50th Anniversary Mosaic Preview

Progress: We. Are. Almost. Done. 

Our 50th Anniversary exterior mosaic which consists of five, 3'x4' ceramic panels depicting events since 1962 has been a labor of love. Every single tile was handcrafted by my talented students in all grades including preschool and kindergarten. 

The artsy staff at Bear Tavern have poured support into the project in so many way. Not only did they make their own fabulous tiles but have been there to offer advice, extra time filling in holes and general positive spirits.

Our Artist-in-Residence, Jessica Liddell, is pulling together all of the pieces. I am coordinating installation as you read this entry. She will return to grout when spring arrives. 

Check back for updates on the final install and finished panels or stop by the main entrance to Bear Tavern sometime soon!

Update: April 16, 2013

There she is...Jessica Gorlin-Liddell our Artist-in-Residence installing tiles to fill in the spaces. 

Here are the panels that the awesome HVRSD Facilities guys installed last week.

3rd Grade: Art Meets Rocks in our Parade of Artists Assembly

Some projects are meant to be. My most recent Parade of Artists assembly was definitely in the stars.

Talking with Mr. Kirwan, our wonderful School Counselor, about random artsy things, he mentioned a Photographer named Jonathon Wells that he met a while back.

This Photographer is quite extraordinary for a few reasons....
1. He is a very good photographer....
2. He is also a Geologist....
3. He has a studio near Hopewell....
4. He creates unique photo collages depicting landscapes (cities, rolling hills, etc.) and the layers of rock beneath... exposing the beauty that lies underneath.

Jonathon Wells and students

Well, guess what, I reached out and got an answer back that he would be willing to talk to our 3rd graders about Art and Rocks! 3rd grade is currently studying rocks and minerals in science so what a perfect time to match up Art and Science.

We set up Mr. Wells' photographs on tables in the the All Purpose Room. The longest photograph stretches 7 feet! The kids "gallery walked" the table which were set up in a large "U" shape admiring the dozen or so images.
Each photograph is as impressive in the visible photography skills of Mr. Wells as much so as the amazing accuracy in the layers of rocks that he has photographed underneath Boston, New York City and numerous places around the U.S.
Just imagine how difficult that is to photograph layers of rock and to arrange those layers beautiful as a collage under an equally beautiful landscape photograph....

The Third graders asked Mr. Wells really great questions that reflect how much they are learning in science and how interested they are in learning about rocks and minerals.

Students at the start of the U shaped viewing line

I always feel proud to work for my school district (and BT in particular), but felt a new sense of pride in being able to connect two areas of interest for our kids and with the perfect guest speaker.

Grade 1: Cats, Birds and Sketchbooks

I just adore my 1st graders. On Friday, with Mrs. Weidman's class,  we had such a nice conversation about a new project we started. The kids really liked looking at Swiss painter Paul Klee's "Cat with Bird". We talked about how silly it is that the cat has a bird on it's forehead, among other things relating to the painting and life as a cat.

 The kids asked if they could draw a bird on their cats forehead or on top of it's head. My answer: OF COURSE YOU CAN...but draw it in pencil first to make sure you're happy with it :-)

I had some really nice scraps of paper left over and decided to make each of the kids a sketchbook to take home. 

Mariella's sketchbook and Aaron's day 1 cat w/ bird

Paul Klee "Cat and Bird"

Logged 20 pages of reading in for March Reading Challenge

Grade 2: Cubist Self-Portraits

Second grade has started to finish their Cubist style self-portraits. This project was very successful in several ways.
1. The kids told me really enjoyed this lesson
2. They came out looking great
3. I have a new appreciation for marker.
-I am naturally drawn to more messy art materials. This project was so clean and neat and dare I say REFRESHING!
Kids can always benefit from learning and re-learning how to apply marker to paper in a neat way...it's a great skill to have.
I have a ton of "messy, high maintenance" projects going on right now so it was nice to not add into the mess more.
4. They seem to remember Picasso's name....I'll quiz again next week!

Celebrate Art!

March is YOUTH ART MONTH!

Being an art educator is the best job in the world! This month, will be filled with lots of art, as usual, but with an emphasis on exploring art materials. 

