F.Y.R.E.
After School Arts Program
The Fenix Youth Refuge Experience (F.Y.R.E.) after school art program is for students ages 12 – 18 who identify as part of the LGBTQAI+ community and allies.
The program days will run from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesdays. Students can arrive at 3:30 PM to work on homework, have a snack, and connect with each other. At 4:30 PM, the Program Coordinator will introduce the artist, activity, and theme of the day. Artists will teach from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM, and students should be picked up by 7 PM.
WE HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE; these scholarships are full-ride and are not based on need since this is a new program. Please do not let cost prohibit you from participation in this program; if you need help with transportation, please email rachel@mountsequoyah.org. The unadjusted cost of the program is up to $30 per class, paid by the month. Again, please don’t let cost or transportation be an issue that prevents you from signing up!
Spring 2024 Registration Open HERE!
See the video story Education Week put together HERE!
Program Coordinator:
Rachel Burkevich
rachel@mountsequoyah.org,
479-236-3061
Spring 2024 Schedule:
Week 1: January 23 – 24, Donna Mulhollan
UNTOLD/TOLD STORY PROJECT
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” -Maya Angelou
Part One- Students will visit BAREFOOT BIRD STUDIO for a mini-concert by instructor Donna Mulhollan. She will sing songs with the theme of stories & labels we create and have a short discussion about Crosshatching.
Part Two- Students will choose a story about ancestral memory, grandparents, a dream, a friend…ANY STORY that feels important. Then they will write in a Crosshatching style on individual sheets of Tyvek using Sharpie pens. The beauty of writing in this style is that it is UNREADABLE and secret.
Then the students can CHOOSE to share that story with the group, OR tell a different story…OR keep it inside and be silent.
Week 2: January 30 – 31, Dandy Pants
POLYMER CLAY JEWLERY! This week students will make necklaces with polymer clay. Learn to marble clay to create fun designs and make unique pieces!
Weeks 3 through 6: February 6 – 28, ARTS LIVE THEATRE PRESENTS:
In this month-long, weekly theatre workshop, Arts Live Theatre Teaching Artists will focus on students’ acting skills, and the class work toward a performance of a 10-minute play. With guidance from the Teaching Artists, students will also have the opportunity to express themselves by writing their own stories in a monologue format. On our last class day, we will perform our 10-minute play, and those who would like to share their personal stories, can perform their monologues on this day as well. No experience is required to be a part of this class.
Week 7 and 8: March 5 – 13, Alex DerGazarian
HAND-KNIT SCRAP RUGS:
Learn how to make cozy, colorful rugs out of upcycled fabrics! Feel free to bring any old clothes, T-shirts, bedsheets, towels, etc if you have them and weave a little bit of your life into your rug. No knitting or weaving experience is required.
Week 9: March 27
Laurie Foster
Week 10: April 3, Amber Henderson
RESIN CASTING:
In this engaging resin-making class students explore the art of creating colorful and unique resin crafts. The instructor introduces various techniques like mixing pigments, embedding objects, and molding shapes, fostering creativity and hands-on expression. Students get to craft their personalized resin items, from vibrant coasters to funky jewelry, making the learning experience both educational and enjoyable. The students imagination is their only limitation!
Week 11: April 10, Annie Edmondson
TIN PUNCH:
Holes will be punched into thin metal sheets to create an image that light will shine through when metal is fashioned into a cylinder.
Week 12: April 17, Rachael Osborne
This Album Changed Me
Exploring an album/artist together, listening to an album, and reflecting about me through journaling/aloud in the group, if comfortable.
Week 13: April 24, Helen Kwiatkowski
FLAG BOOK Workshop – Day 1 
The Flag Book, originally developed by Hedi Kyle, is a unique sculptural book structure. As you open the book the flags inside move in opposite directions making a very cool flapping sound. Each of the flags can be decorated using a variety of materials and each book will be completed with a hard cover. All materials will be supplied.
Week 14: May 1, Helen Kwiatkowski
FLAG BOOK Workshop – Day 2 
The Flag Book, originally developed by Hedi Kyle, is a unique sculptural book structure. As you open the book the flags inside move in opposite directions making a very cool flapping sound. Each of the flags can be decorated using a variety of materials and each book will be completed with a hard cover. All materials will be supplied.
Week 15: May 8
Acadia Kandora
*** The Student Art Show will be June 2024***
Past Classes Below:
Amber Henderson – Resin Casting. In this class we will explore different techniques that play with color combinations, see the versatility that resin offer artists, and have fun being mad scientists!
Ann Edmondson – Art Class. Using the style of Vincent Van Gogh, students will create a painting or drawing w/ markers to express inner self or emotions.
Dandy Pants – Reverse Tye Dye/DIY Clothing. One of a kind DIY clothes for cheap. Students will use bleach on black or colored shirts to do a reverse tye-dye and can also cover how to make your own stencils and distress clothes.
Alex DerGazarian – Hand-knitting Scrap Rugs. Learn how to make cozy, colorful rugs out of upcycled fabrics! If you have them, feel free to bring any old clothes, T-shirts, bedsheets, towels, etc. and weave a little bit of your life into your rug.
Nero Akpo – Creative Writing/Freestyle Rap. This workshop on Creative Writing that focuses on Freestyling will encourage learners to arrive and explore as their authentic selves.
Maky Potter – Cigar Box Altars. Using reflection, mind-body connection, and visualization, students will explore their inner child. We will use paint, collage and found objects to create a mixed media inner child altar inside of a cigar box. Students are encouraged to bring copies of childhood photos or objects that are meaningful to them to incorporate into their altars.
Umami Origami – Cooking Class. Cooking is a form of luxury and survival. We will learn the basics to putting together spring rolls and cooking the fillings. We will even make our very own dipping sauce to compliment the meal! Vegetarian options will be available. *WARNING PEANUTS in sauce*
Helen Kwiatkowski – Hardback Accordion Sketch Book. Students will create a hard-cover accordion sketch book with 140 lb. watercolor paper. This book opens flat and will be suitable to be used with a variety of wet and dry media. This class is appropriate all skill levels.
Woodsounds -Part 1. Accessible & inclusive trauma-informed functional movement with meditation, experiential exploration, music, and storytelling to accompany.
Woodsounds – Part 2. Accessible & inclusive trauma-informed functional movement with meditation, experiential exploration, music, and storytelling to accompany.
Laurie Foster – Printing Press. Students will use a variety of monotype techniques to create colorful, abstract prints with the printing press.
Ann Edmondson – Collage. Students will create a collage from still life of fruit that will be set up or from pictures provided or from their own ideas.
Kale Ogle – Cyanotype. Students will learn a camera-free technique for creating images by placing objects on paper coated with a special solution before exposing it to the sun. The UV light will then bake the negative image on the paper creating a stunning prussian blue work of art. Students will both be working with chemicals and outdoors for this project so please dress accordingly.
Shelley Mouber – collage.
