Residencies

Kenwood students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of residencies throughout the school year. Some are specific to their grade level learning, while others are whole school endeavors. Kenwood's residencies are graciously funded by the Kenwood PTA.

Residencies at a Glance

Grade Level Residencies

Art Adventure with Mia

Through the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Mia), reproductions of works that can’t leave the museum are brought into Kenwood classrooms. Kenwood parents and family members are trained by Mia as "Picture People" to visit classrooms with posters of art relating to a common theme and an art kit, including props and other teaching tools. Students follow up the presentation with a visit to Mia to view the art they learned about in their classrooms.

Ten themes are explored in Mia's Art Adventure: Amazing Animals in Art; American Stories; Artists' Inspirations; Cultural Reflections in Art; Dressed for the Occasion; Family, Friends, and Communities; How People Lived; Let’s Celebrate Life; People and Their Environments; and Sources of Strength. The theme for 2023-24 was Sources of Strength. The theme for 2024-25 is Amazing Animals in Art.

Roots Dance

Each fall, all students at Kenwood have the opportunity to participate in a residency of traditional dance and music with Dr. Bob Walser and Julie Young Walser. Dr. Bob is a professor of world music and a former MPS School Board member. Julie is a former Kenwood teacher as well as a talented musician.

Students sing, dance and move with Dr. Bob and Julie as they bring traditional music from cultures around the world to Kenwood. The residency concludes with a dance performance and live music for students and their families during Kenwood's annual Fall Festival.

Native American Art in the Present Tense

Since Fall 2016, Kenwood students annually engage in a series of art projects introducing them to contemporary Native American art practices rooted in tradition and history. The annual residency is followed by a Family Gallery Walk in the main and lower corridors of Kenwood.

This residency has attracted the interest and support of Mia, which based its Native Art, Native Voices: A Resource for K-12 Learners resource on curriculum developed by former Kenwood art teacher Margaret Swenson in collaboration with James D. Autio, Gordon Coons and Marlena Myles.

Kindergarten

In past years, kindergarten students created “Tree of Life” artworks as they learned about mid-20th century painter Norval Morriseau (Ojibwe), founder of the Woodlands style of painting. In 2023-24, Kenwood welcomed Wóokiye wiŋ (Ojibway/Dakota) as our kindergarten artist in residence, who guided students in creating Dakhóta floral designs using watercolors.

First Grade

First grade students met James D. Autio (Ojibwe) for a presentation of his artwork and methods. Then the students created paintings with James using Ojibwe family clan symbols and designs. In 2023-24, James returned as Kenwood's first grade artist in residence.

Second Grade

Second grade students met Gordon Coons (Ojibwe, Ottawa) for a presentation of his Woodlands style artwork. Gordon then led the students in an exercise to create their own personal artwork with a meaning and story behind it. In 2023-24, Gordon returned as Kenwood's second grade artist in residence.

Third Grade

Third grade students previously met Kenwood parent alumnae Dr. Angie Erdrich (Ojibwe) and Heid Erdrich (Ojibwe), who taught them about Ojibwe baskets, heirloom Dakota corn, porcupine quillwork and other beautiful items from their personal collections. Students then drew an ear of corn using observational drawing. In 2023-24, Kenwood welcomed Graci Horne (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota, Hunkpapa Lakota, Dakota) as our third grade artist in residence, who led students in designing their own stamps to decorate unique bandanas.

Fourth Grade

Fourth grade students previously met Dyani White Hawk (Lakota) for a presentation of her work, a lesson on abstraction, and an abstract collage art project. In 2023-24, Kenwood welcomed returning artist-in-residence Marlena Myles (Spirit Lake Dakota, Mohegan, Muscogee) as our fourth grade artist in residence, who led students in sketching original animal scenes, using bleeding tissue paper to add color.

Fifth Grade

Fifth grade students learned about the mid-20th century artist Patrick DesJarlait (Ojibwe), who painted the seasonal work of Ojibwe people of the Red Lake Nation. Students created watercolors of fish (Walleye, Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie and Perch) that the Ojibwe catch in Red Lake in the style of DesJarlait. In 2023-24, Kenwood welcomed returning artist-in-residence Dr. Angie Erdrich as our fifth grade artist in residence.