We were delighted to welcome back the talented artists from Qinghai province for another amazing event. This time, they taught an exceptional workshop focused on the art of butter sculptures, which was attended by both parents and teachers. It provided a wonderful opportunity for community members to get to know this unique art form. The artists passionately shared their expertise and knowledge, offering a hands-on experience in crafting these intricate sculptures. It was especially gratifying to hear them talk about the deep cultural significance and the rich traditions behind their art. Their stories and skills brought a piece of Qinghai's vibrant culture to life, creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
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Recently, our Grade 7 students took a dive into the vibrant world of street art, graffiti, stencil art, and of course, the enigmatic Banksy! We had some seriously deep discussions about art – the market, valuation, what qualifies as art, and what doesn't. After our art-philosophy session, these young creatives rolled up their sleeves and designed their very own stencils.
We had a blast experimenting with two different techniques. First, we made impressions with simple sponges, and then we unleashed the power of spray paint on the walls. It was a project that sparked tons of excitement and creativity. From Coca-Cola cans to fierce wolves and elegantly beautiful floral patterns, our students' imaginations knew no bounds. I wish I could've snapped more photos, but this project had us all on our toes! The artwork you see here is crafted by Jingmae, who goes by the name "Wolf." Her journey is quite remarkable. She joined us in Grade 5 without any prior art experience, and her confidence was a bit shaky at first. But fast forward to today, after a full year of dedication, I am proud to say that she has truly grown into a remarkable artist. Exploring the vibrant world of Pop Art, we recently dived into the incredible legacy of the one and only Keith Haring! 🎨💫 After lively discussions about his life and iconic work, our creative sparks ignited. Using clay as our canvas, we embarked on an artistic adventure that has us grinning from ear to ear. Thanks to our trusty kiln, we're all set to unveil a masterpiece in the making. These clay tiles, once painted, are bound to be nothing short of spectacular! 🌈✨ Starting with sketches on paper, our students unleashed their inner artists and, armed with clay, brought their visions to life. The result? A breathtaking tapestry of creativity that's sure to leave a lasting impression. Stay tuned as we continue to infuse our Middle School artistry with the magic of inspiration! 🌟🖌️
Every year, we get to roll out the artistic red carpet for guest artists, and this time around, we hit the jackpot with not one, not two, but THREE amazing Tibetan artists! They graced our school with a fantastic Thangka workshop that left students, parents, and teachers beaming with joy.
Before we even picked up a paintbrush, we delved into the wonders of Tibet and the mesmerizing world of Thangka. This art form is so incredibly relaxing; It's been used for centuries in meditation, it really works like a charm. Everyone loved the experience – parents, teachers, and, of course, our talented students. We enjoyed it so much that we're already clearing space in our calendar for next year, eagerly anticipating their return. Grade 7s learned about Jasper Johns work on the last project of the year. Each student made one stencil with one number (Included one Pi number) and then they exchanged them to create their very own piece of art.
This is one of the few lessons that we repeat over the years, so much to talk about in here, Kimmy Cantrel, Picasso, Africa, recycling...
6th graders learned about the Great Seurat and Pointillism! June came up with a new art movement... Fingerism! (check the video below) Grade 6 started today their project about Pointillism. After discussion about the art movement itself and its biggest artist we started to work on our projects. I am truly amazed on how the students learned about the color theory and the Pointillism technique. Stay tuned for the final result (I can't wait)
Our 5th and 6th graders have been learning about Amedeo Modigliani and his unique artistic style. You can notice that this unique style is about the face and body features, among other characteristics. Can you guess where is the difference?
If you have a QR scanner around please scan that big beautiful code at the bottom left of Nico's artwork or any of the other two codes. You might get a nice surprise. Our fantastic 1st graders saw the life and work of one of the greatest, Henri Matisse. We used the book called "When Pigasso met Mootise" one of my favorite books ever. After introducing the artist, seeing some of his work and discussing about shapes, color, balance, etc... Here you can see some of the artwor finished.
We talked about life and work of David Hockney with our Grades 5 and 6. We had a very nice and deep discussion about art, art auctions and the art market after knowing that David Hockney sold one art piece for more than 90 million $. It is also really interesting becasue Hockney is one of the few big artist that is using iPad for creating art. Listening to David Hockney himself talking about his life and work. Afterwards we got into a very nice & deep discussion about art, art auctions, art market... we even forgot about playground time!
Organizing visits to art museums and galleries introduces students to diverse artworks, encouraging students to ask questions and explore different artistic movements.
