Rebecca Young-Sletten wants to pass on knowledge from her experiences in Japan to other teachers.
In 2000, Young-Sletten, an art teacher at Bismarck High School, received the Japanese Fulbright Memorial Scholarship.
The
scholarship sends teachers like Young-Sletten on three-week study tours
for the purpose of increasing their understanding of Japanese culture.
They can then pass on what they learned to their students.
Young-Sletten
has taken this a step further. She is teaching what she learned to
other teachers for them to take back to their classrooms.
While
in Japan, Young-Sletten studied the art of silk painting under the
master painter Takefhi Ogura, who has painted robes for the emperor's
wife.
Young-Sletten was introduced to Ogura by Japanese
ambassador to the United Nations Shigeru Endo, who had lived with her
family while studying in the United States.
Young-Sletten considers Endo to be like a brother to her.
"In Japan, once you've done that (lived that closely with another family), they consider you family," Young-Sletten said.
Young-Sletten's
graduate-level class, Japanese Experience for the Classroom, aims to
improve its participants' fabric painting skills, as well as teaching
them about aspects of Japanese culture, art and how to integrate that
knowledge in their classroom curriculum.
The bigger picture of
the class is in line with the idea of the Fulbright Scholarships' goal
of promoting tolerance between cultures.
"I really want to teach them about teaching peace and harmony in the classroom," Young-Sletten said.
The two-day course starts at 8 a.m. June 24 at Bismarck Art and Galleries Association with introductions and registration.
During the workshop, teachers participating will receive a free kimono and learn to paint their own obi.
The kimonos are made beforehand by Young-Sletten and provided via a grant she received.
Nonteachers are welcome to participate in the class, but they will have to pay for their kimonos.
Participants in the class also learn about Japanese tie-dye (called shibori), the Japanese tea ceremony and the art of giving.
Registration
for the class is $50 and participants can receive one graduate credit
from the University of North Dakota for completion.
Due to the
time it will take to prepare kimonos, people interested in taking
Japanese Experience for the Classroom should call Bismarck Art and
Galleries at 223-5986 before June 15 to register.