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May 2009 News
An article about Chameleon, by Lee Hill Kavanaugh, was featured in the Kansas City Star
on Saturday, May 16th. Chameleon’s excellent work with Kansas City Kansas homeless youth
from the KCKS school district was featured in the star. The article points out both the excellent
work we are doing and our difficulty in raising funds for this summer’s program. Click here to read the article on the KC Star website.
Spring 2009 with the Rose Brooks Shelter
Chameleon received a ‘Partnership Award’ from Rose Brooks Domestic Shelter for its help in providing arts workshops for resident families. The Kansas City Art Institute also received this
wonderful award for their amazing work on the project. Chameleon partnered with the Kansas City Art Institute Community Arts and Service Learning program to provide 16 weeks of programming. Theo Bunch, a junior in sculpture at the college, led the team of students and created a birdhouse/mosaic tree for Rose Brooks. Theo was also recognized with an award for his dedicated work. This will be the first sculpture in the Rose Brooks Sculpture Park and a major focus in next years Chameleon Arts and Youth Development programming.
Chameleon behind the scenes of Earth Day, Picnic for the Planet, and other spring festivals and events in KC
Much of Chameleon’s work happened behind the scenes, providing technical and other support for small arts groups such as Esoke African Dance and Drumming, Stone Lion Theater and Lewis Scenic Design. All these groups have been major contributors to spring cultural and arts events in the metro area. StoneLion and Esoke have performed and helped organize the Earthfest May 9th with Bridging the Gap and other concerned organizations. Prior to that, StoneLion hosted A Picnic for the Planet a the Tony Aguirre Community Center, and they performed their new play, Down the Drain, for the Earth Festival at Wyandotte High School KCKS.
Using multiple styles of puppetry, including marionettes, masks, shadow, mouth, and rod puppets, StoneLion Puppet Theatre brings the magic of world-class puppet shows right to your doorstep! Shows are fresh, original and educational and can be performed for 30 or 1000. StoneLion tours throughout the Midwest, the United States and beyond! StoneLion is a Smithsonian Institute touring performer, on the Missouri Arts Council Touring Roster, Kansas City Young Audiences Touring roster, a member of UNIMA International and The Puppeteers of America. Count on StoneLion to bring their dedication to excellence in theatre, art, education and fun to you!
21st Century GrantProgramming with the KCMO School District
Chameleon has almost completed 8 weeks of afterschool programming for inner city elementary schools Pinkerton, King and Whittier. Chameleon provided arts and science programming for the schools, highlighted by Hip Hop Academy teaching visual arts and dance, Hugh Merrill and KCAI students teaching science through the arts and StoneLion providing environmental themed puppet performances. The kids and schools loved the program and we look forward to working with the district and schools next fall.
Chameleon and Full Employment Council’s Summer Intern Programming
Chameleon is slated to hire up to 10 summer interns, art students from Paseo Academy and
the Kansas City Art Institute, to work in our summer arts camp for homeless children from
KCKS starting in June. The interns will learn how to facilitate ArtWorks curriculum that uses
dance, drawing, painting and creative writing to teach academic skills. This will be the third
year we have run this very important and successful program.