This was the second year the UMass museum has worked with Springfield students. Watch video
AMHERST – In a brightly lit room at the University Museum of Contemporary Art, Eva Fierst was talking photographic composition with a group of Springfield high school students with Canon cameras hanging around their necks.
In a studio space at the museum not far away, Billbob Brown was leading more than two dozen others create art with their bodies in dance.
“Dance is about making shapes with your body,” the head of the UMass Dance Department told them.
More than three dozen High School of Commerce and High School of Science and Technology students spent the day at UMass Thursday.
This was the second year the gallery has worked with Springfield students. Last year, students from Springfield Schools worked with South African photographer David Goldblatt when his work was on display at the museum. The students then documented the Springfield area much the way Goldblatt documents South Africa. Their work was displayed at the museum.
“It’s a way to form a relationship with Springfield schools and the University Museum,” said Fierst, the museum’s education curator. “We already had a fruitful collaboration with photographers.”
Some students had never been to UMass before and others had but just not to the museum.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said Linda Shapras, chairwoman of the Art Department at Commerce. “It’s giving them an opportunity to get outside of Springfield to experience art and culture in a different environment.”
Aurea Natel, a 20-year-old Commerce senior, agreed. After talking about images of Garry Winogrand with Fierst, the photography students moved from the small room to the studio space to take photos of the dancers in motion. “It’s really fun. If you’re really into photography, it’s really good to go out and take pictures (of the dancers,)” Natel said.
“It’s exciting,” said 18-year-old Commerce senior Zahrah Legree. “It’s good to see different groups come together to photograph the dancers. You get them in motion and see their expressions on the their faces.”
Elisabeth Olivera started the dance program at the High School of Science and Technology last fall and has more than 100 students. With just 30 spots available to dancers for the trip she had students write an essay to come. Those who came are the most motivated, she said.
“They get to see a university setting, gain a rich experience. I can’t to this all myself,” she said when it comes to offering inspiration. Nyssa Delgada, an 18-year-old in Olivera’s class, said she liked coming to UMass to see the variety of courses that might be offered. She is considering coming to UMass when she graduates next year. “This is my passion,” she said referring to dance.
“We’re so happy you’re here at UMass,” Brown said just before students moved on to seeing a film. “We’ve been looking forward to this for months.”
Students were to take another dance class Thursday afternoon, have dinner and then see Brown’ students perform at Hampshire College.