Blog | Shearwater Productions

Holly holding a mask and sign that says "Theatre Transforms Lives"

State of Arts-in-Ed with guest Marsha Wheeler

May 12, 2012

Arts-in-ed issues and conversations have gained momentum and greater public significance of late. A number of studies have been published indicating the importance of the arts in academic success and in post-school success. For these reasons, I opted to interview an incredible friend and colleague, Marsha Wheeler, an administrator in the arts-in-ed world for many years. Marsha is the Arts-in-Ed Coordinator of the Oswego County BOCES program in upstate NY. She is also a long-time organizer of conferences, initiator of opportunities, and inspirer of dreams. Below are her words, followed by an excerpt from President Obama’s Remarks at the Reception for

A group of kids paints on the floor of a hallway

Theatre for Discovery & Transformation: Prince Ahmed and Peribanou

May 4, 2012

For many years, the Canada Centre for Faith and Social Justice held monthly open meetings, and at each meeting, they would go through four phases in order to bring the social forces and ‘pre-scribed’ relationships into greater transparency. The four phases are: Identifying Ourselves and Our Interests Naming Issues Assessing Forces Planning For Action Why is that important? Many of us in Arts and Arts-in-Ed do work based in an idea of social awareness and justice, of remembering that ART is the great equalizer and singular opportunity to newly understand and re-imagine what is and what could be. Below is

Mask-Making, Part Two: Aquaplast

April 21, 2012

This week’s blog is Part Two of Mask-Making Tips, with a focus on Aquaplast. For tips specific to making masks with paper mache (or papier maché), read my earlier blog, Mask-Making Part One and check out Mask-Making Part Three for how to make a mask with a manila folder. Aquaplast: What is it? Aquaplast is a medical plastic that becomes pliable when immersed in boiling (or near-boiling) water. It comes in different types, each of which has different shaping/molding properties. It’s made by Sammons Preston Rolyan, and can be purchased online from any large medical company (like Patterson Medical or

All of us in a fourth grade figuring out the gestures together!

April is Autism Awareness Month

April 9, 2012

This is a call to parents, caregivers, and educators with children on the Autism spectrum to encourage and embrace performance practices, and to Teaching Artists to tweak their practice to maximize the success of these students. Theatre is a terrific way for children with Autism to have a structured environment in which to learn and practice interactive social behaviors. Moreover, the process of learning basic performance concepts revolves around unpacking and identifying gestures, body language, and subtext. The ideal environment for any kids working to memorize social cues (‘cues’ is a theatre word) in a safe, scaffolded context where they

Fun and Dreams: the creation of “Last Stand at Sunset Pass”

April 4, 2012

This week I have decided to sing the praises of doing something crazy and seemingly beyond reach for the love of doing it. And somehow making it work out. A couple years ago was a particularly stressful time in my life, and I wanted more than anything to be in an action-adventure film, to play a part in a movie where, after the going got tough, my character found a way to save her damn self instead of being rescued. Preferably after an awesome fight sequence. Yeah, and I’d also like a pony and world peace, right? My awesome husband,

Performance for Discovery & Transformation: Bali Intro

March 29, 2012

As you probably know, I believe profoundly in the ability of performance to spark and facilitate discovery and transformation. As artist and teachers, sometimes our own arts practices need a boost of Discovery & Transformation as well! I recently came across a Bali module I had created for schools, and looked at the introductory concepts with my “right now” eyes. Although I continue to use large paper and topical imagery in my regular practice, I had forgotten the importance of ‘the swirling river of spirit’ and the idea of everyone as participant, even those we do not see, even those beings

Girls from a secret school in Kabul in 2002

Clowns on the Silk Road, an introduction

March 21, 2012

My Master’s Thesis was called “The Search for Indigenous Clown Forms in Afghanistan” (of course it was), stimulated in part by participation in a humanitarian mission to Afghanistan in February of 2002 with the the Italian military, an Italian film crew, and approximately two dozen clowns, mostly Italian. My passion for Silk Roads clowns continues unabated, and lately, people have been asking me more about them. Thus, this blog entry! This is an excerpt (sadly made slightly ‘rumpled’ in tone in my attempt to cut words) from a paper I presented at a Silk Roads Conference in Australia. It also

Holly with her son Chris riding camels in Egypt

Shout-Out to Students Going into the Arts

March 14, 2012

There’s a lot I love about being an artist. So much that I can’t get it all in one place, but I do want to put a few things out there about what being an artist means to me—and how that can apply to you. Practical Advice Being an Artist is in many many ways like every other business: if you only sell one product, your business will fail. If you are a shoe saleswoman and all you sell is aqua-marine stiletto slippers, your business will fail. If you are an artist and all you sell is performing other people’s

a mask for the 'rough cut wooden marionettes' in Don Quixote

Tips for Mask Making—Part One of Three

March 7, 2012

I am often asked to teach classes, mentor, or give advice regarding mask-making practices. Towards this end, I am dedicating this first blog to making masks with Papier Mache, the second Mask blog post to making masks with Manila Folders, and the third Mask blog post to making masks with Aquaplast. Papier Mache: What is it? In a nutshell, Papier mache is a process in which strips of newspaper (usually) are dipped in a mixture of either wallpaper paste and water or glue and water, then laid over a sculpted mold. What are the pros and cons of using it?