Shepherd presents Leonardo daVinci
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| Portraying Leonardo daVinci, Scott Shepard played to a Bureau Valley audience this week. “I find that this is the most exciting way I can think of to present the arts to kids,” Shepard said. (BCR photo/Kim Parker) |
MANLIUS — “The Last Supper” came to life Tuesday morning on stage at the Bureau Valley High School Auditorium, as the BVHS art students and students from Galva, Leepertown, Fieldcrest and Bureau Valley High School helped to re-enact Leonardo daVinci’s famous work. Students were mesmerized as Scott Shepherd presented “Through the Eyes of Da Vinci”, a theatrical impersonation of Leonardo daVinci.
In this powerful performance, students looked through daVinci’s eyes at his life, his times, his countless inventions and memorable paintings. Using slides, monologue and theatrics, demonstrations and re-enactments, Leonardo showed how his insatiable curiosity, self-determination, gentleness and pure genius changed how the world and its art were perceived forever.
Students and adults helped to re-enact his famous painting “The Last Supper.” As he posed each character in the painting, Leonardo explained why the use of gesture is so important in understanding each individual’s thoughts and feelings at the time. Students also helped daVinci demonstrate the use of friction, ball bearings, a pulley and a winch.
Students have studied daVinci’s life and many of his works. They have studied the human form and have created a variety of drawings that emphasized feeling, detail, line and proportion. They will write a critical analysis of the performance after class discussions. In the spring, the BVHS art students will continue their study of composition on their trip to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Scott Shepherd is an experienced teacher of students age 6 through adult. Golden Apple Finalist, Fulbright scholar and veteran performer, Scott has portrayed daVinci, Van Gogh, Renoir, Michelangelo, Monet and Degas for more than 10 years for the Bureau Valley students.
Scott Shepherd also performed a free evening performance for the public at the high school.
This program was made possible by a grant written by Sheila L. Heth, Bureau Valley High School art instructor. The daVinci program was partially funded by the Sun Foundation for the Advancement in the Environmental Sciences and the Arts, The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency and the Bureau Valley School District.
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