December Project: Squaring the Circle

Project Title: SQUARING THE CIRCLE

Description:

• The collage process was explored incorporating symmetry and balance within the design process.  Shape variety and overlapping within the confines of a square was explored along with repetition.  A demonstration of how to do "snowflake" cutting was the first step in this process.  Students were encouraged to layer above and below their base color adhering to a specific color scheme to create unity in their work.

Vocabulary:

• Collage
• Symmetry
• Balance
• Unity
• Contrast
• Rhythm

Resources:

• Book: Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears - A West African Tale, by Verna Aardema

Materials:

• Glue
• Chalk
• Pastel

Examples of Student Work:

November Project: African Senufo Cloth

Example of African Senufo cloth

Project Title: AFRICAN SENUFO CLOTH

Description:

• The Senufo people from West Africa are known for their handwoven and hand-painted cloth, originally used when hunting or dancing.
• The cloth is believed to protect the wearer and to bring good luck
• Students included texture and patterns in their colorful cloths

Vocabulary:

• Mud cloth
• Line weight
• Senufo people
• Texture
• Patterns

Resources:

• Book: Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears - A West African Tale, by Verna Aardema

Materials:

• Glue
• Chalk
• Pastel

Examples of Student Work:

October Project: Romero Britto

Example of Romero Britto's work

Featured Artist: Romero Britto

Description:

• Used VTS (Visual Thinking Strategy) for the purpose of learning about Romero Britto's style.
• He is a self-taught artist from Brazil.
• He was influenced by Mattisse and Picasso and is known for using bold black lines, repeating patterns and bright colors in his work.
• He used everyday objects as his topics.

Vocabulary:

• Pop Art
• Cubism
• Patterns
• Mattisse
• Picasso
• Romero Britto
• Line weight

Resources:

• Internet pictures of 2-D and 3-D work by Britto
• Powerpoint presentation sharing information about Romero Britto's style

Materials:

• Black sharpies
• Acrylic paint markers

Examples of Student Work:

September Project: Courtyard Art Installation inspired by Andy Goldsworthy

Example of an installation by Andy Goldsworthy

Project title: Andy Goldsworthy Installation

Description: A K-5 collaborative project tied into our SES Field trip to the Storm King Art Center in Mountainville NY on October 7, 2015.  Students learned about installation art incorporating the environment into their work.  Nature objects were collected: pinecones, shells, stones, etc. and assembled collaboratively as a whole school event.

Vocabulary:

• Installation - Art that is constructed on a site where it is exhibited and incorates materials or physical features of the site.

Resources:

• Powerpoint Presentation Youtube - Andy Goldsworthy Installation,
• Book - Wall At Storm King by Kenneth Baker

Materials: Shells, stones, pinecones, pineneedles, sticks

Photos of installation at work in the SES courtyard:

Back to School: The Dot

The SES Art room kicked off the year with a "Dot" project based on the popular book, The Dot, by Peter Reynolds.

The Dot is the first book in a trilogy dedicated to creativity. In this story, we meet a girl named Vashti who has convinced herself she can not draw. Her teacher dares her to make a mark. Vashti makes one little dot on her sheet of paper... which turns out to be the beginning of her creative journey!

Teachers around the world have used this book as inspiration for teaching children about expressing themselves through art.  As a result, September 15th has become International Dot Day, when students make their "own mark and see where it goes".  

See below for examples of the fourth and fifth grade students who made their mark this month.