Creative Movement Video!

See what Clark Communications has to say about VSA's Early Childhood Creative Movement Classes. Then go to the link below to watch the fun!

"Remember when you were a kid and somehow you learned to do somersaults - maybe from your older brother or your preschool gym class? Somehow you learned to balance yourself, jump, swing, follow directions and be a little gymnast.

The reality is, not every kid has an older sibling or cousin or even parent to teach them these skills. For some kids it is a much tougher process due to a disability, to be able to learn and practice balance/technique.

I was honored to attend one of the VSA programs called "Creative Movement". VSA has set up a teacher who teaches these skills to children at learning centers in GR. This class is specific to children with disabilities or "at-risk" kids between the ages of 2-6 years. With respect for the teachers, children and families, all of these kids have been approved to be on video (just so you know).

I wanted to take you into the same thought pattern I was experiencing while watching these kids in their classroom setting. The laughter and joy was so contagious, that I was smiling the whole time I was there (I think you will too :)

Watch the children as they learn very small and simple things like following directions, keeping balance on one foot, curling their knees to their chest and rocking backwards. Remember that these are skills that most of us take for granted.

Please take some time to watch this video with that thought in mind. Look at the kids faces, their concentration and ambition. The video is over 9 min. long, so skip through a bit and listen to them laugh and learn life skills that teach them to socially interact and understand body awareness."

Guest Blog Entry by Jennifer Luth, Clark Communications

http://www.youtube.com/user/clarkcommunication#p/a/u/0/2q1haJ7nIjE

Winter Adult Art Classes: Sign up TODAY!

VSA is offering three exciting adult art classes this winter:

Choir, Visual Arts, and Theater

1) Graduated Art: Art Explosion! For adults age 18 and up. The cost is $75.00* and includes artist fees and supplies. The class will incorporate various art projects in different visual art forms. Monday nights from 6:30-7:30pm for ten weeks, beginning January 28.

2) Graduated Art Class 2: Theater!
For adults 18 and up who are interested in having fun with acting! Activities in Theater class will include improv games, learning show tunes and dance moves, and acting out various scenes. The cost is $75* and includes artist fees and supplies. Tuesday afternoons from 4:00-5:00pm for ten weeks, beginning January 12.

*$75/class or $100 for both Graduated Art classes

3) Very Special Choir: This is a great opportunity for learning and growing in musical ability while making friends and having fun! For adults 18 and up. Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm throughout the year. The cost is $60 for Choir from January to May. The choir will begin January 7, and meets at Kuyper College (3333 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids).

Contact Katie at 885-5866 or vsaprogram@iserv.net and sign up TODAY!

Support VSA while you Shop!

What if VSA arts of Michigan--Grand Rapids earned a donation every time you searched the Internet?
Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support VSA?

Well, now it can!

www.GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up!

www.GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 30 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order at one of these or other partipating stores through GoodShop (www.GoodShop.com), you'll be supporting your favorite cause.

And if you download the GoodSearch – VSA toolbar, VSA will earn money every time you shop and search online - even if you forget to go to GoodShop or GoodSearch first! Add the VSA arts of Mighigan-Grand Rapids toolbar at http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/mode/

Thank you for supporting VSA!

Vanguard Academy students create artwork for others enjoyment | wzzm13.com | Grand Rapids, MI

Vanguard Academy students create artwork for others enjoyment wzzm13.com Grand Rapids, MI

Central Students Create with Clay!

Students from Central High School school students have recently begun a year-long pottery residency with teaching artist, Phil Wilson, in which they will learn the art of pottery making while expressing their unique artistic voice. The ten students will engage in the 2 hour art class on the first Friday of every month throughout the school year. This residency will culminate in May with the Central students helping to teach a workshop at Festival Day, 2010!

Decorating the DeVos Children's Hospital

The new DeVos Children’s Hospital is seeking artwork to brighten their halls and VSA student artwork will be included! Twenty of our local VSA classrooms are creating artwork for this very special collaboration. See some of the work being generated for this exciting project.

Graduated Art: Book Making!

This Fall, young adults are coming to VSA each Tuesday night from 6:30-7:30pm and learning the art of making books. This beautiful craft is taught by Book Binder, Wendy Withrow, and has thus far included creating decorative books, making unique paper, crafting nature booklets, and making artistic choices all along the way.Get a sneak peak of some of the beautiful things these artists have created so far through viewing the pictures below.