Green Screen Art Project

This is the last you will hear about my Great Wave project that I have been in love with. My 4th graders painted an awesome rendition of the famous painting and then we took it a step further by doing a technology project in which the kids added a photo of themselves into a copy of the original painting using computers.

Here is Will in front of the green screen and then super imposed into The Great Wave. What fun we had!

                             

Thank you to Tricia Fuglestadt for guiding me to the right answers for this project!!

Wash Your Paint Brush!

All teachers (and parents) have their pet peeves. Dirty paintbrushes left upside down in the paintbrush containers is turning into one of mine. It has happened less and less as I remind the students of brush washing expectations, the short cuts that some (don't let it be you!) students take and the help of our art room mascot holding up this sign near our most used sink. :-)

I'm not quite sure why but the kids really respect the cow?!

Maybe because they think the cow is silly?

Maybe because the cow had a crush around Halloween they though was cute?

Probably because the cow knows that Art Rocks!

Almond Branches

One of my very favorite Van Gogh paintings is 'Almond Branches'. The painting was a gift for his Nephew. I just love the thought of him creating this beautiful, floral painting for a boy and every time I see this painting, I think of my son. For as long as I've loved this painting and for the amount of time that I stood looking at it like a cliche of a museum-goer, it never struck me to do a project around it. Standing in the hallway at Bear Tavern looking at the space where we are to create a wildlife mural, I noticed these eight, drab looking panels in the space above and in between our mural destination. Something has to go there, but what? A sky?! Not a corny old sky! Then it hit me Of course not a corny sky, a sky that is beautiful, strong and delicate! Almond Branches in a sky! And there you have it!

 It's circus week so my classes are a bit choppy. 3rd grade this morning only had art for 20 minutes. I promised our next project was a clay project so I didn't want to move on to something else or give a free art period. So, I spread out eight large pieces of paper and served them three scoops of paints and let them mix up the perfect blue sky. Wash the tables, wash your hands and on line for the assembly!
On comes 5th grade a few hours later. Same thing, but with slightly more time. Just enough that the half dozen or more hands that wanted to participate were able to enjoy painting the branches and flower petals.
I will hopefully be able to install some of these beauties tomorrow between lunch and the end of the day. Just can't wait!!

Grade 4: The Great Wave Continued...

Here are the Great Waves in progress that I blogged about back on Feb. 1 Click HERE for original post. They are coming along beautifully. Each student is maintaining certain characteristics from Hokusai's woodblock design but creating their own interpretation. I know I get excited easily but WHOA, these kids are doing quite an incredible job...and this is just a small sample of their paintings! Next week, we will finish painting and define the pieces before we move on. 

Will 4M

Mason 4M

Tanner 4M

Cameron 4M

How could I forget, the 4th graders are reading a book called "The Big Wave" in the 4M class. They were so excited to see "The Great Wave off of Kanagawa" in the cover art.

Hall display

Parade of Artists

Too often I hear a student casually mention that their parent is an artist or mention enough to give indication that their parent or family member is super artsy, even if not by profession. 

Mrs. Majkowski teaches a special workshop on making jewelry with sea glass

I would love to meet and work with these parents whenever we can make the time..they should not be hiding if they are willing to teach a workshop to their child's class or to a grade-level!

I have implemented this program/resource at my school called 'Parade of Artists' which will be a database of local artists and super crafty people who have interest in presenting workshops or being guest speakers at Bear Tavern. I would love to compile these artists and share the lists with other schools in my district so that we can all 

INFUSE MORE ART INTO OUR PROGRAM and ENRICH OUR STUDENT'S LIVES!

My Principal, who is a rock star Principal in supporting art and creativity, just sent the info below to families so we'll see what response comes in but I am excited to bring even more artists to the school!

