The Creation of Safe Spaces Through Art Education
Expression of any kind begins with an impulse. Impulses that have been nurtured within safe spaces flow with greater freedom. Those impulses that were squelched by unsafe spaces have difficulty finding expression. Today, we are increasingly aware of the need to find creative solutions to the difficult problems and various threats we face. Therefore, it is increasingly important to create and nurture safe spaces for the creative impulses to emerge and thrive. Mark and Humberto do this through the art of theatre. The original definition of the word “theatre” comes from the Greek, theatron, which means: the listening place. The listening place is not just a place of listening, but it is also a place of telling. Artists & educators make great partners in the search to create safe spaces. By applying a few of the tools handed down and refined by Humberto & Mark, participants can learn how to create the atmosphere and circumstances that give students and practitioners the courage to create.
Presenters
Humberto Perez
Educator/Filmmaker/Digital Media Creative
Revolution Arte Productions
Humberto is an independent filmmaker, digital media creative, arts advocate, and arts consultant for Revolution Arte.
He has been a public educator for sixteen years. He teaches digital video & audio production and heads Cougar Productions at John B. Connally High School, a title one school in the Pflugerville school district. He incorporates digital storytelling, social media, guerrilla filmmaking techniques, personal electronic devices, theatre arts, and a wide array of artistic techniques into a project-based and engaging learning experience for his students.
He was a co-founder of a non-profit organization, the Cinema Du Cannes Project (CDCP). CDCP’s after school program worked with high school students in the Pflugerville school district to teach them the art of cinematic digital storytelling and digital media production.
Humberto has over twenty years of experience in live music performance, music production, theatre production, filmmaking, digital media production, mask-making & craft production, and producing cultural & artistic events.
Humberto’s recognitions include the Dewey Winburne Community Service Award at the 2012 SXSW Interactive Festival, and one of the 2010-2011 Secondary District Teachers of the Year at Pflugerville ISD.
Mark Olsen
Chair of Arts Program
New York Film Academy
Mark teaches stage movement at the Juilliard School, acting at Columbia University, and is the Chair of the Musical Theatre Program at the New York Film Academy. Former Head of Acting of the Penn State School of Theatre, a professional actor, director, and stage fight choreography, Mark has worked on Broadway, Off Broadway, and Regional Theatres including Houston's Alley Theatre, Dallas Theatre Center, Long Wharf Theatre, and the Hartford Stage Company. Mark is the author of three books: The Golden Buddha Changing Masks, The Actor with a Thousand Faces, and Acting: Scene One.
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