CALIBRASKA ARTS INITIATIVE
Where west coast art meets Nebraska flair!
2019 Calibraska Summer Tour is NOW STATE WIDE!
CHECK OUT OUR ANIMATION CLASSES ACROSS THE STATE !
LINCOLN | NORTH PLATTE | SCOTTSBLUFF
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ABOUT
Since its kickoff in 2013, the main objective of the Calibraska Arts Initiative has been to form a bridge between California and Nebraska, to inspire and familiarize these two commonly disconnected populations.
Using creative connections, we are able to bring individuals together who may otherwise never interact. We are primarily focused on creating two major opportunities: to allow Los Angeles-creative-industry-based artists and students exposure to small-town Nebraska culture and hospitality and, second, to provide access to high-end educational opportunities, mentorship, training, and exposure from Los Angeles creative industries to midwest residents of all ages in western Nebraska.
Calibraska is the brainchild of CalArts adjunct faculty member and Nebraska native Erica Larsen-Dockray and Vistabeam Wireless Chief Marketing Officer, Monique Larsen.
In spring 2013, Monique asked Erica, who at the time was in her seventh year of teaching animation in Los Angeles, if she would consider teaching an animation workshop during her summer visit with family back in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. A few weeks later, Calibraska was born.
Since that summer, over one hundred students ranging from 5 to 65 years have participated in the animation classes and five students and alumni from the California Institute of the Arts animation programs have visited Scottsbluff for the first time to teach and assist the classes.
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2019 CLASS SCHEDULE
Summer 2019 brings the Calibraska Arts Initiative into a whole new "state"! We are so excited to announce the program will be expanding its offerings to Lincoln and North Platte!
Our new collaborators, Nebraska 4-H Big Red Camps and Mid-Plains Community College are adding 2 new workshops to our summer line up! Check out the details on the camps and how to register below!
Click below to jump to offerings at a certain location
LINCOLN | NORTH PLATTE | SCOTTSBLUFF
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
WORKSHOP
SUN-FRI
JUNE 9th-14th
Grades
10th-12th
NEBRASKA 4-H BIG RED CAMP SESSION
Discover Animation
AGES: Grades 10th-12th including recent high school graduates
CLASS MAX: 15
COST:
Early Tuition: $600 [ by April 15 ]
Regular Tuition: $650 [ by May 1 ]
Late Tuition: $700 [ after May 1 ]
LOCATION: University of Nebraska East Campus
Home Economics Building
Room 220
1650 N 35th St, Lincoln, NE 68583
INSTRUCTOR: Erica Larsen-Dockray Assisted by Aaron Holmes
DESCRIPTION
A truly playful way to learn animation from LA-based animators! In this animation class, students will gain a deep understanding of how to control movement at the frame by frame level both under a camera and in a computer. We will walk through the principles of animation using a variety of animation techniques including optical toys, flipbooks, under camera techniques like clay, paper, as well as basic digital processes. We’ll also watch a variety of animated films both historical and contemporary and talk about how they were made. Taught in collaboration with the Calibraska Arts Initiative by LA Based animators and animation students from Los Angeles, CA. Work from the class will be screened on the “CUBE” in the Lincoln Haymarket. No animation or drawing experience necessary, but a spirit of exploration is required!
WORKSHOP
MON-WEDS
JUNE 17th-19th
12yrs & up
CUBE ANIMATION AND COMPOSITING WORKSHOP
AGES: 12yrs and up (Multi-generational! Adults welcome too)
COST: $150
CLASS MAX: 15 Students
LOCATION: University of Nebraska East Campus
Home Economics Building
Room 220
1650 N 35th St, Lincoln, NE 68583
INSTRUCTOR(S): Erica Larsen-Dockray Assisted by Aaron Holmes
DESCRIPTION
A great introduction class to downshooter animation and Adobe After Effects!
In the morning, we will play with a variety of ways to create abstract and themed animation under the camera using Dragonframe Software as well as other direct techniques including paper, clay, sand, and more.
Afternoons are dedicated to manipulating the morning's animation in Adobe After Effects as a way to better learn how to composite a variety of time based and still media together to create a plethora of wacky and experimental moving images. Including compositing the work to fit the "CUBE" screen in the Lincoln Haymarket where it will be screened!!
SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA
We've designed our first week of classes to have the option to combine for students to have a full day of animation fun from 10a-4pm! Animation 1.0 students are welcome to take our special topics class in the afternoon and Animation 2.0 students can take our morning Special Topics class and stay with us for lunch in between.
Students staying for a whole day will need to bring a lunch. One of our staff will supervise students during the lunch break.
West Nebraska Arts Center Members receive a discount. If you are already a member you can pay your discounted price the day of classes or Visit: http://www.thewnac.com/about-membership to become a member today!
WE WILL BE GIVING OUT FREE SWAG FROM CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS AND STUDIOS
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BONUS SKYPE SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE CLASSES WITH LA INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
CHECK OUT OUR LINE UP OF VIRTUAL Q&A'S!
Grab a flyer for our Scottsbluff Offerings here:
WORKSHOP
MON-FRI
JUNE 24th-28th
10a-12p
7yrs & up
ANIMATION 1.0 - THE ANIMATION PLAYGROUND
AGES: 7yrs* and up (Multi-generational! Adults welcome too)
COST: $80 -- $70 WNAC Members*
CLASS MAX: 15 Students
LOCATION:
Dorothy Bronson Gallery
West Nebraska Arts Center
106 East 18th Street
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
INSTRUCTOR(S): Erica Larsen-Dockray Assisted by Ezra Sky Peterson-Behnen
DESCRIPTION
Play rules in the Animation Playground! We will cover basic to intermediate concepts of animation so students leave with the understanding of how to make something look “alive”. Principles of animation will be explored using various techniques including optical toys, flip books, draw/scratch on film, sand, stop motion, pixilation and more.
Students will gain a basic understanding of how to control movement at the frame by frame level and utilize the two different processes to plan and execute their animation. No animation or drawing experience necessary, but a spirit of exploration is required!
*Younger students allowed with a paying parent/guardian
WORKSHOP
MON-FRI
JUNE 24th-28th
10a-12p
10yrs & up
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ANIMATION - COMICS AND VISUAL DEVELOPMENT
AGES: 10yrs and up (Multi-generational! Adults welcome too)
COST: $80 -- $70 WNAC Members*
CLASS MAX: 20 Students
LOCATION:
Art Room
West Nebraska Arts Center
106 East 18th Street
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
INSTRUCTOR(S): Sam Gurry
DESCRIPTION
Before cartoons moved, there were comics. How do they relate? We’ll explore the history of comics and how it developed into animation. Come join us for methods of visual and sequential storytelling, character design, and how to tell a perfect visual joke!
WORKSHOP
MON-FRI
JUNE 24th-28th
1-4p
12yrs & up
ANIMATION 2.0 - Storytelling and the Animated Image
AGES: 12yrs* and up (Multi-generational!)
COST: $80 -- $70 WNAC Members*
CLASS MAX: 20 Students (Calibraska Animation 1.0 or 2.0 Prerequisite)
LOCATION:
West Nebraska Arts Center
106 East 18th Street
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
INSTRUCTOR(S): Sam Gurry
DESCRIPTION
Animation comes at you 24 Frames a second. That's 24 chances every second to tell your story. A beginning, a middle, and an end. We all have a story to tell and here is your chance to do so! We will explore contemporary approaches to animation that embrace storytelling and simplicity. Topics covered will include stop motion animation, basic sound editing, and writing for animation. Emphasis will be placed on accesible materials and providing students with the tools they need to continue creating all throughout the summer.
*PRE-REQUISITE: At least 1 class of Animation 1.0 or 2.0
WORKSHOP
MON-FRI
JUNE 24th-28th
1p-4p
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ANIMATION - Finding Your Style and Sketchbooks
AGES: 7yrs and up (Multi-generational!)
COST: $80 -- $70 WNAC Members*
CLASS MAX: 20 Students
LOCATION:
West Nebraska Arts Center
106 East 18th Street
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
INSTRUCTOR(S): TBD
DESCRIPTION
Our special topics in animation classes take place in the art room and are no tech /low tech classes focusing on development, history, and or techniques in animation. They are also a great way to combine classes to "make a day of it" and allow students a full day of animation classes.
This class will focus on developing one's "style" including lots of fun exercises and building up a sketchbook of ideas and drawings!
