Arts & Humanities
Young Women in Math, Science and Technology Conference Tim Havican
The Art of Mining Jerry Roach (below)

Eyes Wide Open

At the Seaborg Center's"Young Women in Mathematics, Science and Technology" conference, middle school girls from Marquette and Alger County can see that they have no limits.
For the past nine years a group of devoted adults has organized a conference intending to show that young women have untapped capabilities in math, science and technology. This year the conference will be held May 18 at the Glenn T. Seaborg Center at Northern Michigan University. Fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders from Alger and Marquette counties will attend.
   By itself this doesn't seem like a groundbreaking event. Girls should be involved in math and science just like boys. Every school in America teaches math and science at every level. Why, then, do we even need events such as the "Young Women in Mathematics, Science and Technology" conference?
   Possibly we need them because women still are trying to earn as much as men for doing the same work. Many believe we need such activities because girls lose interest in math and science as they reach middle school age. Milling fact from myth may be the main reason why such conferences occur every year across the country.
   In Marquette the girls who attend the Young Women in Mathematics, Science and Technology conference are offered a number of sessions to choose from. The keynote speaker this year will be Frida Waara, local businesswoman and outdoor enthusiast. Waara will share with participants the lessons she learned in preparing and completing an arduous cross-country ski trip with a unique group of women.
   One of the goals of the event is to inspire the girls to reach for their dreams. Waara's story will provide that motivation. But will it be enough to fire the imagination or will it only ignite daydreaming? Motivation and inspiration are momentary illusions if there is no follow-through. Constant motivation and perpetual inspiration are gifts that a conference can put a nice bow upon, but the girls must have help to appreciate the commitment behind the gift. This is precisely why parents are such an integral part of the formula.
   Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the conference with their daughters. They can attend their own sessions while the girls go to theirs. This year parents will hear about Career Preparation and Get(ting) Set for College.
   Just a few years ago students were on their own when it came to thinking about their future and applying to colleges. Today's female students still make many of the final decisions, but they have more options and more help understanding those options. Sophomores and juniors no longer have the luxury of deciding on careers after high school. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds must have college preparation courses well in hand by their senior year.
   In the past girls wandered onto a different track than boys. The reason many young women shied away from science and math wasn't because they couldn't do it. It had nothing to do with brain capacity, vision, memory or endurance, but with perception. Girls had the perception that no one wanted them in higher-level math and science classes. They did not receive the inspiration and motivation to succeed. What they did have were role models—peers who did just as they did and adult role models who commiserated with them but did not provide the tools to break out of their surprisingly flimsy boxes. Thus, the conference in Marquette in May is as much about providing a new vision of a role model as it is about tapping a new source of intelligence.
   Stop me if you've heard this one: "A wildlife biologist, accountant and plastic surgeon walk into a bar.…" What's the punch line? They were all women. And you're right, it's no joke. Women are engaging in a great many occupations that used to be exclusive to men. Granted, if you take a team photo of any organization you still see mostly men. In Marquette the mayor is a man as is the hospital CEO, city manager, public schools superintendent, mine president, state representative and city police chief. Ah, but the times they are a-changing. Women are holding many more seats of power such as president of NMU, superintendent of Catholic schools, small-business owners, prosecuting attorneys, pharmacists, doctors, law enforcement officers and dentists.
   The question too often is: are men better suited for certain jobs and women for others? That trap has snared many a Neanderthal mind, which, unfortunately, is not extinct. The Young Women in Mathematics, Science and Technology conference attempts to stop the kaleidoscope of images long enough for the girls to decide if they like what they see. Three images are brought into view: the past, the present, the future. In the past women had limited choices and had to fight hard for the ones they had. In the present the choices have expanded and women are challenged with new opportunities. In the future the corner will be turned when being the "first" is no longer a badge of achievement for women: first woman in space, first CEO of a major corporation, first black woman to win an Oscar, first female pro hockey player, first woman to run for vice president on a major political party ticket. These all are great accomplishments. Somebody has to be first.
   Math, science and technology can and should be fun. It is much more natural to do what you like rather than try to like what you do. Pursuing an occupation because of the financial reward or public approval falls under "trying to like what you do." Becoming a doctor or a bank president because you enjoy helping people or find it fascinating to solve challenging problems hits dead center on "doing what you like." A forensic specialist who mesmerizes a group of girls will do it with charm and wit, not with DNA samples and microscopes. That is what happens at this conference. Personalities match, eyes widen and giggles are replaced by "oohhhs" and "ahhhs." Every girl will not walk out of this conference wanting to be the next wunderkind of biochemistry. But all of them do walk out with a new appreciation for their unlimited potential.
   As girls file into the Seaborg Center on May 18 there will be unseen women throughout Marquette altering the perceptions of those around them. One such woman is Moira Reynolds. Reynolds is an author and former cancer research scientist. She also is the namesake for the "Moira Reynolds Awards for Student Writing in Mathematics, Science and Technology." One girl from each grade level, who has submitted an entry, will be recognized at the conference and receive a monetary award. This year's topic is: "Choose a career that uses mathematics and science. Envision yourself pursuing that career. Describe briefly."
   I can't say which careers were chosen, but I would wager that few girls chose homemaker. Afterall, isn't that something the conference is trying to de-emphasize? In a way, yes, but if we stop the kaleidoscope and merge the past, present and future, we may bring into view another woman changing perceptions in Marquette. That woman would be Laura Nezich.
   Nezich is a homemaker and has at least six children. I apologize, but I lost count. She works hard every day maintaining a safe and nurturing home for her family. She's not a hot-shot scientist, she doesn't make board presentations and she isn't on a career ladder. How, then, does she fit into this story?
   Laura Nezich and her husband Dennis, encourage their children to explore life. Nezich acts as a springboard. She encourages all her children to try new things. She monitors their school work and gets involved in their education. She bends the laws of time and space by getting her kids to activities that enrich them. She uses technology in inventive ways on a limited budget. She is a field researcher who has chosen to do what she loves, raise a family.
   On May 18 a group of girls will have the chance to enhance perceptions of what young women can do. Given the right mix of motivation, inspiration and freedom a young woman might decide to become a CEO of a hospital, a chemist, inventor or computer professional. Then again she might decide to do it all and become a homemaker. Which way will their kaleidoscope turn?
—Tim Havican

