Explore Cursive Writing

Discover the elegance and rhythm of handwriting in this playful, comprehensive workshop where students will explore the intersection of literacy and visual art. Beyond just writing, this workshop offers a brief dive into the history of penmanship, encouraging students to see every word as a design opportunity. This workshop will build confidence in cursive fluency, encourage creative writing, and allow students to produce a finished, hand-bound alphabet book. This is a two-day class. Each class will meet for two hours. Day 1: The Art of the Letter Day 1 is designed for playful and thorough exploration of how to write in cursive handwriting. Participants will move through warmup exercises, tracing letters with eyeballs and fingertips, while learning how to draw shapes and practice connective movements for creating letterforms and words. Students will create pages for an alphabet book that includes writing, drawing, and colorful designs using the art supplies provided. Day 2: Poetry & Book Assembly The second session shifts from practice to production as students finalize their creations. Students will design and color a cover page, finish up art works and create poems and phrases, and assemble the pages into a booklet-format. Workshop Information:Date/Time:Session 1: Thurs/Fri, July 16/17, 10am-12pm, 3rd-5th grade REGISTERSession 2: Thurs/Fri, July 16/17, 1-3pm, 6th-8th grade REGISTERSession 3: Wed/Thurs, July 22/23, 10am-12pm, 3rd-5th grade REGISTERSession 4: Wed/Thurs, July 22/23, 1-3pm, 6th-8th grade REGISTERTeaching artist: Maryellen MurphyAges: 3rd-5th and 6th-8th gradeClass Size: 12Participation fee: $55 per person, includes all materialsNote: Scholarships available for students with financial need. Please email molly.rivera@redwingarts.orgMembers receive 10% off workshops - use code MEMBER10 at checkout! Not a member yet? Sign up at redwingarts.org/support-red-wing-artsWe are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all. If you have a disability or specific access needs, please contact Molly Rivera at molly.rivera@redwingarts.org or 651-309-4980 so we can support your participation. We encourage advance notice when possible and will make every effort to accommodate. About the Artist: Maryellen Murphy holds a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. She earned an MFA at Mills College, Oakland, CA in painting and sculpture, and a Masters of Art Education from Penn State University. Key apprenticeships shaping Murphy’s artistry and approaches, were with Jay deFao and Miriam Schapiro. A 2014 Minnesota mentorship with WARM founding member, Janjte Visscher established Maryellen’s Twin Cities presence and exhibitions. Murphy is a Tier 3, K-16 Arts Educator in Minnesota serving the metro and rural areas across subjects and disciplines since 2011. As a Teaching Artist with 20+years of experience she created safe, brave spaces and programs for youth to flourish in California, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and Minnesota. Murphy’s Minnesota focus is responding to middle school needs by providing subject enrichments from science to world culture to robotics. She brings enthusiasm for art-design practices into STEM to STEAM curriculum and tech-arts like SCRATCH animation. In 2018 Murphy expanded her discipline by earning a certification for Curriculum in Agricultural Science Education (CASE) for developing urban school garden projects.