PhotoWalk #1 | Gathering a Creative Community in Reno/Tahoe

Today was our first photo walk as a creative community. My 10 year old daughter requested a photo walk to make photographs for an upcoming art show. So we thought, why not invite my students? Why not invite students from other schools? Mention it at Open House and maybe some parents would like to join us too. It's a casual affair. People with a love of photography gathering to walk and shoot and take in the sites from behind the viewfinder; an intimate and framed perspective.  There was 21 of us ranging from 10-40 something years old residing in Reno, Taiwan, and Iraq. All from or visiting two area high schools, McQueen and Wooster. Thank you all for coming together to create.

Fine Arts Dessert Night | FADN 2014

McQueen High School in Reno, Nevada celebrated its young artists, actors, musicians, and singers in its annual fundraiser, Fine Arts Dessert Night. It's a wonderful community event of delicious sweet treats and a look at the amazing creative talent under one roof.

The McQueen families make this event happen; from the students to the parents purchasing tickets, making desserts, volunteering, and their overall support of the arts in our schools. Local businesses rallied and helped to make the event an even bigger success. Please support them in your purchases and entertainment choices:
Peppermill Resort, Boomtown Casino and Hotel, DAM Pottery, First Taekwondo, Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Portraits by Heidi Joy, Reno Academy of Combat, Nevada Museum of Art, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Twig and Turtle Photography, Batch Cupcakery, Scraps Dog Company, Campo, and Skye Snyder Photography.

The sounds of the Jazz Band, led by Rick Moffit gave the opening show the party atmosphere.

The halls were lined with student work from Freshman to Seniors and Beginners to Advanced. The show was totally student curated; they selected and displayed the art work on the boards. A special thanks to Tim Lane, Bailey Sack, Lewis Falconer, and Adam for their hard work in turning the halls into a special gallery space.

The little gym was standing room only for Kenny Baker and his Orchestra students.

The endless buffet of desserts provided by McQueen families, the Culinary Students, and Boomtown.

Thank you to all the parent volunteers helping in the kitchen, with ticket sales, raffle sales, accessory sales and donations. FADN couldn't be this big without you.

Until next year, FADN 2015. Thank you all for supporting the arts in our schools. 

Upcycled Gift Card Jewelry | Art Classes Reno Nevada

Once redeemed, plastic gift cards often find their way into the local landfill. Instead, my wearable arts students, upcycled their used cards into whimsical, chic bracelets and earrings.  The students donated pieces toward raising funds at our Fine Arts Dessert Night on May 16th, 2014. Mark your calendars. It will be a great event.

Scholastic Art Awards 2014 | Reno Nevada Artists

Tonight, we celebrated the Scholastic Art Awards. Several of our McQueen High School artists were recognized for the creative, skillful craft they have been nurturing and honing over the years. Our region is all of Northern Nevada which means everything but Las Vegas were on exhibition tonight. I'm thrilled to be a part of their lives as we dissect and decipher art together; as we develop ourselves and our art together. Congratulations, Stella, Gigi, Lewis, Maya, Will, Kacee, Lindsey, Lucile, and Valerie. It's a privilege to have you in class each day.

 Miss Hojin Stella Jung with her Gold Key Digital Comic Art.

 Silver and Honorable Mention Recipients played on digital screens throughout the gallery. 

My girls…xoxoxo

Art Student Will Kavner | Artist of the Month | KTHX Radio Station

Tonight I took the family to the  First Thursday event at the Nevada Museum of Art. The X or KTHX radio station sponsors this event and Will Kavner, one of my wonderfully talented and humble students, is the Artist of the Month. His work was on display for the evening's festivities and he will be announced on the radio station throughout the month of March. He's also an Honorable Mention recipient in the 2014 Scholastic Art Awards show opening this Friday at the Holland Project. Congratulations, Will. We're all so proud of you. I need the photo your Mom took so I can say "I knew him when…." 

Music Videos in the High School Art Classroom | Part II

This is part two of a previous post on tessellations. If you missed part one, click here.

I want to encourage the role of discovery and research in my students' learning experience. As a teacher we plan --a lot! I research and make connections and get lost as I lily pad through the internet from topic to related topic. The connections become so meaningful and relative. Unfortunately, as a teacher, it is practice to condense all this information into a powerpoint or hand out. By doing so, I feel I rob my students of the opportunity to discover and make learning meaningful to them through 'organic exploration'.

Let me share a single instance of how this unfolded for me.

I was driving to school and a song I had never heard came on the radio, Tessellate by Alt J. It was a sultry rhythmic song whose chorus struck a chord in me;


Triangles are my favorite shape
Three points where two lines meet
Toe to toe, back to back, let's go, my love; it's very late
'Til morning comes, let's tessellate

I had just completed a class unit on tessellations, so I was hyper aware. The sheer mention of the word piqued my interest.  I hurried into the studio (classroom) and Googled the song. What happened next propelled our class into what became known as Film Friday--a day of thought provoking issues and think tanks through art. Please watch before reading part III.

Without any backstory, they watched and I opened up the floor with this simple question:

"Would your parents have approved of this video being shown in class?"

Which led to, "Would they think it is educational? Why or Why not?"

Answer and share with someone else before moving to part III.

Using Project 52 in the Classroom

I teach an introductory high school art class where the focus is on drawing. However, I believe the students are served better by exposing them to several artistic media. With photography, I like to include it in our daily art analysis or in extra credit offerings. In the past, they could photograph any public art they saw and print that out for extra credit. However, many of the students have camera phones, some have access to DSLRs, and most are connected online into social media groups so we started a Project 52. Each week a new theme is given and at any week a student can jump in or out of participating. They submit their work to a Facebook page (Skye Snyder Photography  or NvArtworks) or hashtag (#skye52) on Instagram. Friends can post for other friends if they are not members of those social media groups. I like the idea of sharing our inspiration. It's extra credit. It expands their artistic eye by having the tool so readily at their fingertips--the moment of inspiration can be captured and shared easily.

This week's theme is organic. Last year I was fortunate to have a box of educational skulls delivered to my studio by the wildlife department. My K-4th grade students used them not only to learn about mammals but as studies for our Georgia O'Keeffe inspired paintings. I knew I wanted to photograph them while I had them but didn't know quite what I wanted from them.

I, too, am participating in the project. I want to be more mindful as I am composing and spend more time turning over themes in my head. I want to improve my storytelling skills in one single image and force myself to improve my technical skills. I tend to avoid using techniques that I am not familiar with instead of learning them.

From another trip to the California Academy of Sciences, I photographed a wall of foliage in the biosphere area. Again, thinking for a future project. The formulas are from a partially erased chalkboard.

The results are the compilation of these two moments.

2/52  |   O R G A N I C
puma concolor  |  the mountain lion

ursus americanus  |  the black bear

If you would like to share your ORGANIC inspired art, upload to the Skye Snyder Photography Facebook Wall or tag using the hashtag #skye52 on Instagram. I am @skyesnyder on IG. Look forward to seeing your images!! This is open to anyone who is looking to participate in a supportive, creative online community.

Missed week one? Here is the link