Iditarod Fan Journey - The Lack of Snow

Monday, February 27, 2017

The Lack of Snow …

After a week of scanning the skies for snowflakes, gauging the veracity of different weather models, and crossing our fingers, the 2017 Birkiebeiner race melted into mud and ice causing the first cancellation of the epic race in ten years.  Normally, vast stretches of the powdery white stuff form at least knee high drifts.  Hayward Lake, the last big approach to the finish line on main street was open water.  Scant precipitation could muster only a dusting of snow.  Instead of a 55 K cross country ski race, thousands experienced a consolation 5K jaunt on their “rock skis” – seems like folks still enjoyed it. 

Despite the race cancellation, the atmosphere was surprising upbeat.  Back at our cabin on Lac Courte Oreilles we gathered with Birkie friends around a cozy wood fire and caught up on each other’s latest news, as well as remembered a mutual friend who had died in November.  Each of these folks are dear to me, and I’m grateful that we could spend time together, even if there were no Birkie wax dramas to share.

From Hayward, Wisconsin we travelled to Minneapolis where we fly to Anchorage this evening.  My phone’s been binging with various Anchorage introductions, itineraries and pictures to prepare for our arrival and Iditarod experience.  Like the Birkie ski race, the Iditarod was also impacted by lack of snow this year.  The race was re-routed much further north of the traditional route to Fairbanks.  Several changes have occurred to the list of activities as a result.  Quickly glancing at my most recent notes, I saw we now get to go to two checkpoints with the “Iditarod Air Force” – Nenana and Manly Hot Springs.  I also spotted an opportunity to witness “The Running of the Reindeer” in downtown Anchorage during their winter carnival, “The Fur Rendezvous”, as well as hunt for the Northern Lights with a photographer. 

Tomorrow morning, I attend the Iditarod Teacher Conference and meet the finalists for next year’s “Iditarod Teacher on the Trail” as well as take some cool field trips.  I’ll keep you posted.

Art Students and the Art of Competition

Creating art really isn't competitive in the same way as a sport. It's usually a solitary endeavor without the benefit of an audience to cheer one on.  The end result stands on its own merits at the equivalent of the "big game" - competitions and shows.   Every year, high school art students are eligible to compete in a juried art show for awards, cash prizes and scholarships at the Scholastic Art Show.  A regional competition which draws from about 50 schools in Northeast Ohio, thousands of works are adjudicated, then selected for the prestigious show which is in its 61st year. Works which garner the highest honors are forwarded to New York City and further adjudicated for the National Scholastic Art show.

Seniors, Jen Barber and Alex Embleton garnered “Silver Key” and Honorable Mention awards Saturday, January 24^th at this year's  Scholastic Arts  Competition hosted by Kent State Stark . Also earning Honorable Mentions for their work were seniors, Molly Smith and Kaitlin Warner as well as junior, Nathaniel Barnoff.  Works which garnered “Gold” and “Silver” keys are on display through February 4 on the Kent State Stark Campus.  The show spans three buildings: The Campus Center, Fine Arts Center and Main Hall Gallery which are open to the public from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday. 

Congratulations to these students for their exceptional work!

Jen Barber, "Sunrise Citrus", Silver Key

Alex Embleton, "Airship", Silver Key

Alex Embleton, "Me and My Ride", Silver Key

Jen Barber, "Staircase at the ARGO", Honorable Mention

Jen Barber, "Floating through Venice", Honorable Mention

Jen Barber, "Rooted", Honorable Mention

Kaitlin Warner, "Hungry Pup", Honorable Mention

Molly Smith, "Morning Meditation", Honorable Mention

Nathaniel Barnoff, "A Winter Morning", Honorable Mention

Ms. Candice Hale Student Teaches in the Art Department this Semester

The Art Department is pleased to welcome Ms. Candice Hale on board this semester as she fulfills her student teaching requirement for Malone University.  Ms. Hale currently is working with senior high art students.  She'll switch to the elementary and junior high art classes in mid-October.   I asked her to introduce herself to the Lake Center Christian School community through this blog.

