Spring has sprung–Happy May! Here is a peek into some Lower and Middle School artworks.
Student ART Portfolios
Be on the look out toward the end of the school year. Your child will be bringing home a collection of their artwork!
KINDERGARTEN
Alexander Calder-Inspired Stamobiles: Alexander Calder was an American sculptor known both for his innovative mobiles that embrace chance in their aesthetic, his static “stabiles”, and his monumental public sculptures. Kindergarten students created their own rendition using wire, shapes, and his classic primary colors for their creations!
Hot Dogs, Cool Cats: George Rodrigue was born and raised in southwest Louisiana, “Cajun Country.” George Rodrigue preserved on his canvas what he feared was his dying heritage — including its land, people, traditions and mythology. It was a Cajun legend, the loup-garou, that spawned his most famous series, The Blue Dog. Kindergarten students learned about artist George Rodrigue and his creation of Blue Dog. After reading, Why is Blue Dog Blue? Students created their own inspired warm and cool dog and cat composition and after we discussed color schemes and color temperature.
FIRST GRADE
Joan Miró Magical Creatures: Joan Miró was a Spanish artist, famous for combining abstract art with surrealism. He worked in a variety of media. Not only did he produce paintings and drawings, his body of work includes collages, murals, tapestries, and sculptures. Students took inspiration from Miró’s body of work and created their own combined abstract-surrealist figure, highlighting a variety of symbols in the style of Miró .
SECOND GRADE
Paul Klee Cat and Bird: Cat and Bird is a painting by Swiss German painter Paul Klee, created in 1928. It was made when Klee was a teacher at the Bauhaus Dessau. The painting depicts the wide face of a stylized cat with a small bird perched on its forehead. It is held in the Museum of Modern Art, in New York. Students examined Klee’s work and created their own composition focusing on symmetry and balance.
Henri Rousseau-Inspired Jungles: Henri Rousseau was most famous for his paintings of jungle scenes, but even more amazing than his lush and vibrant art is the fact that he never left France in his entire life. He was inspired by trips to the botanical garden in Paris, and by children’s books depicting exotic island landscapes, and he used this inspiration to teach himself to paint. Students took inspiration from Rousseau and created their own lush jungle composition—tiger and all!
THIRD GRADE
April Showers Bring May Umbrella Color Wheels: Students created these fun spring designs and had to create an eight-part color wheel umbrella only using the primary colors.
Native American Inspired Weavings: According to Navajo tradition, weaving is the most ancient and sacred practice of their people. Two spirits, the Spider People, brought hemp seeds to the Navajo. Spider Man taught them to make the loom, while Spider Woman taught them how to weave so that they could always provide for themselves. Third grade students took inspiration from this tradition and created these wonderful woven wall hangings.
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
M.C. Escher Tessellations: Fifth grade students created tessellation designs using combined geometric and organic shapes with no overlaps and no gaps, inspired by mathematical artist M.C. Escher. Once their tessellation was constructed they had to creatively turn the shape into something unique!
SIXTH GRADE
Color Wheel Eyes: Students created a 12-part color wheel eye. Using math, science, and art, students first drew their eyes, created the 12-parts, and then had to color mix using the primary colors to create secondary and tertiary colors.
Rococo-Inspired Needle Felted Spring Eggs: Rococo art, by nature, was elaborate, playful, filled with delicate colors, and often witty. Rococo is an artistic style which originated in the 18th century in France. Students created these wonderful Rococo-inspired spring eggs using the art of needle felting. Needle Felting is the process of transforming wool into 3D objects using a barbed needle. When you felt wool, you’re agitating the fibers so they bond together, creating a solid fabric. Students adorned their springtime eggs with a variety of designs–from cherry blossom trees, to constellations. Once completed they gathered to hang them on a birch tree.
SEVENTH GRADE
Robert Frost-Inspired Block Prints: In English students were learning about American poet Robert Frost in English class. 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
Collaborative Garden Art Post: Each year the graduating class creates a Legacy Art Project leaving their mark and beautifying our campus! This year students are creating a Garden Art Post. Students are working collaboratively designing the post to include the four seasons, marking our campus buildings, and weaving in our school’s Core Virtues. Once completed, they will be deciding on the perfect location and help install the post which will be finished with a solar cap!