 

The Art of Mining Jerry Roach
There will be a public reception for "Miner's Art," featuring acrylic paintings by Jack Nicholas and metal creations by Don Peterson, at Michigamme Moonshine Art Gallery, 136 East Main Street, Michigamme from 6 to 9:00 p.m. on May 25. Refreshments will be served. Call 906-323-6546 or 906-323-6324 for more information.

Nicholas sees mining life through eyes of an artist
At work, Jack Nicholas must present an imposing figure: a bear-like man who welds and builds the infrastructure that keeps the gigantic mine humming. Yet Jack somehow manages to find beauty in this unlikeliest of places.
"Sometimes, when the light is right, the entire pit becomes a rainbow of colors and contrasts."
So it is not too surprising that away from work, Jack is an accomplished painter. The apparent contradiction of his roles as a third-generation miner and talented artist is resolved when we recognize what really is going on inside Jack Nicholas.
"Actually, there is no difference for me between what I do on the job, and what I do with watercolor or acrylics; both involve creating," he said.
Nicholas commutes between the world of iron and the world of art with the same basic purpose. Whether it be a welded metal platform in the mine or a carefully rendered wildlife scene that emerges from his brush, he is bringing something into reality.
When he leaves work, he often will drive around with a camera looking for local scenes to paint.
"I'm looking for something that will catch my interest, maybe even a familiar sight from a new perspective."
It is not only the joy of creating that keeps him going: his strongest supporter and admirer is his wife, Sharon
"Sharon has always encouraged me to paint, and even though she is sometimes my worst critic, I value her opinion."
Despite setbacks and disappointments, Jack has stayed involved in art for years. He displayed his work at Art on the Rocks in 1978 and even though he didn't sell a single piece back then, he never stopped painting. Once, he painted the entire children's ward at Bell Memorial Hospital—only to see the ward moved. Jack painted the new ward, but this time on movable panels—just in case.
Nicholas goes to his ‘dungeon,' a studio in the basement of his home, when he is ready to paint.
"Sometimes you can kill a painting, so I try not to overwork it," he said. "Many times I will start off with one idea, but at some point the picture tells me to do something else."
Jack's work tends to be realistic, but that doesn't stop him from expressing his feelings.
Being self-taught, Jack Nicholas doesn't have any hang-ups about learning from happy accidents or that moment when a willingness to dare pays off.

Natural themes, sailing, inspire metal sculptor
Another third-generation iron miner, Don Peterson will exhibite his work beginning May 25. Native to the Upper Peninsula, Peterson grew up in Atikokan, Ontario, and now lives in Michigamme. His rural upbringing provides the inspiration to use natural themes, and his exposure to iron mining has undoubtedly contributed to his choice of medium: metal sculpture.
The other major direct influence on this locally and nationally recognized artist was his grandfather who introduced Peterson to metal work and bequeathed another theme found in his art: a love for sailing.
So it is only natural that Peterson's work constantly reminds us of the swell of waves, soaring eagles, and quiet, hidden places in nature. Stressed curves of shining metal with dramatic details and unorthodox juxtapositions create a tension within the sculpture that literally resonates. The motion or stillness within a given piece is unmistakable. He challenges us to sail visually along the edges of his creations to find a different reality.
A well-versed and fluent writer—he has written several essays for local projects and designs Web sites—Peterson speaks about his own work in broad terms, and only rarely. When it comes to the final product, he prefers to let each piece speak for itself.
But when he talks about the endeavor, the words come out like an ice-dam breaking up.
"My love ... my passion, is abstract art," he said.
He is fond of using stainless steel, mild steel and copper. Peterson also likes to experiment with high-tech "plasma-cutters" and chemical patinas for effect. He is also fond of quoting his favorite artist, Pablo Picasso.
And when we view Peterson's body of work, we realize he also lives by his ‘master's' words: " ... You must always start with something. Afterwards you can remove all traces of reality."
"Abstract metal art is my reason for being an artist," Peterson said.
Thought-provoking, new, original, strongly abstract and yet familiar, the work of Peterson is sure to please.
—Jerry L. Roach