The Long Run: New Conservatory Theatre Center
Artistic Director Ed Decker celebrates the uniqueness of New Conservatory Theatre Center as a populist community theatre whose productions speak to and for diverse audiences, especially the gay community of San Francisco. This Educator Guide explores the history and programs of the New Conservatory ...
The Next Generation: Youth Speaks
SPARK follows several local teens as they make their way through the final tension-filled rounds of the Youth Speaks spoken word competitions, and get a glimpse of their lives and thoughts in their emotion-packed poetry. This Educator Guide is about the history of spoken word.
Threads: Consuelo Jimnez Underwood
SPARK takes a look at textile artist, weaver and teacher Consuelo Jimenez Underwood, who constructs histories of indigenous and non-indigenous conflict through her works on exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Art. This Educator Guide explores the history and traditions of textiles in various cultures, ...
Through the Lens: Kerry Laitala
SPARK watches experimental filmmaker Kerry Laitala's painstaking process as she works on her ongoing tribute to the film medium itself, The Muse of Cinema. This Educator Guide is about the history of experimental and avant-garde filmmaking.
Trailblazers: Joe Goode
SPARK follows Joe Goode as he and the dancers of the Joe Goode Performance Group develop, rehearse, and perform a dance theatre work called Folk. This Educator Guide addresses the history and form of dance-theatre as an artistic genre.
Transplanting a Tradition: Li Huayi
Li Huayi, a painter of propaganda posters during the Cultural Revolution, reinvigorate the centuries-old tradition of Chinese landscape painting with his own, wholly contemporary vision. This Educator Guide explores the Chinese Cultural Revolution and Landscape Painting as well as contemporary painting.
Transplanting a Tradition: Orquesta la Moderna Tradicin
Roberto Borrell's band, Orquesta La Moderna Tradicin, is one of the only musical ensembles in the world dedicated exclusively to the performance of classic Cuban dance music. This Educator Guide explores the history of danzn and the many music and dance forms it inspired.
Up from the Street: Tommy Guerrero
SPARK meets Tommy Guerrero, world famous street skateboarder and musician, whose music evokes the sounds and rhythms of San Francisco. This Educator Guide is about street culture in San Francisco, including skateboarding and its culture, as well as contemporary, instrumental music.
Works on Paper: Enrique Chagoya
Mexican-born Enrique Chagoya is one of America's best-known printmakers, an artist whose work takes aim at establishment religion and politics, in works that are designed to both provoke and amuse. This Educator Guide is about the history and traditions of printmaking and political humor in Mexico and ...
Works on Paper: Julie Chen
SPARK watches book artist Julie Chen work in her print shop, Flying Fish Press as she and her assistant, Mary Chadwick create up to 100 editions of a book each year. This Educator Guides explores the history of the book from scrolls through the contemporary artists book.
A Few Good Stories: Jaime Guerrero
SPARK drops in on Jaime Guerrero at the Bay Area Glass Institute as he creates an elaborate snake sculpture and introduces his "Homies" series. This Educator Guide is about glass blowing, the dynamic work of Jaime Guerrero, Mayan and Aztec iconography, and the history of glass work in art and architecture.
American Music: David Grisman
Musician David Grisman combines bluegrass with elements of swing, jazz and gypsy music as he prepares for a performance at Berkeley's Freight and Salvage. This Educator Guide is about the history of bluegrass music.
Artist as Inventor: Paul Dresher
SPARK explores the electro-acoustic world of Paul Dresher - musician, composer and inventor - as he prepares for a performance of a new work at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. This Educator Guide traces the legacy of new instrument development and experimentation and its impact on music.
Experimenting: Kunst-Stoff
Kunst-Stoff is an experimental dance company based in San Francisco that explores the intersection of dance with other art forms, such as visual arts and film. This Educator Guide introduces students to experimental dance, and provides strategies to explore movement.
Forbidden Territory: Traveling Jewish Theatre
SPARK visits the ensemble of the Traveling Jewish Theatre in a bold and moving play about the Middle East conflict called Blood Relative. This Educator Guide addresses collaborative theatre, political theatre, and the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
History Retold: Berkeley Repertory Theatre's "The People's Temple"
SPARK follows the creation of the documentary theatre project The People's Temple Project from its original conception by David Dower to opening night of play written and directed by Leigh Fondakowski at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. This Educator Guide addresses the history of the Peoples Temple.
Home, Sweet Home: headRush
SPARK explores the work of theatrical performance group headRush. This Educator Guide is about the exploration and history of experimental, political theater and performance art.
Home, Sweet Home: Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
SPARK follows Jared "Choclatt" Crawford as he prepares for his foot-tapping new musical theater production "Hit It!" at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. This Educator Guide is about the history of drumming, street performers, and African American musical theater.
In Respect of Nature: Roman Loranc
Spark visits photographer Roman Loranc as he captures arresting images of the Central Valley landscape. This Educator Guide is about photography, landscape photography and Romanticism as a creative approach in art making.
Kids on Stage: Marsh Youth Theater
SPARK goes backstage as 40 5th-9th grade students in the Marsh Youth Theatre (MYT) Mainstage Performance Ensemble prepare for the premiere of Jip, His Story. This Educator Guide is about the history of children's theatre in the US.
