Arts & Recreation Day, held April 12, 2019, was an inspirational day of learning about Kitsap’s art and culture. We began the day at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) and concluded the day at the House of Awakened Culture and Suquamish Museum. The day inspired our sense of creativity, culture, and place.
Board Member Dr. Dora Summers-Ewing (LK12) led our Positive Leadership conversation about the capacity of Reason. Dora shared a quote by Ann Crittenden, “Leadership is the marriage of passion and reason in the service of a vision. Reason alone cannot move people, and passion alone is dangerous. Leadership demands both heart and head.”
BIMA Chief Curator Greg Robinson led the class on an engaging tour of the art museum. The tour featured artist Patty Grazini: Forms of Devotion, Kait Rhoads: Bloom, and Open Sesame! The Magic of Artist’s Books Revealed. One participant shared, “I loved Greg’s comment that artist’s don’t create things, but start conversations.”
We wrapped up our morning at BIMA with an insightful arts panel representative of both visual and performing arts. Panelists included Carla Mackey, BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network) Membership Coordinator; Greg Robinson (BIMA); Stacey Saunders, Central Stage Theatre Executive Director; and Marie Weichman, Olympic College Arts Faculty. One participant shared, “The idea … that creativity will increasingly be sought as a skill as technology increases. Creativity as an asset for our youth to pursue [broadened my perspective and caused me to rethink Arts & Culture in Kitsap County.]”
The class moved to the House of Awakened Culture for lunch, and a special presentation by middle and high school students from Chief Kitsap Academy led by Denita Holmes (LK18). The Longhouse was a beautiful backdrop for their meaningful song and dance. “The youth dancers were awesome and so powerful – brought tears to my eyes. So nice to see young people embrace their heritage.”
Following lunch, Project Co-Chairs Alex Cervantes and Ashley Oaksmith debriefed team projects, followed by Jeanine Greco, Curator Kitsap Historical Society and Museum, Jeanine discussed the many cultures that make up Kitsap and shared her recent research about Bainbridge Island’s unique Indipino community. Caroline Hartse from Olympic College’s Anthropology Department then shared the college’s partnership with Bainbridge Island Historical Museum to create the Yama Project. The project brought forth the story of Yama, a settlement of Japanese immigrants who worked at the Port Blakely Mill on Bainbridge Island in the 1880’s.
The class concluded the day at the Suquamish Museum, hosted by Suquamish Tribal Member and Tour Guide Gus Purser. It was a meaningful walk through Suquamish tribal history.
Thank you to our Challenge Day sponsors Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Cultural Arts Foundation NW, Port Madison Enterprises, and the Suquamish Museum.