Artist in Residence is a component of our School Overnight Program (SOP), and has been since IslandWood was founded. It had been on pause the last few years, since the start of the COVID pandemic. But, it’s back and we couldn’t be more excited! We asked Amanda Hipp, manager of the program, to share a bit about its return.

Why do we integrate arts into our curriculum for the School Overnight Program?

Children have an innate sense of wonder and excitement about the natural world. One way we foster this curiosity is through our arts program. By weaving arts into the School Overnight Program experience, we provide students the opportunity to form connections to the natural and human communities that surround them. We believe that by connecting children to artists, introducing them to new art mediums, and integrating arts into science, that students will form deeper connections with the natural places in their lives. These connections help in creating the next generation of environmental stewards.

What is your favorite part about facilitating this program?

I love working with the artists. They start off the planning process by sharing all sorts of creative and fun ideas that they want to teach students. We work together to establish what is logistically possible and more often than not, how we can make the most elaborate ideas work. One of our artists, Kamyar Mohsenin, wants to teach students how to build eco-sculptures. He thought it was unlikely that we could have multiple spaces to lead this activity, and was talking through the logistics of resetting the space for the next group. When I suggested that we could move him around campus in a golf cart and have the kids hike to his location he got so excited. It is rewarding to make these ideas come alive, and to provide truly unique experience for students.

Why are you excited the program is back?

Arts programing had been an integral part of IslandWood since our beginning. We started by building our Art Studio to give instructors a space devoted to the arts. Soon after that we established an Art Endowment to ensure we would have arts funding each year. I’m thrilled to be a part of bringing back the Artist in Residence program, both for the opportunity it provides artists, and for the connections students gain from the experience.

Can you tell us about some of the artists scheduled for the rest of this school year?

Yes!

• Miriam Shiroma-Kentner kicks off the return of Artist in Residence, teaching students about basketweaving and natural cordage.
• Isobel Coney will be teaching about natural pigments.
• Hannah Meadows will be leading students in paper collage.
• Anita Spaeth will focus on drawing with students.
• Jess Griffith will spend time on watercolors.
• Elizabeth Vanduine will lead students in paper cutting.
• Kamyar Mohsenin, as I mentioned above, is going to teach students about eco-sculptures.

What do you have in mind for the 2024-2025 school year?

I’m cooking up lots of ideas, but the biggest wish I have for next year is that the program is fully funded. My dream is to have twenty weeks of artists! (This year we have nine.) Although we do have an arts endowment, it only covers the costs of two visiting artists per year.

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Learn More

• Want to know more about the Artist in Residence program? Check it out here.
• Want to help support the program? Thank you and please reach out to [email protected]!
• Want to be a visiting artist? Learn more and apply here.