Category: Community Outreach

Elementary Students On Campus For Art Class

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date April 13, 2018

For the past several years, the Academy has worked with Hunters Woods Elementary School in Reston, VA to provide enriching arts experiences for under served students, titled “Saturday School for the Arts”. This year’s program included a special trip to the Mason Fairfax Campus for an art class in the School of Art.

On February 10th, approximately 40 students, plus teacher and parent chaperones, from Hunters Woods came to campus to meet Dr. Justin Sutters, Mason School of Art Professor of Art Education (and Art Liaison to the Academy), and his select team of Art Education majors. Eager students tried a variety of printing techniques to create original art works and had a great time interacting with the university students. For the Art Education majors, it was an energetic and eye-opening opportunity to gain insights into teaching art to young people in a classroom setting.

Community outreach art class

The Saturday School for the Arts at Hunters Woods is one of several community outreach initiatives of the Academy, whose mission includes providing access to quality arts education and experiences to all members of the community, regardless of circumstance. Our ability to sustain these important programs is dependent in part on support from generous individuals like you. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift today!

REASONS TO GIVE

Spotlight On The Arts Festival Events, Sunday, April 29th

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date April 13, 2018

Every spring, Fairfax City hosts their Spotlight on the Arts festival, and the Academy will once again take part by presenting a special student/ faculty music recital, a student playwright presentation and a theater show on April 29th, plus a student art show on April 28th. “Upgrade” your weekend and enjoy the show!

Music faculty performing at recital

SPOTLIGHT MUSIC RECITAL
Sunday, April 29, 2018 2PM-4PM
Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax See Map
Free Admission

Select Academy music students and faculty will perform a charming collection of chamber, duet and solo pieces “spotlighting” a variety of genres and instruments. This is a great opportunity to hear unique works and musical arrangements, and to get a taste of the outstanding music education that the Academy has to offer to the community.

Light refreshments will be served following the program. Call 703-993-9889 with any questions.

Student playwright festival

AFYP STUDENT PLAYWRIGHT FESTIVAL
Sunday, April 29, 2018 11AM-1PM
Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax See Map
Free Admission

Acting For Young People (AFYP) presents it’s first ever Student Playwright Festival! Student playwrights will perform their work in a morning of staged readings, featuring professional and student actors. The featured playwrights range from 8-16 years old. Student actors range from 9-14 years old and will be acting alongside professional adult actors.
Act 1: 11am-12pm. Suitable for all ages
Act 2: 12pm-1pm. Contains more mature content

Light refreshments will be served following the program. Call 703-554-4931 with any questions.

Mary Poppins in concert

AFYP THEATER SHOW “MARY POPPINS IN CONCERT”
Sunday, April 29, 2018 6:30PM-8:30PM
Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax See Map
Free Admission

Acting For Young People (AFYP) will present a rousing collection of musical numbers and segments based on their Spring Showcase production of Mary Poppins, Jr. in preparation for their full production performance in early June.

Light refreshments will be served following the program. Call 703-554-4931 with any questions.

Art student exhibit

ART STUDENT EXHIBITS
Saturday, April 28, 2018 11AM & 12:30PM
Art & Design Building, Mason Fairfax Campus See Map
Free Admission (Parking Available in Lot A)

Our visual art students and instructors will finish out the Academy’s Spring session of art classes with a 15 minute (approx.) class presentation and student art exhibit. It’s a great opportunity for curious parents/ children to see what projects and methods are taught in these classes.
Art Adventures Class for Ages 4-7: 11 AM (actual class time 10am-11:15am)
Art Foundations Class for Ages 8-11: 12:30 PM (actual class time 11:30am-12:45pm)
Art Explorations Class for Ages 12-18: 12:30 PM (actual class time 11:30am-12:45pm)

Light refreshments will be served following the program. Call 703-993-9889 with any questions.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTS FESTIVAL

A very special thanks to City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts for their invaluable support of our programs and mission.

City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts logo

Announcements Community Outreach

Academy Named An NEA Grant Partner

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date February 16, 2018

We are proud to announce that we are partnering with the newly formed Mason Arts Research Center (MasonARC) to participate in a National Endowment for the Arts grant funded project researching how arts participation affects child development. The center’s focus will be on theater, dance, music and the visual arts.

