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Poetter Hall was purchased by the SCAD founders in March 1979. Classes began in September of that year.  
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Trivial Pursuits

Trivial Pursuits
 
Faculty members share love of art, theater with local students

Robin Williams
Photo by Charlie Ribbens 
Savannah College of Art and Design architectural history professor Robin Williams works on the backdrop for an opera produced by students at Charles Ellis Montessori School.

By Monique Bos
Published: Friday, January 20, 2006

One of the annual events at Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, a Savannah public school for students in preschool through eighth grade, is an opera presented by members of the fourth, fifth and sixth grade classes. The 2006 opera, which took place at the Savannah Arts Academy Jan. 13, was “Hiawatha.”

Over the past several years, some Savannah College of Art and Design professors whose children attend the school have gotten involved in the production — and continue to share their love and knowledge of art with each new crop of students.

SCAD architectural history chair Robin Williams has been in charge of set design for the past four years. Under his direction, students created a 20-by-40-foot backdrop for the opera during the days prior to the performance.

Students spent Jan. 10-11 painting the backdrop, which Williams said was “made up of about 20 bedsheets sewn together and … primed with seven gallons of Kilz!”

An annual highlight for both Williams and the students is transporting the backdrop from Ellis, located at 220 E. 49th St., to the performance venue, 500 Washington Ave.

“We carry the backdrop to the arts academy down the street like an enormous, open Olympic flag — down two blocks of 48th Street from Ellis to the arts academy,” he explained. “It’s quite a sight to see with about 20 or 30 students each holding an edge of the backdrop.”

In addition to Williams, faculty members Andrew Nedd, from the art history department, and Laraine Montgomery from architecture also are involved with the annual production.