Grupo Tarasco Dances at Rosa Parks

Grupo Tarasco, the dance company of the Cook Arts Center, performed on Thursday, September 30th at Rosa Parks Circle to a packed crowd attending the unveiling of a new sculpture. The six-foot statue will find a new home at Rosa Parks Circle after committee members spent years working and raised over $370,000 to make it happen. We were pleased to have our dance troup be a part of the celebration and recognition of Rosa Parks' life.

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the Cook Arts Center.

El Loteria at the Cook Arts Center

On Friday, September 24, the Grand Valley State University's Latin
American Studies program hosted El Loteria at the Cook Arts
Center.  The program started at 5pm and ran until 7pm with over
30 people in attendance. Before the playing  began, one of
GVSU's professors acted as El Griton whose job it is to call out
the name of the cards.  In addition, El Griton also talked about
the history  of El Loteria in Mexico.  Several winners emerged
throughout the night and they were rewarded with prices. In
addition, GVSU provided Mexican food for everyone to enjoy.

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the
programs of the Cook Arts Center.

Happenings at the Cook Library Center...

On September 9, the Career Day speaker at the Cook Library Center was
Amy Brower who is Associate Director of Grandville Avenue Arts &
Humanities (GAAH).  She shared her educational experiences which
prepared her for her job with GAAH.  The students also played
Pictionary using terms that are skills or requirements in Amy's job.
The  students were great listeners and had a great time!  Also happening 
that week, a group of Aquinas art students had a ball
with our students by making play dough.  You can see the fun that was
had by all in the photos above!

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the  
Cook Library Center.

Fall Classes Begin at Arts Center

Fall Classes are in full swing at the Cook Arts Center. We are offering 29 classes in our fall class session which runs from September 20 to December 16, 2010. Class options include everything from Kids Drawing to Theatre Games to a Spanish Community Choir which focuses primarily on choral music in Spanish. Currently, we have over 275 students registered for the fall class session. For more information or to register for programs, contact the Cook Arts Center at 742-0692.

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the Cook Arts Center.

Calvin College Volunteers at the Cook Library Center

On Thursday, September 2, we were lucky enough to have several students
from Calvin College volunteer at the Cook Library Center as part of Street
Fest 2010.  The library students enjoyed helping the Calvin students
organize the library, including shelving books and cleaning windows, and
when they were done, everyone enjoyed some ice cream for a treat.  Then
everyone played board games, some soccer, and some of the Calvin 
students were brave enough to face off with our students in chess.  

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of
the Cook Library Center.

Cook Arts Center Teen Girls Group

Our teen girls group has been meeting this month on Wednesday afternoons. On Wednesday, September 1 they completed a special art project by painting square tiles with messages of peace, love, friendship and compassion. The group has been meeting weekly to engage in fun and creative activities together and has also been planning volunteer opportunities they can do as a group within the community.

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the Cook Arts Center.