The Boulder County Science and Art Club for Girls
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Cool Girls ROCK!
photos by Lesley Switendick
Cool Girls: Scientists and Artists of Tomorrow
Show February 20 - March 7, 2009 at the
Old Firehouse Art Center
was a great success!
For information on current events, start with the Cool Girls Calendar page.
Some of the Cool Girls gave presentations at the opening, which was attended by about a hundred people. During a post-show evaluation, the girls said the experience was “awesome!” They said they felt “important,” “like stars,” and appreciated learning from each other by sharing their work. One said she loves science and art but decided she’s too shy “to be famous.”
Members of "Cool Girls," the Boulder County Science and Art Club for Girls, invited the public to enjoy their multimedia artwork about marine biology, labyrinths and other fascinating topics. Carlos Arturo Smith of the Healing Art Gallery and Cheryl Andrews, labyrinth designers, joined the girls in talking about their work at the reception. Visitors had the opportunity to make their own art.
Cool Girls enrolled in every session since June 2008 have been fascinated by marine biology, which they chose as the subject of their paintings on canvas. Some have been to Mexico to swim with dolphins, one lived in Samoa and spent a great deal of time at the ocean, and others enjoy visiting beaches on vacation and aquariums. They are fascinated by the evolution of sea creatures and appreciate the beauty of the forms of sea life. To read their artists’ statements, see the About Us page.
A hundred people attended the opening celebration on February 20 at the Old Firehouse Art Center on the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and Coffman in Longmont. The show ran through March 7, 2009.
Club members in 2008-2009 include Leah, Bergen, Riley, Ruth, Risa, Paula, Síonna, Ananya, Ashley, Ma'ata, Emily, Maddy, Paige, Melissa, Cashlin, Ella, and Mariana. Their work has been inspired by making art with women scientists who encourage the girls’ career interests and help them to see themselves in such roles one day.
Cool Girls @ Crest View is presently open to all girls at the school in grades 3 - 5, space permitting. The club, sponsored by Family Resources, is directed by science editor and teacher Mary Golden and assisted by artist and teacher Lesley Switendick. The club meets weekly at Crest View Elementary School in north Boulder. Cool Girls @ Jarrow Montessori School opens on April 2.
The girls invited gallery visitors to bring cans of food to add to the labyrinth that they created on the floor of the Old Firehouse gallery. Donations went to Longmont's Our Center to help feed the hungry.
This labyrinth is based on a design by Alex Champion. The girls used their mathematical skills to lay out the color pattern of circles. They counted 53 blue, 110 green, 47 black, and 76 tan circles, for a total of 286. Each circle has a diameter of 5.5 inches. The design totals approximately 1573 inches, or 131 feet of circles. Using one girl’s 7.5-inch foot as a measure, walking the path required 154 steps, covering about 1155 inches or 96 feet.
"Creating Community Together: The Labyrinth Journey" is a conference that was held in Boulder from March 27-30, 2009.
