposed contracts.
The Mopco Improv Theatre/Mop & Bucket Co.
School Shows: Prices for Mop & Bucket Co.
Performance only: 45 minutes, two improvisers and accompanist $1000 Additional improvisers, each $200 45 minutes, Theatresports (™) show, five improvisers plus accompanist $1,500 Second show same ½ day (morn or afternoon) $500
Customized for specific character education themes (more lecture-demo elements than average performance) $ +100 Workshops: 45 minutes, one or two trainer-facilitators $350-$450
Multiple after school improv workshops - Let’s talk Combinations: Evening performances (PTA event, etc.): 45 minutes, two or three improvisers and accompanist $800 Additional improvisers, each $200
Motivational Speaker package for public schools - Let’s Talk Travel/ Mileage: No Charge within 30 miles of 10 North Jay Street, Schenectady NY Over 30 Miles: $1.00/mile from 10 N. Jay Sound reinforcement Wireless lavaliere, mixer, PA package (recommended for a cafetorium, auditoriums, etc.) $200 Dates Available Please call or email to discuss your needs. We like to make it work for you. Program Theme: We work with you to create an entertaining, all improvised show that meets your instructional agenda. Showcasing the main tenets of improv (be spontaneous, celebrate positive risk taking, accept and build with what exists, make your partner look good) our shows support your programs on anti-bullying, diversity and inclusion, or enhancing creativity. We also address core subjects using NYS standards as guidelines.
Program Description: Improv shows for entertainment and education. Interactive improv workshops, which can be in combination with a show, using selected students as our collaborators.
Offsite workshops for faculty and staff, for team building, communication skills development, and more.
The following two school programs have been designed to follow the current NYS learning standards for performing arts. Each themed assembly also follows their respective NYS learning standard(s).
"Anything is Possible!" : a magical character development assembly
Focus: good mental health practices, positive self image, emotional regulation
Everyone has their own unique talent! It takes a special journey to each person to find what's special about them. Jeff will share his magic and the journey that he took to find his passion. Children will learn techniques that they can use to start their journey and find their own passion. We also take a look at the feelings that come with self discovery and healthy ways to manage them.
"The BIG balloon STEAM show!" : a circus variety style STEAM assembly
Focus: Critical Thinking, Scientific Method & Vocabulary, Deductive Reasoning
Come and explore the science behind balloons! This show combines circus style stunts with educational content that follows the NYS science learning standards. We'll explore how balloons are made along with their scientific properties. We'll also test the scientific method in a LIVE balloon experiment! For the grand finale, students will learn about elastic potential energy as Jeff climbs inside of a giant 10 foot balloon!
Traveling shop class is a unique program that makes wood working accessible and safe for students grades PreK-8.
Students learn about a trade that is both a career and an art form. Students get to make wood sculptures with specialized tools in a safe environment; all materials and supplies provided. With guidance and one-on-one attention, students will design and create their own unique wood sculpture to make and keep.
Traveling shop class easily aligns with any visual arts curriculum addressing goals for sculpture, critical thinking and problem solving, culture and careers. Traveling shop class addresses the NYS standards for the visual arts for creating and connecting. Students will generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. They will organize and develop their ideas and work experimenting with forms, materials and artmaking approaches, balancing experimentation with safety and responsibility, while interacting in ways that enhance and empower their lives.
Through artmaking students develop awareness, knowledge and experiences, and solve artistic problems. Part of the traveling shop class presentation is about environmental conservation which has cross curricular connections to science goals for habitats. 21st Century Skills such as critical thinking, creativity, social skills, communication, flexibility, problem solving, productivity, adaptability, curiosity and imagination, self-direction and perseverance are embedded as students plan and build, share, take turns, make corrections, and practice safety.
Traveling shop class programming is easily adaptable for unique school-wide or individual class experiences including a modified format to be inclusive of all abilities.