One of the most impactful ways to foster a love of learning and intellectual curiosity in my secondary Visual Arts classroom is by organizing art-related field trips to museums and galleries. These excursions provide students with the opportunity to engage with art in a real-world context, which goes beyond the confines of the classroom and textbooks. Here's how this practice aligns with the Teachers' Standards: Exposing Students to Diverse Artworks: These field trips expose my students to a wide range of artistic styles, periods, and mediums. Whether we visit a contemporary art gallery or a historical museum, students encounter artworks that challenge their preconceptions, inspire questions, and ignite their imaginations. Encouraging Questioning and Exploration: During these visits, I encourage students to observe, analyze, and discuss the artworks they encounter. I often provide them with guiding questions to provoke critical thinking and stimulate their intellectual curiosity. For instance, I might ask, "What emotions does this painting evoke?" or "How does the artist use color to convey meaning?" Exploring Different Artistic Movements: Art museums and galleries typically feature a variety of artworks from different artistic movements and periods. As we move through the exhibits, students learn about the evolution of art history, from Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary installations. They become curious about the context and motivations behind each movement, leading to meaningful discussions. Cultivating Art Appreciation: By immersing themselves in the art world through these field trips, students begin to develop a genuine appreciation for art. They see the value of art as a form of expression, communication, and cultural reflection. This newfound appreciation extends beyond the classroom and contributes to a lifelong love of the arts. Encouraging Independent Research: Following these field trips, I often assign students to research and present on a specific artwork or artist they found particularly intriguing during the visit. This task encourages independent research skills and allows students to delve deeper into their areas of interest, promoting their intellectual growth. Fostering a Deeper Connection: These field trips create a deeper emotional and intellectual connection to the subject matter. Students often return to the classroom with a renewed enthusiasm for their own art projects, drawing inspiration from the works they've seen. Organizing art-related field trips is an effective strategy for promoting a love of learning and nurturing intellectual curiosity among my students. It provides them with real-world experiences that enrich their understanding of art, encourage questioning, and ultimately contribute to their overall academic and personal growth. These experiences not only align with the Teachers' Standards but also instill in students a lifelong appreciation for the visual arts. I remember when I was in College and we learned about *Stendhal's Syndrom. I don't think either Erik or myself suffered it but I am pretty sure that we got a bite of that. *Stendhal Syndrom is a psychosomatic condition involving rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations, allegedly occurring when individuals become exposed to objects or phenomena of great beauty Last Sunday I was walking around our fantastic Art District 798 and found a little art piece for El Tono. He was our guest artist few years back. He made with all upper elementary an amazing mural inside of school. He likes to work with geometric shapes, I already have found his work randomly walking around Beijing, Madrid, Shanghai, Lisbon...
Grades 5 and 6 just studied the wonderful world of Pop Art and everything that surrounds it, not only art. We only talked about two of the greatest pop artists, Andy Warhol of course and Roy Lichtenstein, one of my personal favorites.
Kandinsky inspired school wide collaborative project. We got teachers and students involved. After talking and discussing about V. Kandinsky and his colour game we watched a video that shows the life and work of the artist. Depending if student was younger or older age we played one or another video according to the age.
Romero Britto inspired all our sixth graders to create these wonderful art works. Romero combines elements of Cubism, Pop Art and Graffiti painting on his work. His lines are very bold and he likes to use very bright colours. We talked about his life and work and after discussion we made these master pieces.
Our Receptions children learned a bit about Mondrian and his artwork, his shapes, his colours, etc... We also found this great video for "introducing" his work a bit more in a different way. After little chat and picture display of Mondrian artwork (they loved his work by the way) we played the video, it was a fun end. So after the video we are all ready and excited to start working on the project! Here you can see the master pieces. Cut and glue skills under control! Every other year we talk about Heather Galler and her wonderful world! Her work is full of patterns and beautiful colors. We talked about her and her work with our second graders and they came up with their vision of Heather's cats.
Vincent Vang Gogh one of the biggest artists of all time. There are many art lessons about him. Sunflowers, Starry Night, Selfportrait, etc... We made the Sunflowers with the Grades 3 but with a little twist, guess which one?
We used soft pastel and oil pastel for outlines. Soft pastel is one of my personal favourite techniques. When I found out about Kimmy Cantrell I thought we must do something in the art room. He usually works with clay but we did it using cardboard instead. His use of asymmetry fascinated the children. His work reminded to them to Picasso and African art, so we discussed quite a bit about his work/life. To be honest I was really impressed of how deep those grades 3 got into discussion. We were fortunate to attend an incredibly impressive exhibition in Beijing, titled "Botero in China." It was truly fascinating to witness Botero's artistic world come to life. Prior to our visit to the museum, we engaged in discussions about Botero himself, his artwork, and his life, which had the children eagerly anticipating the entire experience.
We recently had a special guest, Emerico, and it was a real treat. Claire had this awesome idea to do a project about graffiti for her interest fair, and Emerico came to mind. After a few weeks of digging deep into graffiti history, exploring various styles, techniques, and picking up all the lingo, Claire was all set for Emerico's visit. And let me tell you, after a quick chat, they didn't waste any time and got straight to work.
Recently we have been discussing the Great Frida Kahlo and her unique artwork with the Grade 4 students. She inspired us to make these portraits of her. Frida is well known, among other things, for her incredible self-portraits. She had a very tough life, and her exploration of her life through her art has made her an inspiration for artists all over the world. We explored her creativity and biography in depth, and I was really impressed by how deeply the children immersed themselves in her Universe.
Henri Matisse inspired all of our 3rd Graders to create a fantastic piece of art work. Matisse was a great painter during his entire life but when Henri was old he made cutout pictures. Since he was sick so often he had to spend lots of time in bed. It was easier to cut out pictures than use a paint brush! We used the same collage technique that he used; He liked to create images with organic shape cut-outs, just like we have done! Here you can see Henri's (not the Matisse one) creation. If you scan the QR code you will get a wonderful explanation of what is this piece of art about.
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Positive, Creative Space.Archives
December 2023
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