w Elementary School students in kindergarten through grade five.Picasso People, an original arts education program in its ninth year, presented performances recently to Winslow Elementary School students in kindergarten through grade five.
Picasso People, a brainchild of Artistic Director, Carlton Peter Van Pyrz, crosses the lines of the Arts with core curriculum subjects such as history, language arts, and social studies. P
utting Picasso's masterpieces into motion absorbs the audience in the creative process and thus provides a potent, multi-dimensional learning vehicle. The program meets three of six National Curriculum Standards for Art Education, and thus fulfills the cultural enrichment goals of both educators and parents alike.
"Picasso People were great,” said Kara Rehm, Winslow art teacher. “All of my students and even the teachers enjoyed the show. Mr. Van Pyrz enabled the students to better understand Picasso's motivation for painting a certain way and enlightening the students to better understand abstract art.”
"Picasso People is terrific because it makes art accessible and meaningful to children,” said Rehm. “Through its life size images of Picasso masterpieces and sculptures, Picasso People helps children connect with the history, culture, music and language that enriched Picasso's life and art."
Van Pyrz, a professionally trained actor, dancer, and mime, has always been intrigued with the visual arts indeed with Picasso in particular. The early 1980's marked the beginning of his career as director of his own musical mime troupe. As the company evolved, Van Pyrz found a niche in art education. His easy way with children brought the art form of mime into hundreds of schools in his native state of New York. Later, he married his partner-in-mime, professionally trained ballet dancer, Deanna Marie DeMike. Together they breathed life into the idea of a dramatic presentation illustrating the life work of Pablo Picasso