Everything is “A-OK”

— from Orcas Island Education Foundation —

Arts for Orcas Kids, brings artists into the classrooms, as a committee within the  Orcas Island Education Foundation.

The Orcas Island Education Foundation is thrilled to announce that the “artists in the schools” program, once run by Orcas Open Arts, is now a committee under OIEF. Orcas Open Arts is still around, but will no longer be focused on providing artists in our public schools.

The new art program is called A-OK: “Arts for Orcas Kids,” and it will operate as a stand-alone program under the umbrella of OIEF.

A-OK provides talented local artists to classrooms in the elementary and the middle school to inspire students and help them bring the visual arts to life through age-appropriate projects. The work of the students and artists culminates in a fantastic art show in May. This opportunity to work with real artists and create works of their own work of art is transformative in the life of a child.

Here are some of the things A-OK is up to:

~Elementary School Artists-In-Classrooms…each class is/will be working with an artist for a four-week session. A variety of media will be explored.

~Middle School Visual Art Exploratories- Artist Sarah Mikolowsky is finishing up the third-quarter exploratory on April 3, and Shane Watson is lined up to lead the final quarter with a focus on Science Fiction Illustration.

~As mentioned above, the Annual Student Art Exhibit at the Orcas Center, with its grand opening on Friday, May 2nd and continuing through the month of May, which is National Arts Education Month.

~ The first A-OK Clay Cafe- a fun and fundraising activity to be held on Sunday, May 4th, in the school cafeteria. A-OK received a large donation of bisque ware, glazing supplies and a kiln, and they will set up a workshop for kids and adults
who, for a donation, can paint and glaze pieces which we will fire for them. We hope that we can continue to hold more of these events.

Finally, A-OK is looking ahead and planning to hold a “Lotta Art” fundraiser in the fall. They are also trying to stay current with the school’s renovation plans to ensure the presence of a functional art-making space in the school.

So – if you love art and want to ensure these remarkable artists continue to work with our public school students – a donation is always welcome. You can go online to OIEF.org to make a Paypal donation (note that it is for A-OK), or you can send your check to: OIEF/AOK, POB 782, Eastsound, WA 98245.