CREATIVITY COMMUNIVERSITY AT THE SUNDOWN SCHOOLHOUSE: A Series of Free, Public Workshops Exploring Creativity in Communities ... at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
Organized by Steven Dahlberg, Director, International Centre for Creativity and Imagination

Come and participate in the Creativity Communiversity - a series of citizen-led workshops about creativity in communities - organized by Steven Dahlberg within the "SUNDOWN SCHOOLHOUSE: THE ALDRICH WORKSHOPS." All of the following workshops take place from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. under the geodesic dome in front of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut, as part of the exhibition "Fritz Haeg: Something for Everyone." 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2010:
Lessons from Prison for Creative Education ... with Community Activist LaResse Harvey
Come and explore the role of arts, writing, creativity and imagination in prison programs and their implication for integrating more of these topics into education. You will hear the perspective of a formerly incarcerated mother who credits her creative writing and arts experience in prison with helping transform her life. Join us to hear LaResse Harvey's story and what it means for creative education. LaResse is African American Policy Director for A Better Way Foundation in Hartford. See more on this topic.

• LaResse Harvey, African American Policy Director for A Better Way Foundation, is a formerly incarcerated single mother with more than 10 years experience in community activism on issues of a women's right to choose, housing, reentry, drug treatment, and custodial parental rights. Ms. Harvey holds associate degrees in human services, liberal arts and science, and general studies. In spring 2009, Ms. Harvey will receive her bachelors in social work from Saint Joseph's College. Ms. Harvey currently is organizing residents, business owners, advocates, and social agency staff to address issues of reintegration, housing, homelessness, hunger, and child support. She also works with young women ages 10-14 years old on racial justice, advocacy, life skills, and public speaking.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 2010:
Creativity and Sustainability in Communities … with Creativity Educator Steven Dahlberg and Community Farmer/Educator David Cherniske
As Fritz Haeg's "Edible Estate #9: Aldrich Staff Gardens & Compost" comes to end this fall, explore the symbiotic relationship between creativity and sustainability. Challenge yourself to think in new ways and imagine new possibilities about food, agriculture and the environment. Explore how creative thinking helps us understand systems, connections and alternatives better as we consider what we eat, where it comes from and its impact on the environment.

• Steven Dahlberg is director of the International Centre for Creativity and Imagination, which is dedicated to applying creativity to improve the well-being of individuals, organizations and communities. He teaches "Creativity + Social Change" at the University of Connecticut, and leads professional development workshops for educators, nonprofits and businesses. He facilitates creative thinking and problem solving sessions, writes about creativity, and contributes to various media about creativity, imagination and innovation. He currently curates a monthly Creativity Networking series in Connecticut and organizes Imagination Conversations in Connecticut as part of a national initiative of the Lincoln Center Institute. He has worked with Yale University, Guggenheim Museum, Yahoo!, Americans for the Arts, Danbury Public Schools, World Knowledge Forum, City of Providence, 3M, Aldrich Museum, State of Connecticut, and Rhode Island College, among other organizations. He helped toy inventors launch a creativity consulting business and taught an undergraduate creativity course for incarcerated men. He is particularly interested in creative education, creative community building, local food and sustainable agriculture, and creative aging. Find more at http://www.appliedimagination.org.

• David Cherniske is a community farmer and educator. He is currently collaborating with middle school students on a garden project at the Pratt Nature Center in New Milford, Connecticut. He has a deep interest in integrating age-old farming practices with cutting-edge thinking about farming, agriculture, land and animals. Find more at http://www.prattcenter.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2010:
The Art of Cartooning … with Sixth Grader Gabe Bardo
Whether or not you like to - or think you can - draw, come and explore your creativity through cartooning with sixth-grader Gabe Bardo. This session is open to participants of all ages. No experience necessary - just bring your imagination and curiosity.

• Gabe Bardo is a 6th grader at Broadview Middle School in Danbury. He recently participated in the Student Docent Program at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. He likes art, hip hop, lacrosse, basketball and video games. He's often at his desk cartooning, especially the figures from the Naruto anime series.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2010:
Exploring Animals Through Drawing … with First Grader Annabelle Cherniske Colonna
Learn more about animals as you draw them with direction from first-grader Annabelle Cherniske Colonna. Bring your kids and stick around yourself! All ages are welcome and no experience is necessary. Come and feed your imagination!

• Annabelle Cherniske Colonna is a first-grade student at Northville Elementary School. Her imagination works non-stop on generating ideas and shows. She is a persistent creator, constantly drawing and making things. And she likes teaching others. Oh yeah, she loves animals, too.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2010:
Buckminster Fuller's Geodesic Ideas … with Educator Mallory Bagwell
The Sundown Schoolhouse is held underneath a geodesic dome tent. While the geodesic dome is one of Buckminster Fuller's most-known ideas and artifacts, his true impact on the world today can be found in his continued influence upon generations of designers, architects, scientists and artists working to create a more sustainable planet. In this hands-on, visual session, learn more about his ideas about sustainability, maximum contributions from minimal technology, and housing and society relationships, as well as some of his creations related to architecture and energy.

• Mallory Bagwell is a visionary, creative educator who is just completing construction with his family of a completely off-grid house in Storrs, Connecticut. He has been described as a professional kid, a consummate gamesman, and a source of unlimited energetic thought that connects laterally across a multitude of topics and content areas. Intelligent and credible play is his "modus operandi." He was professionally trained as a Ringling clown, toured Europe and Mexico as a performer, has published several games, received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, and presents nationally at schools, colleges, agencies and conferences. He uses intensive movement-based workshops that merge cross-curricular content with a variety of art forms (mime, dance, theater, music, art) in a hands-on, supporting and integrated fashion to the specific curriculum content of K-8 classrooms. Much focus is given to demonstrating the interrelationships between language arts, music, science, mathematics, art, physical education, creativity, problem solving and group dynamics within a framework of kinesthetic processes. Find more at http://www.mallorybagwell.com.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2010:
Collective Spinning … with L. Mylott Manning
L. Mylott Manning will discuss the ancient technology of spinning fiber on a traditional spinning wheel, from her unique perspective of a contemporary artist with a background in sculpture, performance and costumes. The process of preparing fiber and spinning yarn will be demonstrated during this hands-on workshop. In addition, visitors will be invited to participate in a work of art! Bring on old piece of clothing with you to be transformed and memorialized. You will have the opportunity to share a memory that the clothing item carries with it. The artist will cut the cloth into fragments and spin the pieces together with fiber to create a continuous string. Eventually the collective yarn will be hand-knit into a sculptural costume to be worn in a future performance piece. There will also be time for visitors to try the spinning wheel, guided by the artist.

• L. Mylott Manning's artwork is a cross-disciplinary dialogue between sculpture, fiber, fashion and architecture. She creates elaborate sculptural garments to wear during her process-based performances, which explore temporary structures and installation. She aims to make art more accessible and to connect with viewers through site-specific projects and community participation. Manning's artwork has been featured in exhibitions in the U.S. and internationally and reviewed by the Associated Press, Boston Globe, and Time Out New York.