Please take a moment to consider my StoryFaces and Talking Art assembly programs for schools, a unique presentation of storytelling and visual arts with a variety of content for grades K - 12, family audiences and events. Christopher Agostino’s StoryFaces is a fusion of language and visual arts, an exciting storytelling show in which volunteers are face painted to illustrate the stories as I tell them, captivating the audience with traditional folktales and my uniquely animated original stories like The Amazing Face Story and The Amazing Face Story Activity, a follow-up activity in which students create an original story starring themselves — including Talking Art programs focusing on art history for upper grades — and programs for adults and family audiences. Assembly Programs are available for grade levels K - 12, with variable content for different grade levels. For middle and upper grade levels the performances also include cultural information on the use and significance of masks and makeup. Performances run 45 - 60 minutes, and work best for an audience of 250 students or less. In most shows I paint 8 to 12 volunteers during the performance, while mesmerizing the entire audience with stories ranging from traditional tales like Aesop’s Fables to legendary adventures like Punia and the King of the Sharks, The Tail of the Dragon and the samurai hero tale Raiko vs. the Goblin Spider, plus my original stories such as The Tiger that Went to the House of the Sun, When A Man First Met a Crocodile and in my Talking Arts programs, stories about art -- origins, inspirations and appropriations -- such as my mask design demonstration: Two Lizards on Four Faces, and Picasso the Thief and the birth of Modern Art.
I offer hands-on creative writing workshops in poetry and prose (3-5 days each---3 workshops per day---across a chosen grade level, where each class gets 3-5 visits each). I meet with teachers to discuss their curriculum needs and thematic requests, suggesting various workshop ideas tailored to their requests. Teachers then choose what works best for them---for example: Assistance with reluctant writers, adding details, word choice, adjective strength, voice---in whatever current learning theme is paramount, such as animals, environment, feelings, character development, social studies, etc.
I support teachers throughout the residency where they will be present and interact whenever their insight is needed as I teach. During and after the residency, I check in (over lunch, etc.) to ascertain how teachers are feeling about their students' progress, and also to offer many resources from both my books, stories, poems, and teacher oriented publications (nine books with Scholastic Professional Books for teachers) where they might copy any lessons they wish to use in the future.
I also offer follow-up ideas at the end of every residency for those who wish to continue using the writing "tools/ideas" I present to their students. And there are always numerous options! I love to work with the core levels to help develop a stronger writing momentum with students (for example, 2nd grades in fall, same students in 3rd grade with different themes/format the following year, 4th grade added on or begun simultaneously--always building on previous workshop skills, etc.
Districts have booked me in various schools for 25 plus years, often having me conduct workshops from year to year in multiple levels, as teachers love the support and boost my energy brings to their classrooms and students from which they springboard after I leave. The sky's the limit! I am here to serve educationally and creatively.
Flame the band is a group of talented musicians supported by The Arc Lexington in Fulton County, NY who happen to have disabilities. They travel across the country spreading their message of hope and inspiration through their music. The band plays original music, and favorites across many genres from the 1950s-today.
Big Air BMX Show featuring some of the World's top BMX Stunt athletes who deliver an unforgettable 40-minute high-energy assembly, complete with a powerful youth message titled the "5 Secrets to Success." The message includes Anti-Drug, Motivation, Goals and Dreams, Respect Other (Anti-Bullying) and Stay in School.
LEVI’S RELIC - Educational Touring Show
SYNOPSIS
When a fairy named Levi crushes his wing trying to help his friends, he loses his ability to control the wind and fly. Determined to get his powers back, he embarks on a journey in search of a quick fix. Instead, it puts everything he loves in grave danger. This powerful story teaches children the dangers of looking to substances to feel whole, and how to help your family and friends get help if they are struggling – by believing in your community and believing in yourself.
With support provided by Onondaga County, Redhouse is thrilled to be workshopping an original play with songs for elementary-aged children, with supplemental resources/activities for students, that teaches about Opioid Abuse in a developmentally appropriate way.
We are launching our pilot tour for free all over Onondaga County starting in January, 2024 and running through May, 2024. As part of the tour, educators and families will also be provided a list of resources for anyone they may know who may be struggling on where to receive assistance (in collaboration with the Drug Prevention Network).
Programs present the fascinating story of the Shakers, beginning with their arrival to our site in Albany in 1776, under the leadership of a woman named Mother Ann Lee. We follow their impact on local and national history and material culture. Daily life in this community was deeply impacted by the introduction of the nearby Erie Canal which fueled its transformation from an agricultural community to a community that was both agricultural and industrial. The Shakers lived as hard working and mindful innovators. They were strict pacifists who sought religious freedom and relinquished private property within their communities, and embraced human equality regardless of gender or race. Today, the Shakers are probably best known for their human-centered architecture and furniture design. It’s simple, functional, and beautiful. It's easy to get lost in the aesthetic qualities of Shaker objects, so a big part of what we do is bring attention to the human side of these objects, and how they are reflective of Shaker values. Students can learn to weave on a loom, and other hands-on activities are possible.
