A group of elementary school students from the city had the unique opportunity to learn about the “new worlds'' created in the theater during a workshop today in the Mandeville Gallery.
Third-graders from Elmer Avenue School toured the exhibit, “Charles Steckler: Stage Design,'' a retrospective of Steckler's work over the past 35 years. Steckler, a professor of theater and designer in residence at Union College, has been involved in more than 100 theatrical productions, ranging from “Waiting for Godot'' to “Tartuffe.''
Steckler's passion for the arts and unique ability to transform a set has been appreciated by the hundreds of students he has mentored over the years. Many have used their experience at the college as a springboard to professional careers.
Steckler talked to the students about stage design and the opportunity to create new worlds for actors to inhabit. Students also meet with the curator of the exhibit, Rachel Seligman. Afterwards, the students were able to create their own “new world”, using a shoebox and a basic set of ingredients to construct a diorama.
The students are from the Studying Arithmetic in Literature (SAIL) Program, which involves Union volunteers tutoring third-and fourth-graders from several elementary schools in the city in reading and math.
The workshop was sponsored by Time Warner Cable and will be featured in the company's April Education Connection online newsletter, which is distributed to 500 educators in 375 schools across the region. The newsletter includes free educational resources for teachers, students, and parents that are available to videotape and download off the Internet for use in the classroom or at home.
“With a common focus on supporting the arts and education, we're proud to partner with Union College to bring this unique hands-on experience to local area students,'' said Stephen Pagano, president of Time Warner Cable's Albany Division.