WORKSHOP
MON-WEDS
JULY 1st-3rd
10a-4p
CINEFLIX FILM MAKING CAMP
AGES: 14-18yrs
COST: $150 -- $135 WNAC Members*
CLASS MAX: 15 Students
LOCATION:
Room 123
Scottsbluff High School
106 East 18th Street
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
INSTRUCTOR(S): Kwesi Johnson with Mireya Martinez Assisting
DESCRIPTION
Want to be the next Nolan or Duvernay? Have a story inside you you're burning to get out? Love horror, scifi, or rom-coms? You'll learn it all in this course. Learn writing, preproduction, production, and post production as well as crew positions, film theory, camera work, and Adobe Premiere. Students will work in groups creating short films and screen them for the community.
WORKSHOP
MON-WEDS
JULY 1st-3rd
10a-4p
ANIMATION CAMP - Character Design and Puppets
AGES: 12yrs* and up (Multi-generational!)
COST: $150 -- $135 WNAC Members*
CLASS MAX: 15 Students
LOCATION:
Dorothy Bronson Gallery
West Nebraska Arts Center
106 East 18th Street
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
INSTRUCTOR(S): Sam Gurry
DESCRIPTION
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s alive ! Two dimensional paper puppets have been embraced as storytelling characters since Antiquity. They are thriving today ! Jump into a two dimensional world and create your own characters and scenes to make them come alive through animation. We will explore stop motion animation, basic compositing, and puppet construction. Let’s get animated!
WORKSHOP
MON-FRI
JULY 8th-12th
10a-4p
ANIMATION 3.0 - Dialogue and Acting!
AGES: 12yrs* and up (Multi-generational!)
COST: $150 -- $135 WNAC Members*
CLASS MAX: 15 Students (Calibraska Animation 1.0 or 2.0 Prerequisite)
LOCATION:
West Nebraska Arts Center
106 East 18th Street
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
INSTRUCTOR(S): Erica Larsen-Dockray, Ezra Sky Peterson-Behnen, Sammy Lamb
DESCRIPTION
This advanced-level class is designed for returning students interested in going deeper in their learning of animation. In this course we will focus on animating dialogue and acting! We will also touch on animation history, theory, production processes and software. Special workshops with studio and independent animators will be taking place throughout our sessions. *PRE-REQUISITE: At least 1 class of Animation 1.0 and 2.0
NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA
WORKSHOP
MON-FRI
JULY
15th-19th
9:30a-12p
ANIMATION 1.0 - THE ANIMATION PLAYGROUND
AGES: 12yrs and up (Multi-generational!)
COST: $80 -- $70 Prairie Art Center Members
CLASS MAX: 15 Students
LOCATION:
McDonald-Belton 133
Mid-Plains Community College
601 W State Farm Rd
North Platte, NE 69101
INSTRUCTOR(S): Erica Larsen-Dockray Assisted by Ezra Sky Peterson-Behnen
DESCRIPTION
Play rules in the Animation Playground! We will cover basic to intermediate concepts of animation so students leave with the understanding of how to make something look “alive”. Mad Scientists are always welcome!
 Kwesi Johnson |  Erica Larsen-Dockray |
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 Aaron Holmes |  Mireya Martinez |
 Sam Gurry |  Ezra Peterson-Behnen |
 Sammy Lamb |
2019
PAST CALIBRASKA TEACHING ARTISTS
 BENJAMIN P. CAROW - Storyboard Artis |
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2018
ERICA LARSEN-DOCKRAY |  Hunter Janos |
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 Rachel Seropian |
2017
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CALIBRASKA INSTRUCTORS
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CONTACT
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PARTNERS
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MEDIA
 NET Radio Friday Live! 06-14-2019Calibraska Workshops and Shows (at 53:36) |  NET 06-14-2019Calibraska Camps Bring Animation To Life In Nebraska |  Star Herald 7-8-2018Animation Artist shares lifelong passion |
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 Star Herald 7-25-2017Students explore animation at Calibraska camp |  Star Herald 07/07/2017Calibraska Arts Inititative brings classes on animation to Scottsbluff |  KNEB's News Extra programErica Larsen-Dockray and Rachel Seropian join Kevin Mooney on KNEB's News Extra program Monday morning. |
 NET Radio Friday Live!On the June 23rd program back at The Mill in Lincoln, host Genevieve Randall and guests have lively conversations about: Nebraska Chamber Players "Concerts on the Creek" in Cambridge; animation workshops in Lincoln and Scottsbluff; ... |