Suder Art Show 2019!
The magic of a choice-based art room!
I have loved teaching in a choice based environment over the last few years. Students are constantly surprising me with their depth and creativity. I have gotten to know my students so well because they are able to authentically express their ideas, instead of me telling them what to do and what to make!
Lenticular Self Portrait
Students learned facial proportions, and looked at the self portraits of many famous artists throughout history. We looked at realistic and expressive color and then students worked hard to create a self portrait with a mirror. Students then traced their self portrait onto another piece of paper so they had two identical self portraits. They then used expressive colors on one self portrait, and realistic colors on the second. We cut the portraits into even strips and glued them together onto a large piece of construction paper. Students then folded their paper into zig-zags, and stapled it onto a hard background. The portraits were displayed and students participated in a "questions and compliments critique"
Design your own Playground!
Kindergarten students were inspired by pictures of playgrounds from all over the world. They were then given demonstrations of many different ways to make 2-D paper 3 dimensional. They cut and glued and folded and rolled the paper to design their own unique playgrounds and then used markers, toothpicks and other craft supplies at the end.
Demandments
8th grade students were presented with the "Demandments" project which was developed by Chicago artist Lee Tracey. We assembled her large demandment that stated "Hate Ruins Everything." After several discussions about the meaning behind this statement, and coming up with a definition for the word "demandment." Students took notes on an art history presentation about art and social change. DOES ART HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD? many students said no. We looked at Art's role in WWII, the civil rights movement, the anti war movement, the Women's Suffrage movement, and Occupy Wall Street, and then had more discussions about art and its power. Students then began brainstorming ides for their own demandment message.
After several materials demonstrations, students began working alone or in pairs to design and create their own demandment. Students then presented them to the class, sharing not only their artwork, but also their ideas about the world.
Andy Goldsworthy Nature Sculptures
5th grade students learned about the artwork of Andy Goldsworthy, and created plans for their own site specific nature installations. We took a field trip to nearby Marquette Park and after being lead on a nature walk by the parks coordinator, kids collected natural materials and worked in pairs to assemble their sculptures. When they were complete, students presented their sculptures to the group.
Chalk Pastel Jungle Animals
4th grade students researched endangered species, and jungle animals. They chose an animal they liked, and were given photographs, and drawing instructions if they needed, in order to create a chalk pastel drawing from observation on black paper.
Tooling Foil Relief Masks
5th grade students looked at masks from Mexico, West Africa, and New Orleans to get ideas for their own mask designs. We first planned out ideas, shapes, patterns, emotion, animal, and then transferred the drawings to tooling foil. The students used ball point pens to carve the drawings into the tooling foil and then they cut them out, added color with sharpie markers, and embellished them with craft objects. When students were finished, they used cameras to document each others' artwork.
Pinch Pot Monsters
3rd Grade students used Model Magic clay to make pinch pots which they then added teeth, eyes, and other monster features to create their own monster heads. They really liked this project, and this took about 2 lessons. With real stoneware clay this is also a great lesson because the students can learn how to properly attach clay together, and how to create an even pinch pot.
Cardboard Collage
Kindergarten students used cut up pieces of cardboard to create a collage. They arranged the shaped on their paper until they created something new. They then practiced their gluing skills, and stuck them to the paper, painted them, and they came up with a title for their work of art.
Symmetrical Butterflies
Kindergarten Students learned about Symmetry in order to create symmetrical pattern butterflies. They first folded the paper and made a "B" shape, and then practiced their cutting skills to create the wings of a butterfly. We then painted one side of the wings and squished the two sides together to print beautiful results!
Rainbow scratch board
3rd grade students created rainbow scrath board to later make drawings. They used oil pastels to cover the whole paper with color, then painted over the paper with black tempera paint. When it dried we used toothpicks to draw into the scratchboard.
Pattern Print Wrapping Paper
Students used marker caps, glue stick caps, and other recycled materials to learn about printmaking and create pattern wrapping paper
Geometric Snowflakes
Students used mixed materials to create geometric snowflake sculptures. Each was unique and had to stay together being hung from one point. They were then painted with tempera tints, and finished with glitter
Abstract Water Color Paintings!
Have you ever put salt on water color? Have you tried spraying rubbing alcohol on your colors? what does it do? What colors can you make from the primary colors?
Students learned several new water color painting techniques and applied them to their hard edge abstract paintings. We had just been learning about color mixing, and this was a great way to experiment!
Chinese New Year: Good Luck Lanterns
Students were inspired by the Chinese new year parades and decorations, and we learned Chinese symbols that represent Good Luck! we used construction paper and practiced our scissor skills to create these lanterns to take home for the year of the snake!
Henri Rousseau Jungle: water color and observational drawing
2nd grade students learned how to look closely at something to draw it from observation. We discussed realism and fantasy, and e looked at the artwork of Henri Rousseau. Each day the students worked on these drawings, they learned to observe more closely, and carefully as their jungle scenes came to life!
Stockton Artist of the Month
Edgar Castillo took it upon himself to create this awesome larger than life-sized version of one of his favorite video games. All it took was some craft paper and some tempera paint. Great Job!!
Cotton Club: The Harlem Renaissance
Art Club students worked together to re-create Harlem's Cotton Club for guests as they came to our school's Black History Month celebration. Our middle schoolers and our music teacher put on a GREAT performance full of tap dance, jazz solos, gospel music, and the some soulful blues.
Demandments
Students used print outs from Chicago based artist Lee Tracey to assemble a powerful message. We discussed the meaning after the piece was put together, and our 8th graders had a lot to say about the negative power of hate.
