Costa Rican students visiting South Whidbey on a two-week exchange program had a chance to make art reflecting shadow and light with artist Melissa Koch. They are part of a long-term mutual exchange program through South Whidbey High School’s Spanish teacher Jennifer Gochanour.
”We have hosted students from Columbia and Costa Rica over the past 21 years,” said Jenny, taking a moment to answer my question while grading student final exams. “The cultural exchange with Costa Rican students was initiated through a Whidbey resident who met some very nice teachers while on vacation in Costa Rica, and discovered they organized exchanges with students and put us in touch with Costa Rican teachers. We connected through video chats and found we shared many of the same ideals about student travel and cultural connections. We planned a trip to Costa Rica in 2020, but it was canceled due to the pandemic. We tried again in 2023 and traveled to San Ramon that summer with a group of South Whidbey Spanish students. The San Ramon students visited us here in January of 2024, and the exchange continued. The organizers in San Ramon are three teachers from different secondary schools there. Students on both sides of the exchange stay with local families, attend classes, and build cultural competence through the cultural and linguistic challenges of jumping into a new culture and country!”
“We are here from San Ramon, Costa Rica, and started an exchange program with Jenny Gochanour’s class, years ago,” said Roxana Ferreto, an English teacher at the Costa Rica high school.” They are housed with local families.” When asked if it was a hard adjustment visiting during these cold winter days, Roxana said the students were resilient and had enjoyed a visit to the mountains with the families they stayed with. Some had never seen snow before.
About two dozen high school students took a moment to use paper, scissors, and art supplies to create shadow puppets. The idea was inspired by Mellisa Koch, whose art is currently showing through Jan. 28th in the Frank Rose Gallery at the South Whidbey Community Center. One of Melissa’s gifts is sharing her art talents with students, including those who are part of Woodhaven, an innovative program founded by Marli Jenkins for high school aged learners.
“I called my exhibition Heaven on Earth, said Melissa. “That’s setting our intention for the path we want to walk and live. My interest lies in creating artworks that instill a sense of beauty and serenity which inspire others to use their creative imagination.”
By way of using art to illuminate light and shadow, Melissa prepared an art workshop using shadow figures which could be illuminated in light show.
Melissa is grateful for the generosity of import store, Music for the Eyes in Langley, for donating to the project.
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Meanwhile, join Melissa, poet Mary Himes and Brook Stout for an evening of “Joy as Resistance, Joy and Resistance,” and explore: “Two poets and one painter in conversation about creativity in difficult times.” The event is Friday, January 23 from 6-7 PM. Goosefoot’s Marian Myzkowski will host the talk.
Melissa and poets Mary and Brooke will host a conversation exploring how “joy, creativity and artistic practice can act as forms of joy and resistance during challenging moments.”
The event will be hosted at the Frank Rose Gallery, 723 Camano Ave. Langley. $20 donation is suggested.
