Circlebooks: Create a Fresh New Book-being

Ash R Smith

The circle is timeless and universal; a shape that is literal, metaphorical, spatial, artful, mathematical, scientific, biological and a social expression of human experiences. Ash R Smith engages with students to make using a process she calls Circlefolding: a wholistic and embodied technology in which to reconnect with the natural rhythms and pattern expressed everywhere in life.
Students will sew a book together using paper circles that offers a unique, fun and fresh framework with which to relate, discover and play with writing, reading, drawing and notetaking. Students practice proportional folding and measuring, hand-eye coordination, observational skills, creative problem solving, community building, cognitive growth and social-emotional toning. Prompts for mindfulness and attention-awareness will weave into the process as a tool to connect with the creative process. Skill-building may include tracing and cutting and application of personal material & design choices and learning simple bookbinding and gluing techniques.
Students may work individually and/or together; informal group sharing gently supports the learning process as students notice and reflect on their experiences, resonating with and differing from others. Circlebooks can be organized around a specific activity or purpose such as poetry, graphic novels, field notebooks for nature studies, mapmaking or daily journaling, for example. Students come away with a process they can repeat and continue to explore on their own.
To view a short video of one of Ash’s Circlebooks in action please use this tiny url: bit.ly/3PeeGve

This program offered by: Ash R Smith

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Details

Program Model: In Class

Art Form: Visual Art

Curriculum Connections: Character Education, Community Building, Language Arts, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, Social Justice, Social Studies, Social-Emotional Learning, World Cultures

Grades: 10, 11, 12, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Adult

Program Requirements: Ash can work from one classroom or travel to each classroom. A dedicated shelf/wheeled cart for organizing, storing and transportation of materials throughout the residency would be helpful.

Instruction Language(s): English

Min. Residency Sessions/Classroom: 5

Ash R Smith

About the Artist

Ash R Smith

A visual storyteller-artist-designer-explorer-artmaker sort of being, Ash folds circles - a hands-on exploration of nature, art, design, geometry, math, science and philosophy as reflections of one another. Ash's lifelong need to make sense of the world through her hands has shaped her way as theatre designer, teaching artist, and creative director. She collaborates with all ages, abilities, and life experiences to foster curiosity, awe and connection both internally and in collective. Ash's current creative practice expands on traditional methods of art and design by re-framing her creative process using the circle. Her choice of materials and techniques varies as a means for exploration and observation to what is present, integrating attention awareness as part of the exploration.and response Presently residing in Portland, Oregon, on Chinook speaking tribes' ancestral lands, Ash received an MFA in Stage & Costume Design from Northwestern University, a BS in Environmental Design from University of California-Davis and enjoyed a One-Year Immersive at the University of Leeds, England in Textile Design.

"Ash embodies that there is no right way and that we are all creators while also giving clear and supportive direction. Her open-ended curiosity and enjoyment of experimentation encouraged MY curiosity and experimentation." Student- Circlebook Workshop

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Program Costs

Please note that the cost of a program is determined based on a variety of different factors including number of sessions, planning hours needed and material costs. Please contact Arts for Learning NW for help determining the actual cost of your programs. Email us at [email protected] or call 503-225-5900, ext 705

Delivery Method	Type	Cost	Description
In Class	Additional Planning	154.00	Additional planning time with teachers or volunteers, etc.
In Class	Wait Time	71.00	Time between sessions greater than 1 hour per day.
In Class	Planning Meeting	154.00	An in person planning meeting with partnering teachers is required for residencies.
In Class	Mileage/Travel Costs		$15 per hour drive time from SW Portland. This program is available within 25 miles of Portland.
In Class	Supplies		$3.50-$4.00 per student depending on materials
In Class	Prep Hours	154.00	Time spent on activities in support of the program (e.g. setting up/cleaning a classroom, research, curriculum development, etc.)
In Class	Teacher Workshop	257.00	A 90 minute workshop for teachers.
In Class	Family Arts Night Workshop	300.00	A 90 minute workshop for students and families, typically in the evening or on weekends.
In Class	50 min Workshop Session	154.00	A one session program with students- 50 minutes.
In Class	Residency Session	154.00	Residency session prices are based on a 50 minute session. Some artists may prefer different session lengths and will pro-rate the cost.