We had a different kind of "art show" at parent/teacher conferences tonight. Student artists in most classes are still in progress on first artworks so we tried something different... Images showed the creative process of artmaking with an interactive, social media twist. Viewers could get a quick view of what student artists are currently working on and could “like” artworks by placing actual hearts on the instagram-like displays. Thanks to everyone who participated!
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Lots of great things going on in the art room right now! Let's take a peek... Sculpture classes are focusing on architecture. We talked about what it is, where we see architecture, aesthetic vs. function, and different styles from ancient Greek to Neofuturist and all sorts of styles in between! Coming off of Media Fair, students were able to choose from many different materials (cardboard, plaster, popsicle sticks, wire, foam, just to name a few!) and design a sculpture based on the idea of architecture. In Intro to 2D, students are working on The Object. They were to create a work of art based on an object or grouping of objects that demonstrates color, balance, and repetition. Students looked at artists like Wayne Thiebaud, Claes Oldenburg, and Janet Fish that show those ideas in their artworks. Here's some Pierz artworks from 2D artists... Painting students are learning about appropriation, remix, transformation, and parody through our first unit - Artists Steal. We looked at artists like Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and Kehinde Wiley that take their ideas from other sources. So far in painting I'm seeing inspiration from many sources, including - Kermit the Frog, Banksy, SpongeBob, Andrew Wyeth, Dumbo, and Jan Vermeer. Can't wait to see what these students create! Some of my goals for the year have to do with creating community and positive mindset. Eighth graders started out the semester by creating a collaborative artwork with encouraging words written throughout. Working in small groups, students started with 50 dots on a page, then connected them with lines. Once the space was divided up into shapes, students filled in the spaces with patterns. After all the spaces were colored in, papers were cut into long strips and groups worked together to weave pieces together. Next, we had a discussion on mindset and positive thinking. I shared a phrase that I learned from my 10th grade health teacher - "fake it til you make it" - the idea that a person can change their behavior by thinking a certain way. If you think or hear something over and over, you believe it. We also talked about all the negative things a person hears in a day - it can be exhausting! We collected a list of words that were positive and encouraging and added them to the weavings. Now that the weavings are completed, they are hanging in the hall on the way into the art room. Hopefully, as students walk into class, this can act as a reminder to think positive! I am creative... I am generous... I am respectful... I am brave... I am persistent... I totally stole this idea from Roni Rohr & Clyde Gaw. They're super awesome art teachers that inspire ME to be a better art teacher. Thanks!
When I asked my students "Do you consider yourself an artist?" Most responded "Maybe?" I disagree. Look at this photo. First day of school. Everyone is engaged - creating art. They are focused. They are problem solvers. They are creative.
They are artists.
Don't be afraid of the hard work that might be ahead. Instead, challenge yourself as you go towards your future. Some great things will come easy, most, however will require hard work. Enjoy the struggle.
Go Team. Ceramics is an Art II class at Pierz. Students can take Ceramics after they have successfully completed on of the Art I classes here - Intro to 2D Art or Intro to 3D Art. The first part of the semester is spent on "Have to" projects - projects that must be completed to learn foundational techniques that could be used on choice artworks at the end of the semester. Students learn basic hand-building and pottery wheel techniques along with basic instruction in glazing. Below are some photos of the "Have to" projects in progress - Pinch Pots, Ceramic Sphere, Slab Box, Coil Pot, Relief Tile, and Wheel Thrown Pot. Come back later to see some finished "Have to" projects and some of our choice artworks where we have applied these techniques.
It's the end of the semester and students are finishing up their final artworks of the semester. At this point in all of the classes, students have been introduced to all the materials they can use for the semester and have full choice in what they create to show what they have learned. It's very exciting to see what students come up with, many works are very personal and some very powerful. Take a look at some of the artworks we've created... Parent/Teacher Conferences is typically a time when teachers and parents get together to discuss a child's progress at school. For art students, we use this as a time to show what we're working on and highlight some of the great art that's being made. This is also a time when students can meet the "Present" Standard of the Minnesota Visual Arts Standards, in which, students work together to select art to put on display with a written artist statement. Artworks on display were created by students in 8th-12th grade, from 6 different classes, using a variety of materials. While some of the themes and subjects may have been similar, all artworks are as unique as the artists that created them. Lots of different things going on in the art room this week! Intro 3D Art students finished up clay week with glazing and are moving onto our next unit on Figure - focusing on sculpture in the round and proportion (either accurate or exaggerated). Intro to 2D Art is wrapping up a unit on Heroes and Villains. Lots of superhero artworks but also a few about personal heroes, battles between opposing forces, and also different emotions. Painting is working on an Artists Steal unit - creating art based on the art of another artist. Some students are stealing directly from another artist but many have come up with their own ideas inspired by famous artists. Eighth grade art students are working on a unit similar to painting class. Theirs is called "Understanding Art Worlds" based on the Studio Habit of Mind - I can learn about art history and learn to interact as an artist with other artists. They are researching famous artists and then using appropriation, parody, or remix to create their own original work. |
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