Community gathers for Art Stroll

Students gathered around to entertain and say thank you to parents, family, friends and residents who provide the financial support that keeps the arts programs alive and vital in Sisters schools on Friday night, April 13.

Community members sauntered through Sisters galleries and public buildings during the evening's My Own Two Hands Art Stroll to view what students had created with their own two hands and listen to the music they performed. The works of the many fine professional artists who contributed pieces for the event's silent and live auctions on Saturday night were also on display throughout town at 17 different venues.

My Own Two Hands, the brainchild of event chairman and local artist Kathy Deggendorfer, has grown into a two-day affair that raises the vast majority of the Americana Project's annual funding. The Americana Project is Sisters Folk Festival's educational outreach program. Traditionally, the event's Saturday night auction nets in excess of $70,000 (see related story, page 34).

This year's My Own Two Hands theme Gather 'Round was the inspiration of middle school Americana Project and Arts Discovery teacher Kit Stafford, who felt the concept expresses so well that community spirit that is unique to Sisters.

And gather 'round was exactly what the Sisters community did last Friday during the event's late afternoon Art Stroll. The gathering spirit continued as folks later assembled at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill & Saloon for a Performing Arts Night and Chili Feed.

Art works by Sisters Elementary School students were on display at the library, city hall and the school district's administration building. Americana students entertained event goers at the library, and a group of four high school seniors who call themselves Foxy Fox performed at city hall.

"We have a passion for making music foxy," said Billy Mitchell, the group's cellist. The group was chosen to play after auditioning for Brad Tisdel, Americana Project Executive Director.

"I included them because they are great people who have been involved with the American Project but aren't necessarily in the class. The idea is to include the community of people within all of the schools," Tisdel said.

The high school's Americana Project and theatrical arts instructor Gary Bowne entertained art strollers at the Cliff Scharf Gallery.

"Americana students and students from the greater music department, Jody Henderson's program as well as some of the singers from Tara MacSween's vocal music classes are playing in the different little galleries all throughout the art walk," Bowne said as he strummed his guitar.

Students performed at Clearwater Gallery, Depot Deli and Sisters Coffee Company, and the high school's Jam Scene Brass Band, under the direction of band instructor Jody Henderson, paraded through the streets of town.

When everyone gathered at Bronco Billy's students from all three schools shared their musical talents. Highlights of the students' presentations were Clay Warburton's fourth grade class who sang "My Own Two Hands" with lyrics by Jack Johnson and popularized by Ben Harper.

Middle school students sang "Gather 'Round," an original composition the group wrote in February while taking an Interim Week class from Tisdel.

The Americana Project advanced students and Foxy Fox entertained before turning the stage over to singer/songwriter Elizabeth Ames and the Countrypolitans.