Coleen Bins
Metal Smith and Traditional Native Artist
7631 HWY 42
Egg Harbor, WI 54209
Telephone: 920-868-3240
Email: Coleen Bins, chiefoshkosh97@yahoo.com
DESCRIPTION
From corn husk dolls to silver brooches to beadwork to dream catchers, Coleen Bins is a gifted artisan in traditional and contemporary Native and Iroquois adornments and crafts. For Iroquois people, the jewelry, clothing, and beadwork they wore represented stories and legends. As Coleen opens her bag, learn about the many different kinds of adornment, history, and symbolism. Presentations range from demonstrations to on-hands workshops to longer residencies where students create their own pieces.
NOTE: All programs are adaptable in time, intensity and age levels. Coleen can work from beginning to end of the project or introduced the project and have the teacher complete it with the students.
PROGRAMS /WORKSHOPS /RESIDENCIES
Corn Husk Dolls (3rd grade and up, 90 to 120 minutes): This eco-friendly presentation demonstrates how the Iroquois used parts of corn husks to create play dolls for their children. Children create their own corn husk dolls while they hear the story on why the Iroquois dolls have no faces. This presentation stresses the importance of keeping your word and being responsible for each other.
Talking Feather (kindergarten and up, 90 minutes): In this presentation, children use a talking feather as a visual cue on how to be respectful and a good listener while someone else is talking. The talking feather teaches children that there are many sides to a story and that it is important to listen to all sides. Children then create their own Talking Feather, adorning it with colors and shapes as symbols for their own stories to share.
Creating Native Friendship Bracelets on a Loom (6th grade and up, 120 minutes) This workshop is based on the historical Two Row Wampum belt, the symbolic agreement between the colonists and the Iroquois people that acknowledges different cultures may live side by side, equally and peacefully. Students will create bracelets that replica the Two Row Wampum belt design, reminding the students that are all equal and able to live together peacefully.
Baskets (3rd – 5th grade, 120 minutes): This eco-friendly presentation teaches younger children the history of the traditional basketry for native people with a contemporary twist. Children work in the 3rd dimension of art while sharing the cultural significance of baskets and the importance of recycling. Students create their own basket out of newspaper.
Turtle Island (3rd grade and up, 120 minutes) –Using the Iroquois Creation Story, student learn about role of the turtle in Native culture and create a paper mache turtle. The presentation uses recycled materials and stresses the importance of being responsible by taking care of Mother Earth.
Iroquois Jewelry and Metal Smith (6th grade and up, 4 sets of 60 minutes) Students create an Iroquois inspired design on a pendent or brooch using either copper or silver (school is responsible for the costs of the supplies). Students will learn about positive and negative space using piercing, cutting, filing, shaping and polishing.
Maple Tree (3rd grade and up, 120 minutes) – Students learn about the importance of the Maple Tree to Native people while creating a tree from paper mache. The maple tree is a gift from the creator. It is a leader tree and a medicine for Native people. This presentation also includes information about food we eat and making better choices using alternatives to sugar.
Cultural Iroquois Design (kindergarten – 2rd grade, 45 - 90 minutes) This presentation reinforces the importance for people to be thankful while learning the meanings of Iroquois symbols and Oneida Language. Using colored pencils, crayons, or paint, children create “Yaw^ko” (Oneida word for “thank you”) cards with Iroquois designs.
Special Programs (kindergarten – 12th grade) Coleen is very comfortable adapting her expertise in native culture and crafts to specific curriculum such as science, history, guidance, math or language. She is also able to design programs for children stressing diversity, respect, caring, and environmental issues.
APPROVED FEES
$200 Performances (more than 50 students at one time), additional $75 for back-to-back performance (SEED Eligible Rate)
$400 Full Day, 5 – 45 minute workshops (SEED Eligible Rate)
$1,500 Full Week, 5 Full Days (SEED Eligible Rate)
$ 500 Teacher In-Service Program (SEED Eligible Rate)
Single workshops or presentation are also available, but not eligible for SEED funding. Please contact artist for additional fees.
ADDITIONAL COSTS (Not eligible for SEED funding)
Mileage reimbursement for more than 20 miles is figured from Egg Harbor, Wisconsin to your program site is charged at .50 per miles, round trip. Possible lodging expense when artist lives more than 60 miles from program site. Supplies are provided by the artist except for Iroquois Jewelry and Metal Smith. Student or school is responsible for the costs of the metals.
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
Coleen did a fabulous job with my 1st graders! She taught “life lessons” right along with her art project, interacting beautifully with the children. The day after Coleen was here, two children were disagreeing about something. A third child ran to get a talking feather for them!...teacher at Langlade Elementary School in Green Bay