2021 Hermitage STARs Present an Interactive Showcase for Families

June 16, 2021 – Sarasota

Five Florida public school arts teachers will showcase and discuss the work they have developed during their residency at the Hermitage Artist Retreat in an interactive presentation, Saturday, July 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the Great Lawn at the Hermitage, 6660 Manasota Key Road in Englewood. This free, family-friendly event is open to all ages (with particular appeal to middle and high school students), and features brief presentations followed by hands-on, interactive activities. Guests will be invited to participate in ceramics, selfies, and other activities. For more information or to register for this event ($5 per adult; children and students under 18 are free), visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

The five teaching artists are the winners of the 2021 State Teacher Artist Residency program (STAR), presented by the Hermitage in partnership with the Florida Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE). They received a residency at the Hermitage, where they live and work as artists, shaping and developing their own crafts and talents.

The five winners are: Megan Boehm, a painting instructor at Kissimmee Middle School in Kissimmee, whose artwork centers around history, reenactment, and time travel. During this event, she will talk about her work and then lead guests in taking a time-traveling selfie. Kimberley Mullins, a creative writing instructor at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, will read from her new works in progress. Jennifer Rodriguez, a ceramics instructor at the J.M. Tate Senior High School in Cantonment, will talk about her artwork, which reflects the flora and fauna of Florida, then she will invite audiences to create a piece of their own to take home. Eric Troop, a music instructor at the Bellalago Academy in Kissimmee, is creating original compositions during his stay at the Hermitage; he will perform and then introduce the audience to percussion instruments and invite them to sing and play along. Laura Wiswell, a painting instructor at the Port Salerno Elementary in Stuart, will lead the group in creating an environmental installation which will remain at the Hermitage temporarily.

Florida arts educators apply for the Hermitage summer residencies through FAAE. Applications are open to all Florida arts teachers – including music, theater, visual art, dance, creative writing, and more. Since the start of the program in 2011, 53 teachers have represented 25 counties in Florida. Residencies culminate with a free community program. For more information about the Hermitage STAR program and how to apply, Florida arts educators are encouraged to visit FAAE.org.

“We look forward to seeing what this latest group of STARs will create,” says Sandberg. “It is an honor to celebrate Florida’s leading arts educators, and we are grateful to the Florida Alliance for Arts Education for their continued collaboration – particularly to Leiland Theriot for her passion, commitment, and belief in the transformative power of arts education.”