Paterson Students Go On Arts Integration Field Trip at William Paterson University

Above:  NRC students from Ms. Selino's technology class created posters for their field trip day at WPU

On Thursday April 11 approximately 80 students and six teachers from the Paterson Public Schools visited the campus of William Paterson University for a variety of arts integration activities. New Roberto Clemente School (NRC) and Don Bosco Technical Academy (DB) middle-school students and their teachers: Ms. Selino, NRC technology teacher, Ms. Aramayo, NRC art teacher, Ms. Giancarelli, NRC ELA teacher, Ms. Kaminski, DB art teacher, Ms. Lorenzo, DB ELA teacher, and Mr. Hayden, DB music teacher attended. Also in attendance were WPU Art PIR Triada Samaras, WPU PIR Betsy Golden and Director of WPU Professional Development Schools Director Nancy Norris-Bauer.

Above left to right:  Nancy Norris-Bauer, Two WPU Art Students, Emily Johnson, Triada Samaras, 

Ms. Giancarelli, Ms. Aramayo, Ms Selino

In the morning the students separated into four, smaller groups.  One group went to the WPU Athletic Fields and Facilities where Ken Sinatra showed these students and their teachers around the department.  Students learned WPU students are  encouraged to achieve as a scholars, citizens and athletes. Another group of Paterson students and teachers visited the WPU Library to learn about and see the 3D printing process there and meet Chris Weber. In addition they created their own 3D forms with plastic manipulative pieces that enabled them to envision a a 3D form before printing.

A third group attended a workshop on dinosaur bones, shark teeth and fossils, many from nearby New Jersey archaeological sites. These students learned about the proximity of these remains so close to Paterson and to WPU from Dr. Marty Becker assisted by Harry Maisch. LINK   LINK                     
                                       
  
The fourth group visited two art exhibitions at WPU Ben Shahn Gallery with Emily Johnson Gallery Manager.  In one gallery students learned about the Cuban painter, Rafael Soriano (1920-2015), an artist born in Cuba who later died in exile in Miami, Florida.
Students learned about the difficulties this artist faced leaving his home country and being exiled to a foreign land.  Ms. Johnson explained the connection between Sorian's difficult transition to this body of Cabezas (Heads) paintings at Ben Shahn Galleries.

For the second art exhibit, a WPU student exhibition, Emily introduced to WPU art and art history students who led the students through a tour of this work. Students asked questions and learned how student art is created in the WPU Fine Art Department. Next, all the students and teachers gathered at the WPU Student Art Exhibition at Ben Shahn Gallery where two WPU MFA students greeted and spoke with them

Above:  Don Bosco Teachers and Students at Ben Shahn Gallery

The next event was a WPU Admissions Office presentation by Melissa Zollo.  Ms. Zollo presented a movie about WPU created with drones.  She also explained to the students how to start planning for a successful college career by planning now, far ahead of time.

Lunch at the WPU Student Center then followed. Afterwards all students and their teachers walked to WPU Shea Center for Performing Arts  where they viewed and heard Act One of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, The Pirates of Penzance performed by WPU students. 
The performance was produced by Christopher Dylan Herbert, William Paterson vocal program coordinator. The stage director was Phillip Sprayberry, William Paterson media relations coordinator and adjunct faculty. Lois Buesser, William Paterson accompanist and vocal coach, conducted. Samara Grossman, MetroWest Jewish Center producing artistic director, choreographed. Mr. Sprayberry and Ms. Samara Grossman answered questions from the students about the creation of this production for the stage.

Students researched and created pre-activities for the Pirates of Penzance field trip day at their schools before the field trip.  

Above:  Ms. Aramayo and her students designed Pirate hats in the classroom prior to the 
field trip.

Above and Below: Ms. Selino and her students researched and designed posted for the production in the classroom .

Next they will follow up with post-activities back in the classroom.  Stay Tuned!!