Technology Ramble and 3rd grade teachers rock mumble

Tomorrow, we're getting set to complete (or almost complete) our Native American Chief portraits in my 3 Machado group with my other 3rd grade groups close behind.
I will post pictures of the completed project but wanted to post my review Prezi for you to see.
Technology is a huge blessing for art teachers. I remember in my years as an undergraduate having to spend a HUGE amount of money making posters and prints of famous art to complement my lessons. I feel very fortunate to have access to technology(Smart Board) in my classroom and access to iPad for each student, laptops, scanners, and so much more. I'm not looking to brag, but it great to work for a school district so strong in technology.
Ramble, ramble. This slideshow is a super short but is used to REVIEW and DISCUSS before moving on to the final stages of my lesson.
Click here to access my Prezi and then click the blue "Present" button in the tope left corner

Oh, and let me add, it feels awesome to complement the subject area learning via art. The 3rd grade teachers at my school are AWESOME! I almost melted seeing the longhouses that a couple of the classes built using bamboo. I almost missed the creativity happening in 3rd grade as I was not getting out of the art room much. So glad I did as the timing on this lesson is perfect.

Pictures soon, and I am creating a technology resources page to file powerpoints, prezi's, etc.

Grade 4: The Great Wave

I am not trying to be melodramatic at all but a great wave of emotions poured over me today as my 4th graders worked so beautifully on their Great Wave renditions.

We are not quite done, probably at the almost halfway mark on this project but I am just so inspired, in love with and proud of the results being produced.

Hokusai is one of my two favorite Japanese artists. I love and appreciate the technique of creating a woodblock print. What a tremendous skill level he had!
To read more about woodblock prints and Hokusai, click here
We discussed why Hokusai might have been inspired to create a woodblock of a Great Wave. Looking at the map of Japan made the guesses fly right in. Tsunami's are quite interesting. Check back for updates as we begin to paint!

Taylor 4M, Drawing for her Great Wave

Grounds for Sculpture: Weekend Arts and Crafts

Come on over to Grounds for Sculpture on Saturday, February 2. I will be teaching a fun little workshop from 12-3pm about Groundhogs. There will be other Groundhog related activities running as well.
www.groundsforsculpture.org

2013 Doodle for Google

Stay tuned for info on how we will handle Doodle for Google this year at Bear Tavern!
This will be our third year....first year we had a state finalist....maybe this year someone will win it all!

Update: ENTRIES ARE DUE TO THE ART ROOM BY MARCH 15, 2013.
An email blast was sent out by Mr. Arcurio this week containing all of the information that you need. I will discuss the contest with students each day next week.

Grade 5: Pandas

This time of year, I am not in Valentine's mode. Oh no, I am full on Chinese New Year. Well, last year more so but by Chinese New Year (Sun, Feb. 10), I should have at least 3-4 grade levels who have completed a project for Chinese New Year or a piece of art inspired by an Asian artist.

I am really excited for and proud of my fifth graders. They are doing such a nice job of being patient with themselves and drawing lightly as they feel through drawing panda bears.

Ultimately, these drawings will have a painted background.

Check back for finished art

Grade 1: Ice Skating Penguins

First graders are currently learning about penguins in their homerooms so it is a perfect time to draw them in art! We talked about penguin facts and their habitats. We viewed where different types of penguins live on the world map and even observed penguins on the Smart Board at Sea World via a live cam.

We worked to assemble our penguin drawings by combining simple, geometric shapes as the foundation. We added smooth lines to connect our shapes and added fun, cartoon style accessories. Here are the projects that are almost done.

Free Choice: Painting with Water

Some class periods, my students have time towards the end of the class period for a "free choice" project. Many will choose to draw or use blocks. I recently added these boards to my classroom for my kids to paint on using water. It's been a fun exercise in having them learn to be creative with each mark they place on the boards. 

Grade 2: Clay Nests and Animals

The joys of clay. The kids love it, I love it. It's the perfect material in so many ways over here at Bear Tavern School!

My second graders are working on clay nests and an animal to go inside. It's a fun project to review the pinch method of handbuilding ceramics and the proper way to secure pieces of clay.
Their imaginations were in full force with this project and they all did a fantastic job.

Estelle's (2L) is relaxing and holding a mini cell phone

Henry's (2L) was built really well

I love the pose on this one by Aldo (2L)

Next up is glazing their creations and then they will have to decide to take them home or leave them at school for the 50th Anniversary Art Show.