MasonARC is co-directed by Thalia Goldstein, Assistant Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology; Adam Winsler, Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology; and Kim Sheridan, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology. The Mason Community Arts Academy’s many arts-based programs will provide the perfect setting for this kind of research.

To learn more about MasonARC and this research project, see the article on News at Mason.

Art Community Outreach Events Music

Musical Instrument Sculpture Project Gets Buzz

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date January 26, 2018

WRITTEN BY ZACHARY WILCOX

In 2008, Mason Community Arts Academy (“MCAA”, formerly known as Potomac Arts Academy) started a green initiative and outreach program named “Instruments in the Attic”. This program takes in old & unused musical instruments donated by generous community members with the idea of bringing as many as possible back to working order for deserving students of all ages to enjoy and play for years to come. Since its creation, Instruments in the Attic has brought in over 850 instruments, returning many back to the community for further use… but not all instruments are able to be repaired. One of the primary goals of the program is to keep these instruments out of the landfill, so we needed to find another green solution for these irreparable instruments.

MCAA thought about how to recycle these instruments in a more artistic and meaningful way, which sparked an idea to collaborate with the Patriot Green Fund (part of Mason’s Office of Sustainability) and Mason’s School of Art. We figured that these instruments could be “up-cycled” into sculpture art projects which told a story, powered by a STEAM approach. School of Art Associate Professor Edgar Endress had an even more innovative idea. He invited Dr. Daniel Lofaro from the Volgenau School of Engineering to assist him in constructing an orchestra of automated sound sculptures using new (and old) media technology balanced with influences of 20th century Russian Constructivist art , amongst other styles, forms, and ideas. Special funding from the Patriot Green Fund helped to facilitate this unique undertaking.

Musical Instrument Sculpture

EVENT: Come and see the “Narrative Machine” sculpture prototypes on display
Overall, this is a long-term project involving several steps. However, the fruits of step one are complete! The sculpture prototypes of this data-fueled, artistic adventure are currently on display in Mason’s Center for the Arts Lobby through mid-February.

The exhibit is getting a lot of buzz, with articles already included in the Center for the Arts newsletter and featured on Mason’s newsletter The George, plus an upcoming article in Mason’s Office of Sustainability newsletter. Read the articles below to learn more, and come interact with these instruments – be a part of “The Narrative Machine”!

SEE ARTICLE FROM THE GEORGE

SEE ARTICLE FROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Community Outreach Music

Scholarship Recipient Dimitri Gives Thanks

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date September 8, 2017

This past summer, a young viola student named Dimitri was awarded a scholarship to attend the annual Ovations Summer Strings Academy, an intense week of string rehearsals, chamber ensembles and performances. The 17-year-old musician wanted to express his appreciation for the opportunity to participate in such an incredible program.

“I would like to thank you for the opportunity to attend the Ovations Summer Strings Academy. I was able to learn many new techniques with both my instrument and finger placement, as well as creating new friendships,” said Dimitri. “The most challenging yet fun experience was performing in the quartet. [Ovations] allowed us to express ourselves musically and demanded collaboration from each of us.”

“Without this scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to participate,” explained Dimitri, “and I am forever grateful. I would really like to thank all the teachers for dedicating their time to help me grow as a musician. I also would like to give a special thanks to Ms. [Veronica] Jackson [guest conductor] for the constant jokes that would make me laugh and the patience that was upheld when leading our group.”

“Thank you again for allowing me to attend this program and I look forward to seeing everyone again next year!” he exclaimed.

And thanks to you, young man, for your kind words. We are thrilled that you had such a rewarding experience.

Along with Dimitri, the Academy was able to provide several summer scholarships to deserving young people so that they could experience the arts. The availability of these scholarship funds is in large part due to the generosity of our Academy families and other community members who donate to our Excellence Fund. If you haven’t before, would you consider donating? Even a small amount can go a very long way to impacting a young person’s life in a very positive way!

LEARN MORE ABOUT DONATING