Ms. Hale and Advanced Art Student discuss reduction print process

"Hello students and parents!  While I have met the students already, I just wanted to take a minute to introduce myself to you.  My name is Ms. Hale, and I am a senior at Malone University studying Art Education.  Student teaching at LCCS is my final step of completing my degree and having a classroom of my own.  I am a showing artist, having been in five shows this last year, including a large solo exhibit at Malone University.  My medium of choice is watercolor, but I am experienced in all the various mediums.  I enjoy painting portraits of my family and still life’s of flowers the most.  I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the students at LCCS and excited to see what I can teach them, but I am more excited to see what I can learn from them!"

Lizards and the Art of Reduction Printmaking

Prints drape from the drying rack, while brayers, cutters, ink, and jigs are neatly stacked on the back counter ready for use.  Advanced Art jumped into the first fall project interpreting "My Morning Routine." We're doing four-color reduction prints with 12x12" safety cut blocks.  If you're wondering what a reduction print is, Wikipedia explains it as a "multi-colored print in which the separate colors are printed from the same block at different stages."  

Portrait of Licky Licky, courtesy of my student

Although everyone has the same theme, subject matter has ranged from pets to pancakes and  sweaters to Starbucks.  One student even brought in the subject for her print, a pet lizard affectionately dubbed "Licky Licky".  The lizard was momentarily left under my watchful eye quietly resting on a washcloth so my student could grab something from the other side of the room.  To avoid the possibility of a runaway lizard, I don't think I even blinked until my student returned to her desk.  To be fair, though, I don't think Licky Licky took her eyes off of me either.  

Artsense Mini-term Toronto 2014

Latte Art by Alex

The art of the pour

AGO workshop - Pen and Ink

Sketching at the AGO

So, here’s the wrap-up:

Toronto. Two mini-term groups in one tour bus. Four DVD’s of animated films.  Twelve Lake Center’s Artsense Mini-term students poised to take Canada’s largest city by storm experiencing barista training, art workshops, museum tours, beautiful vistas of Toronto, theater, Medieval Times and Niagara Falls. 

Incidental things we learned along the way:

 From the Canadian Barista Academy:  Espresso has the potential to smell like anything from gym socks to oatmeal cookies depending on one’s skill level in pulling a shot of quality coffee beans. It’s all a matter of training the nose.

 From the AGO: If your group gets separated in an art museum, and you find yourself in a closed section, do follow Mrs Brott and EXIT the door despite confusing directions and cacophonous alarms. The cost of reuniting with your group?  Priceless.

 From U.S. Customs: How do you know you’re a U.S. Citizen?  That’s a trick question pulled out by border guards.  Feel free to ask one of the students - they certainly know the answer now.


Some of the real things we learned along the way:

We got to talk about God, and how he can meet and exceed our expectations if we only fill our cups to the brim with Him.  At Famous People Players Dinner Theater, we saw that people with special needs could live independent lives through the avenue of theatre and culinary art.  We learned about currency exchange rates, loonies, toonies, the history of coffee, and Canadian artists. Last but not least, we experienced growing new friendships as well as deepening  established connections. 

It was worth every minute.

They Just Lettered in Visual Art!

"Girl" by Kaitlin1173 (Gold Key)

"Haitian Girl" by Abigail4446 (Silver Key and Cash Prize)

A panel of visual art judges wades through almost four thousand student art works to choose about 550 pieces for the annual Northeast Central Ohio Scholastic Art Competition every year.  So, like art teachers across the region submitting student work for consideration, we hold our collective breaths and see if our kids’ work made the cut.  This year I was thrilled that four of our students were recognized by the competition, and three have their work included in the Scholastic Art Show on exhibit at Kent State Stark campus through February 6.  

One happy art teacher!

 Undaunted by this past Saturday’s weather conditions, a crowd of about 500 gathered to recognize these students in an awards ceremony where each artist received either a gold or silver key for their art work.  In addition, several works were chosen to receive special recognition and awards sponsored by local organizations and businesses.  To my delight, Abigail's work, “Haitian Girl” was honored with a cash prize from Flower Factory  as well as a silver key.

Please join me in congratulating these students for the excellence in visual arts!

"Hephaestus" by Alex11869 (Silver Key)

"Persephone" by Jennifer4008 (Honorable Mention)

Tile Wall Mural: A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

Bob Yost and our new tile wall mural

Dedicated on Saturday, August 17, 2013 in memory of former LCCS principal and lifelong learner, Kymberlea Calco, who went home to be with the Lord on February 1, 2012.