For 2 weeks in February, 7th grade social studies students at Ramsey International Fine Arts School in Minneapolis, the elementary school Ralph Lemon attended, became writers, portrait drawers, photographers, finders of songs, storytellers and anthropologists of their own lives.
THE MEMORY PROJECT, a youth-based oral and social history project, was the community-based component of the Walker artist residency of Minnesota native and internationally acclaimed choreographer and dancer Ralph Lemon. Videographer and project leader Chelsea Lemon-Fetzer describes the project as a “2-week workshop designed to introduce and practice the research process for exploring history. The workshops also provide training and practice in the creative process. Our goal is to stimulate an awareness of history and culture that feeds into the present life of these young people, and to support them in creating artistic works that reflect their lives.”
Ralph Lemon is in Minneapolis this week presenting Come home Charley Patton, the third part of his monumental work, THE GEOGRAPHY TRILOGY at the Pantages Theatre, March 10 and 11 @ 8PM.
Led by Lemon’s young daughter, Chelsea Lemon-Fetzer, also a Minnesota native, Megan Leafblad, Walker Art Center Community Programs Coordinator, Maureen Kolesch Ramsey’s Fine Arts Coordinator, Kiyoko Sims, Associate Director of Community Programs at the Walker and Brian Perkins, 7 Grade social studies teacher, the project culminated in a display and performance by the 7th graders in the Ramsey school auditorium on Tuesday, March 8.
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