Black History Month Art Project, Romare Bearden

I'm really late in posting this one: 

February is Black History Month.  I really enjoy teaching about different cultures in Art class.  There's a very natural tie-in between these two diciplines as art often defines a culture.  My sixth graders learned about the African American artist Romare Bearden, or "Romie" as they liked to call him.   We looked at a great interactive website that the Metroplitan Museum of Art has created about him and his work, particularly his famous collage called, "The Block".  The website did a wonderful job of explaining how certain materials were used, and what some of the collage elements represented.  A lot of great discussion amongst the students followed.  The students were each given a piece of blue construction paper with a beige strip at the bottom.  They used scraps of paper, newspaper, magazines, and foil to create their own interpretation of "The Block".  When the works were finished, I hung them right next to eacother to give the impression they were all connected in one long city block.  This was a great way to tie in community as well. 

Great job 6th graders!

Adaptive Art Kadinsky Circles

I found this project on one of my favorite art lesson blogs Art Projects for Kids.  These Kadinsky circles always turn out beautiful for every child.  It's truly a fail safe project.  The Adaptive Art kids spent about a week working on these oil pastel circles.  I've found this is one of those really nice projects that is

 almost meditative to do.  It's so simple but the results are truly stunning.  The kids really liked watching the colors blend when they added a new ring to the circles.  I thought the final artworks looked very professional.

8th Grade Op Art

Eighth graders studied artist Bridget Riley to learn about how Op Art began.  They also viewed a PowerPoint of different optical illusions, some of which they couldn't believe.  They then applied their knowledge to create optical illusion drawings.  Students started with a point anywhere on their paper.  They then made an odd number of lines radiate out from the point to the edges of the paper.  They were shown how to alternate concave and convex curves between thelines, and how to use two colors to do a checkboard pattern.  Lastly, students drew cicles that they turned into spheres by using perpendicular curved lines.  Who knew so much math could be packed into a drawing?

Youth Art Month

March is National YOUTH ART MONTH!

During March, we highlight all the wonderful, artistic talents of our students.  Art and Music both play such a fundamental role in the wholistic eduction of our children.  Many studies have linked participation in artistic endeavors, and regular music and art classes, to higher acheivement on standardized tests.  (For more on the subject please visit this site).  In addition, it's wonderful to harness all the creativity energy that our youth naturally display.   

All of the art teachers in the West Allis-West Milwaukee district came together to hang artwork representing all of the schools in the district, and all grade levels.  A wonderful reception was held on March 4th, and many of the district's choirs, orchestras, smaller ensembles, and solo instrumentalits and singers performed for the opening.  It was incredible to see so many families (what looked to be like hundreds) come to support the artistic endeavors of the students.  If you were unable to see the show during the reception, it will stay up through the month of March at both of the district's downtown administrative buildings (1205 and 1135 S. 70th St.).  I am so proud of our Panther Artists, and all the artists in our district.