Students Involved in Collaborative Project
Cameron Cross, the artist who painted the Van Gogh, recently visited Goodland for a consultation to discuss the repair and upkeep of his work. During this time the city also proposed that he create a small painting for one of the local parks as well. Cameron suggested working with the high school youth in a collaborative painting instead.
Cameron shared his interest in a Native American artist named Norval Morriseau, and his desire to create a work of art that mirrored Morriseau's style. After several class discussions our students agreed on the style as long as they could incorporate local cultural beliefs and ideas into the work. On December 2nd, Cross spent the entire day in Mr. First's art class at Goodland High School visiting with students and walking through the creative process of creating an original work of art.
The attached image is the final project. It depicts an Arapaho Shaman impersonating dancing at the Sundance Festival. (Hiincebiit - A horned serpent thought to bring good luck and prosperity.) Students incorporated Morriseau's use of interconnected objects signifying how every thing is part of something else, as well as his x-ray style of shapes inside others to symbolize unity in differences.
The following students were involved in the project:
Halie Price
Holton Witman
Chantel Coats
Jacob Schnabel
Amber Smith
Cheyenne Stegeman
