Happy May! Spring has sprung! Here is a peek into some Lower and Middle School artworks.
Kindergarten
Mixed 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional Art: In the beginning, there were three colors . . . reds, yellows, and blues. All special in their own ways, all living in harmony―until one day, a red says, “reds are the best!” and starts a color kerfuffle. When the colors decide to separate, is there anything that can change their minds? A yellow, a blue, and a never-before-seen color might just save the day in an inspiring book about color, tolerance, and embracing differences. After reading the story, students created 2-dimensional artworks using the primary and secondary colors–creating their mixed characters! Afterwards, we sculpted 3-dimensional Mixed figures.
First Grade
Alma Thomas-Inspired Radial Designs: Alma Woodsey Thomas was an African-American artist and teacher who lived and worked in Washington, D.C., and is now recognized as a major American painter of the 20th century. Thomas is best known for the exuberantly colorful abstract paintings that she created after her retirement from a 35-year career teaching art at Washington’s Shaw Junior High School. Students took inspiration from Thomas’s work and created these wonderful radial designs.
Pablo Picasso Bouquet of Peace: Pablo Picasso, Picasso Bouquet of Peace, 1958, displays a simple design of flowers with an significant message. It expresses the power and beauty Picasso utilizes in his works. This was created by Picasso for the peace demonstration held in Stockholm, July 16–22, 1958. Students took inspiration from his work and created their own floral spring bouquet by mixing primary colors into secondary colors.
Second Grade
Guatemalan Worry Dolls: Worry dolls are small, hand-made dolls that originate from Guatemala. According to legend, Guatemalan children tell their worries to the Worry Dolls, placing them under their pillow when they go to bed at night. By morning the dolls have gifted them with the wisdom and knowledge to eliminate their worries.
Third Grade
Laurel Burch-Inspired Cats: In the 1960s, Laurel Burch was selling her work on the streets of San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district. Today this “flower child” is a nationally famous artist and designer who fluently speaks the universal language of art. Though she has never taken an art class, Laurel’s trademark style is the manifestation of her strong, imaginative spirit. Students took inspiration from Burch and created their own whimsical cats!
Fourth Grade
Chinese Scrolls: A hanging scroll is one of the many traditional ways to display and exhibit East Asian painting and calligraphy. The hanging scroll was displayed in a room for appreciation. It is to be distinguished from the handscroll, which was narrower and designed to be viewed flat on a table in sections and then stored away again. Students used sumi brushes and ink to create these wonderful cherry blossom tree scroll designs.
Fifth Grade
Japanese Cloisonné Designs: Cloisonné are metallic objects made with intricate designs and artwork which have been a unique piece of art and creativity since ancient times. It is a unique way of designing metal objects with gemstones, glass materials, enamel paints and other decorative objects which make this art an edge over other handicraft materials. The decoration on the metal objects by initially adding comparisons to the metal objects with gold and silver wires. Once the soldering is done, they are finalized with enamel paints and then they are fired in a kiln. This piece of art has existed since ancient times and has been as old as since 13 century BCE.
Sixth Grade
Greek Coil Pottery: Ancient Greek pottery, the pottery of the ancient Greeks, important to us firstly for the intrinsic beauty of its forms and decoration and secondly, for the light it sheds on the development of Greek pictorial art. Coil pottery follows the construction where the pottery is built by joining or staking the pottery coil one on another. Coiling is a particular method of creating pottery. It is quite famous for ages and has been used to build vessels, pots, and other shapes and items. The coil method of coil pottery involves building the sides of the pot up using coils of clay. These coils are then pressed and pinched together to create the walls and smoothed and finished.
Seventh Grade
Robert Frost-Inspired Block Prints: In English students were learning about American poet Robert Frost. Frost frequently wrote about settings from rural life in New England in the early 20th century, using them to examine complex social and philosophical themes. In art class students took inspiration and created textural nature designs and carved into a linoleum block and created multiple prints.
Eighth Grade
Dale Chihuly-Inspired Legacy Collaborative Mobile: Dale Chihuly is an American glass artist. He is best known in the field of blown glass, “moving it into the realm of large-scale sculpture”. Grade 8 students are taking inspiration from Chihuly’s many glass sculptures and creating their own “glass” sculpture. Together they will assemble into a wonderful collaborative mobile to be hung in the Fanger building.