The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium offers engaging programs for students from pre-K to college, featuring live animals. Our programs align with New York State Learning Standards and can be customized to meet your specific needs. Participants will have the opportunity to explore outdoor ponds and living wildlife displays in our two aquarium buildings.
Program Offerings:
Guided Tours: Discover various animal exhibits discuss themes such as Fins & Jaws, Aquatic Habitats, Life Cycles in Nature, Adaptations, Hatching Trout, Reptiles & Amphibians, Aquaculture, and General.
Seasonal Activities: Participate in seasonal programs such as Egg Stripping, Pond Life, and Freshwater Ecology.
If you are unable to join us for a field trip, we also provide outreach and virtual options.
I’ll start each workshop with a slide show of my personal journey into the arts. This will start from my entrance into the arts back in high school where I was guided away from the arts by guidance counselors and administration. I’ve found this to be helpful to mention as many students can relate to this.
My entrance into the arts started in ceramics and has led me to Mould Making, Metal Casting, Fiber & Silversmithing. I’ll discuss how perseverance, determination, hard work, and elbow grease has awarded me with scholarships, grants, shows, and teaching opportunities that enable me to travel to craft schools and residencies to continue making work. I’ll show the evolution of my work and include photos of in-process works from different studios throughout the years.
This introduction will last about 30 minutes concluding with 15 minutes of questions.
I’ll continue with about 20 minutes of demonstrations and disperse materials for hands-on building. At this point, I’ll make my rounds to meet with each student and troubleshoot their project ideas and the best way to construct them. I’ll call the class over to discuss which method of building would be best depending on the desired outcome as there is no one way to make something.
Program Descriptions
Workshop 1: Personification of an Object
First steps into the world of Abstract art by warping reality one object at a time. Students are prompted to give humanistic features/characteristics to inanimate objects to create something that’s never existed before.
Workshop 2: Re-Create Everyday Objects
Students will be asked to bring in 3-5 everyday objects. We’ll discuss different methods of construction, play with scale, and explore the surface through color and texture. Refrain from bringing in objects that are made out of ceramic materials.
Workshop 3: Large Forms inspired by the Ancient World and Today
This workshop focuses on giving students the necessary skills to create large vessels. Students will be asked to find references of Vessels from Ancient Egypt, China, Mesopotamia, or contemporary artists.
-hand-building on a larger scale helps beginner students quickly adapt to the properties of clay and respond to the material quicker than something small. This method of construction [coil-building] is the oldest method of building with clay, allows for lots of adjustments to form and scale for a beginner student, causes you to be attentive to the material.
-Discuss the benefits of hand-building and the freedom/ability to build in a gestural way, why this is helpful.
-Ask students to choose or draw a silhouette to mimic for their vessel
– A blueprint/reference photo is VITAL to making a successful shape, make this mandatory, this will help assist them in achieving the shape they want to.
-brief demo on darting– show them how to edit a shape that’s not going in the direction (shape-wise) that they’re going for.
Workshop 4: Advanced Techniques
Ask students to make an object (sculptural or functional) using the extruder and slab roller. These can be very gestural, architectural, or realistic.
-Demo how to construct a form using slabs slumping/wrapping/template techniques (cut-outs slipped and scored together)
-Emphasize that the appearance of the object will be determined by what method of construction students wish to use (explain and show examples of architectural vs. gestural, organic vs geometric forms, etc.)
-Demo how to use an extruder and how to attach extruded shapes securely together/to the form.
Clay & tools can be provided for an additional fee.
The Junkman — the original, Grammy-nominated recycled materials percussionist — and his collection of skateboards, road signs, brake drums, and other unusual items will captivate young minds with a STEAM-driven interactive experience that will entertain while teaching about music, science, the environment, inclusiveness, and kindness.
From an hour-long interactive eco-concert with a culminating JunkJam wherein kids play along with The Junkman, to a full day of instrument-making or music-making workshops, or a week to two-week long sound sculpture or music-making residency, he’ll work with you every step of the way to develop and craft a program that best suits your students AND your budget. All The Junkman's programs featured his Help Our Planet (HOP) education initiative, which has garnered awards of excellence from the United Nations, the Federation of Mexico, and the State of Vermont.