We would like to honor the passing of Lois Rho, Educational Mentor, Guide, and Program Director for P2k's Educational offerings. Gena Rho-Smith and Joy Wulke will continue the program that she initiated with ACES (Area Cooperative Educational Services) for early literacy through the arts in her honor and as her legacy.
The Branford Luminata Light, Sound, and Narration Spectacle on the Branford Green during Columbus Day weekend was appreciated by over 1000 people. Jamie Burnett created the visual magic, Robin Comey researched and narrated the story, Wulke researched and created the script outline, Istvan B'Racz the sound, and Michael Franzman was our emcee. Jane Bouley, Branford Historian and the Blackstone Library staff were invaluable in providing curious and obscure information for our story. Support from: New Alliance Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, David Bermant Foundation Color Light Motion, Branford Festival, CGI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., The Sound
A fund raising event for Branford Luminata was held at Vaiuso's Nursery in Branford. Jamie Burnett illuminated the greenhouses and Robin Comey and Joy Wulke created a magical environment. La Cuisine of Guilford, CT catered an elegent and delicious sit down dinner. Joyce DiLauro's dancers from her StarShip Dance Theater preformed magical shadow dances.
New Event in 2010! Following the success of Branford Luminata Light and Sound Spectacle on the Branford Green, CT. In 2010 P2K’s creative team will present Branford LuminAqua, a telling of the rich history of Branford’s unique and diverse water environments in light, narrative and music. P2K will be collaborating with Branford Schools and local and regional environmental organizations and businesses to bring this story to life. There will be local history presentations and invitations to gather stories and remembrances of community experiences on and about Branford’s beautiful waterways.
In our second year of partnership with ACES (Area Cooperative Educational Services) for LITERACY THROUGH THE ARTS for pre-k, kindergarten, and fist grade in New Haven. Gena Rho-Smiith, movement specialist and Joy Wulke-Visual Arts Specialist are presenting professional training programs for teacher to use the arts to enhance literacy learning and enjoyment.
With our second year of Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism Grant funding we are collaborating with ECA (Education Center for the Arts) in New Haven to create a program of mentoring of the ECA dance and visual arts students to the early childhood students at Davis Street School in New Haven.
Terra Firma, Geology through the Arts summer camp at the Peabody Museum at Yale was over subscribed in its fifth year.
www.peabody.com for information for summer 2010.
Terra Forma, a collaboration with the Barnard Environmental Magnet School, continues for its 4th year a program entitled, "Geology through the Arts" for the 3rd grade. Our collaboration is with Marjorie Drucker, teacher and program coordinator. For 2010, Wulke will be working with Drucker and Barnard's 6th graders to create a ceramic mural to permanently grace the foyer that will chronicle the history of carbon footprint, past present and future.
P2K's Creative Director Joy Wulke will be participating in an exhibition "Vernal Pools" at the University of Southern Maine. Creating an exhibition that will bring Izzy the Frog, a ten year old character created by Istvan B'Rracz in 1999 as a result of the frog population participation in the Stony Creek Quarry during Terra Continuum. Izzy was the focus for an installation work at the Housatonic Museum and a family program at the Bridgport Zoo in CT in 2000.
Wulke is curating an exhibition "Water" for Central Connecticut State University in 2010 that will include educational programs for Hartford schools and seminars on the world in collaboration with the Biology Department at CCSU using local watersheds to explore the history, current conditions and future needs for the health of local waters and the relationship to world water health.
Wulke will be presenting a paper "Luminata" the history, power, and magic of celebrations and rituals using light at the 12th Biennial Symposium on Arts and Technology. March 4-6, 2010 to be held at Connecticut College.