Pittsburgh's Youth Slam Poetry Scene

Are you interested in becoming part of Pittsburgh's youth poetry scene? If so, join the Young Steel group on Facebook. They have a slam happening on Sat, Feb. 25th at 7pm at Cannon Coffee: 802 Brookline Blvd.

http://dormont-brookline.patch.com/articles/young-steel-s-first-event-saturday-at-cannon-coffee

Students: ART. WRITE. NOW.

Traditional elementary art courses begin with looking at the art of the great acclaimed artists of the past and the present. Most everyone is familiar with Picasso, DiVinci, Monet, etc. The same is true for literature. We’ve probably all read some Shakespeare, and who could forget Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening?”
    These figures are worthy of all the acclaim they receive, but sometimes it can feel a bit daunting to compare your work with theirs. And who’s comparing, anyways?
    The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards highlight the work of students from all over the nation. Here’s their “About the Awards” blurb:

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have an impressive legacy dating back to 1923 and a noteworthy roster of past winners including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford and Joyce Carol Oates.

The Awards are an important opportunity for students to be recognized for their creative talents. Each year, the Alliance partners with more than 100 visual and literary-arts focused organizations across the country to bring The Awards to local communities. Teens in grades 7 through 12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published.

Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients. Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

To date, the Awards have encouraged over 13 million students, recognized more than 9 million young artists and writers, and made available more than $25 million in awards and scholarships. They continue to be the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the U.S., and the largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers.

The  Gallery (found under the exhibitions tab) showcases hundreds of award-winning examples of work, ranging from all types of writing and art to architecture and videogames. Take a look at this work, because it can be just as, and even more inspiring than work created years ago. Inspiration can be found everywhere.

Also, check out the Art. Write. Now. slideshow and tour for more work. http://www.artandwriting.org/AWNTour

Publications

From the desk of Mrs. Green:

As you all know, I encourage my students to submit their writing to the world outside of the classroom. Many student writers consider their work to be an exercise in communication between teacher and student. You, the writer, are assigned a topic; you write; you turn it in; the teacher reads it; you get it back with comments; you despair or rejoice; repeat. If you are only writing for a teacher audience, you are missing out. Writing is communication, expression, catharsis, voice, experimentation, fun. Write for more than school. Write beyond these walls.

Submitting your work to be published can be intimidating, but I encourage you to send your work to the world. Check out this link for many submission opportunities for young writers:

http://www.newpages.com/npguides/young_authors_guide.htm

Also, after our week of Gilda's Club recognition, consider sending your writing about Cancer to the Gilda's Club Writing contest. This can be any perspective, fiction or non-fiction, about experiences with Cancer. See me for the form. Last year I had two students featured on NPR reading their winning submissions. Submissions deadline is sometime in March.

Happy Writing!!

Alisha B. Wormsley workshop

Artist Alisha B. Wormsley held a 2-hour presentation and workshop on Tuesday, February 1st for Tapestry. She discussed her life and work as an artist, her photography, film, and her Reverse Migration Project. The workshop helped to build story-writing skills by having students create a story and characters from provided photos.

View more of her work on her website and follow her Tumblr.

Hey Everybody!

The submissions deadline is fast approaching! I just submitted every significant piece of writing I found on my computer! Your turn!(Insert further intellectual commentary here...I am tired and my spacebar and 'v' keys are not cooperating..)

Self Portraits

For photography class we were had to take self portraits and I helped out my friend Kim. Her idea was to use a glass of water and show herself upside down and distorted in the reflection. She used this idea to show how she can see things in unique perspectives. Photography is a great way to express yourself and let others know more about you!

Updates Schmup-dates

Hello Tapestry!

Mr. Fremuth (aka “The Intern Wonder”) here—updating all of you on some stuff that I hope will interest you!

First of all, as many of you already know, The Writer’s Workshop (“A Place to Start”) is a go!  The field trip will take place on Tuesday, March 27^th, and will last all day.  Look for permission slips in Mrs. Green’s room.

While I have your attention on that, let me tell you a little bit about what I am hoping this day will look like.  The workshop—in and of itself—is going to serve as my thesis for the University of Pittsburgh.  I am going to be looking at how creative writing changes from when it is written in the classroom to when it is written outside (and totally void of) a classroom.  I want to see if treating students not as pupils, but as fellow writers, might have an effect on the final product that is created.  I also want to know how your feelings change between the two environments, and if these changes actually have any effect on what you are writing.

On that day, you will not be students, my fellow interns will not be instructors, and Mrs. Green and I will not be teachers.  We will all be writers.  There will be no authority and no titles.  (That’s right—you’ll be calling us by our first names.  What a concept.)

With this in mind, I would like to ask a favor of you.  In order to effectively look at what creative writing looks like in the classroom, I must have some sort of sample to study.  If there are any pieces of creative writing (e.g. poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction) that you have written in school and would not mind me taking a look at, please drop off a copy either in my room (185) or Mrs. Green’s room (176).  This work has a possibility of finding it’s way in to my final thesis (as evidence); however, if this is case, all names and identifiers will be blacked out.  Any pieces that you would be willing to contribute would be greatly appreciated.

Now that that’s all out of the way—I want to hear from some of you!  What are some genres you would like to see us working with during the workshop?  Poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction are the old standbys—but I’m open to change!  What do you think?

-F

P.s. If you are feeling so inclined, here is a link to my personal blog.  It’s only been up for a few weeks, but feel free to take a look!  http://jfremuth.wordpress.com/