Ask Artists
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6
Ask Artists is a new inquiry-based learning program for teachers and students. Each episode is an in-depth and intimate journey with a Saskatchewan artist. Artists share candid moments and show students that artists are real people with skills, successes, failures and dreams.
Each artist also provides instruction on a project inspired by the Grades 5 to 9 Arts Education Goals and Summarized Outcomes from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education.
On top of providing students with artistic skills ranging from storytelling to vocal performance, artists cover a variety of social topics such as racism, personal identity, embracing failure and breaking stereotypes. All artists live and work in Saskatchewan and are filmed at venues around Saskatoon.
What to expect?
Part 1 of each episode directly addresses students, as the artist introduces themselves and shares advice, guidance and anecdotes.
Part 2 features the artist’s practice, as well as exercises, skill building, creation techniques and discussion.
Part 3 has additional activities, explanation and discussion.
Part 4 features a performance and ends with “10 Artist Things”, a list of advice, wisdom, lived experience, dos and don’ts, etc. These “things” vary in tone from inspirational to serious, glib to heartfelt.
The artists
Artists cover a wide spectrum of personalities, backgrounds, and artistic mediums. These include Indigenous, newcomer, refugee, queer, neuordivergent, male, female, non-binary, 19 to 40+, theatre, puppetry, sculpture, spoken word, music and dance.
Episode 1: On Air
A dynamic duo of professional theatre artists takes students on an exploration of radio theatre. Students will create an original radio play designed for live performance.
Grade: 5
Goal: Pop Culture
Grahame Kent (he/him): Grahame is a performer, writer, producer, designer, voice artist, editor, dramaturg, foley artist, director and stage manager. He is also the Artistic Producer of Buttered Ghost Theatre, a Treaty 6-based company that produces new and exciting work.
Danielle Roy (she/her): Danielle is a performer, playwright, producer, voice-actor, dramaturge and director. She founded Gumshoe Productions in 2016 and works as a theatre educator using drama skills to help build community, personal awareness and self-confidence through imaginative learning.
Teachers Guide: Download PDF here.
Video Trailer:
Episode 2: I Am
A seasoned puppeteer, clown, and theatre maker, Crispi Lord invites students into her puppet laboratory for a hands-on exploration of her artistry. Students will create two types of puppets, using themselves as the inspiration.
Grade: 6
Goal: Identity
Crispi Lord (she/her): Crispi is an actor/creator/designer based in Saskatoon. As head puppet wrangler with Wide Open Children’s Theatre, she has been designing and building sets and puppets for 20 years.
Teachers Guide: Download PDF here.
Video Trailer:
Episode 3: Here & Now
An artist, curator, writer, community builder and teacher, Carole Epp provides a detailed journey into the artistry and history of functional art. Students will be guided through two projects (ceramic tile and pinch pot) featuring imagery from the students’ own exploration of “place”.
Grade: 7
Goal: Place
Carole Epp (she/her): Carole currently works as a studio artist, exhibiting primarily in Canada and the United States. A fierce advocate for the ceramics community, she is editor of Musing About Mud, the co-founder of Make and Do ceramics, and she volunteers on the board for Clayweek.org.
Teachers Guide: Download PDF here.
Video Trailer:
Episode 4: Speak Up
A rising star on the Canadian landscape, Peace Akintade is a multidisciplinary artist who blends spoken word, dance, music and theatre to create powerful and inspiring pieces of work. Students will create spoken word poems about themselves and the world around them.
Grade: 8
Goal: Social Issues
Peace Akintade (she/her): Peace is an African-Canadian interdisciplinary poet, public speaker, and thespian residing in Saskatoon. She is the Forestry Farm’s artist-in residence, former Saskatchewan Youth Poet Laureate, co-coordinator of Write Out Loud and board member of the Tonight It’s Poetry community.
Teachers Guide: Download PDF here.
Video Trailer:
Episode 5: Out Loud
A powerhouse of performance with stunning vocals and a giant heart, Lancelot Knight is an acclaimed singer-songwriter who shows how far gratitude and a humble attitude can take you. Students will explore the structure of songs and create their own lyrics to a backing track.
Grade: 9
Goal: Taking Action
Lancelot Knight (he/him): Lancelot Knight is a Plains Cree actor, singer and songwriter from Saskatoon. He has toured in Germany, New Zealand and across North America. His music spans a variety of genres and all forms of artistry. He plays guitar for his father’s band, Chester Knight and The Wind and toured with Joey Stylez. Lancelot also recently co-created the play, Reasonable Doubt, for Persephone Theatre.
Teachers Guide: Download PDF here.
Video Trailer:
Episode 6: Move It
A passionate and entrancing performer, Mitchell Larson embodies expression and shows students what a belief in oneself and courage to take risks can look like in practice. Students will develop creative expression and work towards a final group performance of a movement piece.
Grades: 6-9
Goal: Identity
Mitchell Larsen (they/them): Mitchell Larsen is a multidisciplinary artist who grew up across Saskatchewan. They are a company member of Free Flow Dance Theatre and La Vióle Theatre. They are currently developing a play, Ethereal, through Persephone Theatre’s TYA Playwrighting Unit and rehearsing for a multidisciplinary piece, Unmasked, by Megan Zong, exploring a young woman’s journey with psychosis.
Teachers Guide: Download PDF here.
Video Trailer: