2022 Teacher-Artist Retreat

Michael Gielniak
Group photo of the 2022 Teaching-Artist retreat attendees.

The three-day 2022 Teacher-Artist Higgins Lake Retreat was a success! Teachers, artists, musicians, storytellers, parents, and our MiAA Artist-in-Residency Affiliates were some of the attendees involved. The week was full of collaboration, discussion, demonstration, review, problem-solving, and relaxation.

Day One

Day one consisted of checking in, relaxing, chatting, networking, and a discussion and creation of a mandala. 

S. Kay Young presented the mandala project with the motive to discuss the positive and healing power of the circle, unity of community, and being in a natural environment while using what’s available to us in nature.

Circle of chairs in front of a powerpoint presentation.
Circle of chairs in front of a powerpoint presentation.
Attendees talking by the campfire in front of a basket with content for s'mores.
Attendees talking by the campfire in front of a basket with content for s’mores.
Participants playing a drum to the beat of the music and eating s'mores.
Participants playing a drum to the beat of the music and eating s’mores.
Attendee drawing and adding to the mandala.
Attendee drawing and adding to the mandala.
Attendees sitting around the fire by Higgins Lake, playing music on the guitar and drums.
Attendees sitting around the fire by Higgins Lake, playing music.
The Mandala up close.
The Mandala.
Attendee plays his guitar by the fire.
Attendee plays his guitar by the fire.
Attendee adding to the mandala.
Attendee adding to the mandala.
Attendee adding to the mandala.
Attendee adding to the mandala.

Day Two

Day two consisted of sessions led by some of the attendees and MiAA residency leaders. The sessions were about topics of instruction and adaptations for Visual Arts, Music, Theater, and Creative Movement, along with discussions about standards, requirements, and key art strategies for teaching and education in Michigan. 

The sessions were full of hands-on activities and examples followed by debriefing and collaboration. The attendees are able to learn new techniques from each other that they may incorporate and modify for their own instructions. 

Attendee/MiAA Affiliate presenting about what she does in her classroom.
Attendee/MiAA Affiliate presenting.
Attendees discussing the presentations.
Attendees discussing the presentations.
Attendee/MiAA Affiliate presenting.
Attendee/MiAA Affiliate presenting.
Attendee/MiAA Affiliate presenting with attendees participating.
Attendees discussing during presentations.
Attendees discussing during presentations.
Attendee/MiAA Affiliate doing a dance exercise with attendees participating.
Attendee/MiAA Affiliate doing a dance exercise with attendees participating.
Attendees discussing during presentations.
Attendees discussing during presentations.
Attendees working with and using the art materials from a presentation.
Attendees working with and using the art materials from a presentation.
Close up of attendees hands and art working with and using the art materials from a presentation.
Attendees working with and using the art materials from a presentation.
Attendees using rainbow motion ribbons from a presentation.
Attendees using rainbow motion ribbons from a presentation.
Attendee holding a magnifying book tool over a book.
Attendee testing magnifying book tool.
Attendee/MiAA Affiliate doing a dance exercise with attendees participating.
Attendee/MiAA Affiliate doing a dance exercise with attendees participating.

Day Three

Day three was the last day of the MiAA Teacher-Artist Retreat. It consisted of wrapping up final thoughts about standards, requirements, and reporting, integrating key art strategies into the classroom, and circled back to the Mandala concept from day one by S. Kay Young and said goodbyes.

By attending this retreat, attendees gain insight from each others experiences, new opportunities for collaboration through networking, answers to questions they had, and suggestions on troubles they have come across. Teachers can also earn up to 15 SCECHs/CEUs points by attending the full retreat.

Join us next year!

Attendees discussing and collaborating.
Attendees discussing and collaborating.
Attendees discussing and collaborating.
Attendees discussing and collaborating.
Attendees around the Mandala on Higgins Lake.
Attendees around the Mandala on Higgins Lake.
Attendees around the Mandala on Higgins Lake.
Attendees around the Mandala on Higgins Lake.
Attendees adding to the Mandala in the sand.
Attendees adding to the Mandala.
Attendees adding to the Mandala in the sand.
Attendees adding to the Mandala.
The mandala up close with attendees adding to it.
Attendees adding to the Mandala.
Chairs around the fire pit on Higgins Lake.
Chairs around the fire pit on Higgins Lake.
The complete Mandala.
The complete Mandala.

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