Welcome to Kenmare

Feature Stories (Vol. 110 No. 18--4/30/2008)

New summer arts program in Kenmare welcomes student artists, writers and actors

By Caroline Downs

Kids who love to draw, paint, write or act will have the chance to explore and expand their talent this summer during the new eight-week Kenmare Summer Arts Institute (KSAI).

The Kenmare Recreation Commission, with artist Jane Kalmbach and writer Caroline Downs, is offering workshops focused on particular types of art, including one in fiction writing, one in visual arts and one in the dramatic format of readers theatre.

"We wanted to create an opportunity for young artists to develop their arts interests within the community," said Downs. "Sometimes these activities can be limited by time or schedules in a school setting, and we know there are kids out there who are terrific artists, writers and actors who want the chance to work on their skills even more."

"We all have talent," added Kalmbach, "and we should take the time to explore it and develop it and share it with others in whatever way we can."

Kids who love telling or writing stories and creating unique characters may choose to join the fiction writing workshop with Downs. Kids who spend their free time drawing or who want to experiment with pastels and watercolor paints should sign up for the visual arts workshop with Kalmbach. The readers theatre workshop is unique in that young actors and actresses are not required to memorize lines or learn stage movements. Instead, they use scripts and work with expressive voices to perform skits, usually humorous, for an audience.

The workshops will meet once weekly at the Janell Studio, downtown Kenmare, for seven weeks beginning May 20th. During the eighth week of KSAI, the young artists will share their paintings, drawings, stories and readers theater skits in three public performances, including the Baptist Home of Kenmare and Kenmare Community Hospital.

Kids who participate will also compile a book of their writings and art work at the end of the program. All young artists in KSAI will receive a copy for themselves, with additional copies made available for sale.

Informational flyers for KSAI have already been distributed to schools in Kenmare and Bowbells, and are available at The Kenmare News office. The workshops are geared toward students who have completed grades 4, 5, 6 or 7. Interested kids who have finished 3rd or 8th grades should also apply in case workshop space is available.

"We really want to provide a safe learning environment for the kids," Kalmbach said, "and we want all kids to be welcome."

To that end, KSAI has a unique fee structure, with young artists charged $15 to participate in a particular workshop, and $5 each for a second or third workshop. If families have more than one child enrolled in the workshops, the cost is $10 for each additional child’s first workshop and $5 for extra workshops.

However, each young artist who attends all the sessions, works hard at their art and completes the workshop expectations, including the three performances, will receive his or her money back. "Cost is not an issue," said Kalmbach.

"We want to make opportunities available for all families," said Downs, adding that the program has means to cover enrollment fees for any young artists whose family budget may be limited.

Kalmbach and Downs are pleased with the local support for KSAI received so far, including the administration by the Kenmare Recreation Commission. Kenmare City Gaming granted $400 to assist the program, while Kenmare Veterans Club, Inc. donated $2,068 to the project. The funds will cover studio rental, supplies, printing, advertising, and T-shirt expenses for the young artists.

The two volunteer instructors are excited to start the first year of KSAI. Kalmbach has enjoyed drawing since she was a child, and has worked to improve her skills during the past five years by studying with several art teachers and doing her own reading and research in art. "I love pastel work," she said, "and love to do charcoal portraits, especially family portraits. Oils on bones and bark have been interesting to experiment with."

She is a member of the Lakeview Art Club and has taught art sessions in Kenmare and Bowbells schools during the past two years under Teachers Incentive Grants awarded by the North Dakota Council on the Arts. She also exhibits and sells her own work at shows throughout northwest and north central North Dakota. "I love to try new things, to think outside of the box and be original," she said. "I feel I have a passion and LOVE to teach kids art, and to see their faces light up when they see the finished piece."

Downs started writing stories as a teenager and gave them as Christmas presents. "One time, I even stayed home from a mall shopping trip with my mom and grandmother to write a story about Grandma’s stuffed animals," she said. "There’s a whole group of characters in my mind who have stories they want told. Other writers reading this will understand exactly what I mean!"

She taught language arts in a middle school for 10 years, where she sponsored an after-school writers group for kids in grades 6-12 for six years and assisted as a readers theatre director for two years. She earned a master of fine arts in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College in 2001 and has been writing for The Kenmare News for eight years. She has written several short stories for kids, with one scheduled for publication by Blooming Tree Press, and has completed one middle grade novel manuscript, with another in progress.

"You can write anywhere and anytime," she said, "but sometimes writers need advice and help from other writers to make their stories really shine. That’s what the writing workshop will be about, working together as writers to make each voice heard."

While the KSAI workshops are geared for upper elementary and junior high students, Kalmbach and Downs welcome the assistance of teens or adults who are also interested in the arts. "This is the kind of activity I would have loved as a kid," said Downs. "If you would like to help the young artists and participate in a workshop yourself, please contact us about volunteering."

Students should return their completed applications to Kalmbach or Downs by May 9th. Anyone with further questions about the KSAI workshops should contact Kalmbach at 385-4528 or Downs at 385-4275 or 377-3567.

"We have a lot of talent in our youth," said Kalmbach. "Let’s help them bring it to life, and then pass it on."