Press Release

Release Date: October 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Susie Pickering

Oak Lane Day School

137 Stenton Ave, Blue Bell, PA 19422

Phone: 610-825-1055

Fax: 610-825-9288

Email: spickering@oaklanedayschool.org

Inspirational Artist Visits Oak Lane Day School

Almost every week of the year, the teachers and students of Oak Lane Day School, located just outside of the Chestnut Hill area, gather together for an assembly program. The assemblies are informative, interactive, and entertaining, and sometimes, as in the case of the most recent one, downright inspirational.

Performing artist and mask-maker extraordinaire Michael Cooper came to Oak Lane and brought down the house with his show "Masked Marvels and Wondertales." There was a definite sense of anticipation in the crowd as the students and teachers took their seats in the Barn: word had traveled that this assembly was supposed to be something special. Music teacher Marlis Kraft-Zemel helped everyone to settle and then without further ado introduced Mr. Cooper. A few moments passed, and, well...where was he? Before the audience was a waist-high partition covered with black cloth, but no visitor. Suddenly, a large, round object with wispy brown hair began to rise from behind the partition and the children gasped in surprise and delight as the biggest baby in the entire world crawled out. Disguised in an extraordinary mask and a baby blue terry cloth romper, the artist performed a spot-on imitation of a little one getting to his feet for the first time.

The beautiful (albeit huge) infant head and face is one of Mr. Cooper's many marvelous creations. He explained how inspiration from his life guides his art. The model for the baby is his first born child (now 19 years old). The audience was introduced to one amazing character after another: a goofy chicken, a tough bulldog, and a gigantic nose (Yes: nose. It seems the artist suffers from formidable allergies). The masks are made out of torn-up paper bags and Elmer's glue layered onto clay sculptures. Once the papier-mache hardens, Mr. Cooper carves the clay out to create the hollow mask, which is then painted. Hours of work go into each piece, and the artistry of each mask is truly wonderful.

A dynamic and charming storyteller, Mr. Cooper shared the tale of his father's time as a cowboy capturing wild horses out West. A gorgeous grey and black hobby-horse complete with flowing tail and mane helped bring the story to life as Mr. Cooper re-enacted his dad's travail lassoing and riding the bucking broncos. The most magical moment of the assembly was when the audience watched the artist turn himself into a giant straight out of a story book. In a whimsical mask with bushy brows and a jutting chin and dressed in a tattered shirt and cloak, long, long striped pants, and a jester's hat, the magic man stood high above the crowd on stilts and danced.

At the end of this stellar performance, time was given for questions. Mr. Cooper talked about the joy he experienced while making the masks and performing, and how happy he was that this was his work and how he made a living.

His message to the children was strong and clear: follow your passion and pursue your dreams regardless if others say, "It can't be done."

Oak Lane Day School Information

An independent elementary school, founded in 1916 and located in Blue Bell, Oak Lane Day School serves a diverse population of boys and girls. Oak Lane honors each child's unique individuality while fostering intellectual, creative, academic, and personal growth within a diverse community of active, engaged learners. Small class sizes and an atmosphere that encourages children to develop their academic and social skills are priorities at Oak Lane, where learning is a meaningful and joyous pursuit. Oak Lane's country-like property of 30 acres along Butler Pike and Stenton Avenue boasts a stream, pond, woods, meadows, and specimen trees as well as athletic fields and playgrounds.

Oak Lane Day School is accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS).