Bully Prevention Month & Kindness in Chalk

This week, Art Club was on a mission. A mission to remind students, staff, and visitors that kindness is important. It all started when I saw the Kindness in Chalk campaign. The Kindness in Chalk event is the brain-child of teachers in the Twin Cities. I found their idea inspiring and a great way to acknowledge October as Bully-Prevention Month. So, we joined in! 

On Tuesday, we chalk-bombed the sidewalk right in front of the junior high campus. First, we discussed some frightening statistics on how bullying affects students and what can be defined as bullying. We then discussed why promoting a message of kindness, tolerance, and inner-strength was so important (compared to chanting don't be a bully or no bullying). Students brain-stormed, in groups, about their message and aesthetic choices (color, lettering, etc.). Then, we got down to business! Here is what they came up with. 

"We rise by lifting others"

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" "Love each other"

"No act of kindness is ever wasted"

"Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out"

"Be kind"

"Work hard,  be kind, and great things will happen!"

 They did a lovely job. Which is why I was so disappointed and discouraged when the same students came to me the next day to say that kids were purposefully shuffling along their work to destroy it. 

Our chalk art didn't even last 24 hours. 

WHY? 

I guess it just proves our point. 

Kindness, love, tolerance and inner-strength need to be reenforced for everyone.

The Social Media Artist Study

 At the end of the last school year, for our final project, students engaged in something a bit different. The seventh grade students chose artists to research that interested and inspired them. They dove in deep, immersed themselves into the chosen the artists' life and work. We took this information and our artist's perspective and created social media pages. 

Students had very few limits on this project. They had to include a profile pic (portrait), work by the artist (we aimed for 3), and it had to be from the artist's point-of-view with quotes (primary sources). We did a lot of discussing about what artists, from a long time ago, would want to express to the people of today. It seems some artists are more tech savvy than others in this digital age. Students collaborated to find the important information and influential work from these famous individuals, and had to work together to find a unique way to present it. Although we all used a similar jumping-off point, no two artist studies look quite the same (even the ones that chose the same artist). All Facebook pages use the same format but, students took that template and let their imaginations run wild. 

I was very impressed at how students recreated some of these very famous works of art. The "profile pics" are so expressive and fun! Some of the studies are informational, some are humorous, and most are a good mix of both. If you are reading this via the QR code in the cafeteria, thanks for coming! If you are not, here are a few examples of our Social Media Artist Studies, enjoy!

Andy Goldsworthy

M.C. Escher

Salvador Dali

Claude Monet

Frida Kahlo

Georgia O'Keeffe

Arcimboldo

Sandy Skoglund

JrVASE

 I'd like to premise this post by saying that, the junior Visual Art Scholastic Event is  a pretty big deal. It's not just your run-of-the-mill put-it-up and get a ribbon contest. JrVASE inspires students to grow as artists, hones their interpersonal skills and sparks creativity through competition. Students have to go before a juror for a one-on-one interview and discuss their work and defend their aesthetic choices and ideas. This can be a truly empowering experience for students. I know it was for me, when I participated in VASE many moons ago.

 I always tell my students that art is like a sport. In which, natural talent is bunk and you have to work hard and practice to get better! Well these students and their amazing work makes me question my own philosophy. Oh, they work hard but their work is just SO good! They were up against over 200 other artworks, an interview, and a bus break-down. They were poised, professional, and made me so proud.

 The following work received the highest scores possible and moved onto the final round of judging!

 Bailey- 8th, Daydream, mixed-media

Dayton- 8th, Flipped, linoleum block print

Hailey- 8th, The Arch, acrylic

Hannah- 7th, Encouraging Words, mixed-media

Laney- 8th, Elixir of the Sea, mixed-media

Brynn Stadtmueller was also awarded the Silver Seal. It was only given to 11 other students in her division!

Brynn- 8th, Three Wise Monkeys, mixed-media

I am so proud of you guys! Well done!

Discovering Form and Function

   It's that time of year again, the obligatory middle school mask lesson. Don't get me wrong, I love this unit, mostly because my students love it. It is their first taste (before the long ceramic unit) of functional art. We get a thrill out of knowing that when we are done, we will have a product that's usable, fun, and looks good!

Dear, Deer

   Also, paper mache is a messy medium, but so versatile it is fun to teach and learn. Our guiding concept in the lesson was to explore the ways in which art can be functional. We discussed the uses of masks throughout history whether it be for protection, disguise, or for a cultural or celebratory functions. We examined many examples and after talking through the physical process of mask-making, we created detailed sketches for how we wanted our masks to turn-out. In addition to examples from different cultures, we looked at the work of "Dan the Monster Man". He is an expert at paper mache and his videos get students super excited about all of the possibilities. 

Mosquito Man

"Golden"

   This project presents a lot of challenges for students. From building up a 3D surface to molding the drippy paper mache just right to get the look you want; students are constantly problem solving and finding ways to improve their designs. This was the first year I used balloons as a base for the armature. So, I also did a lot of problem solving. 

Venom

Awesome Voodoo-Bird/Witch-Doctor

Pretty Panda

Goofy Fish

Abominable Snowman

Seguin ArtsFest- Pachanga Style!

Two of my 7th grade artists were awarded for their awesome entries to the 2014 Seguin ArtsFest Pachanga student art show. Amaya N. took 2nd place and Miriam M. received honorable mention for their Mexican Amate-inspired paintings created earlier this year! They were up against some stiff competition from other surrounding middle schools. Great job, ladies!

Amaya- 2nd place

Miriam- HM

fyi: "Pachanga" translates to a crazy party!

UIL Creative Arts

WOW! The UIL Creative Arts participants representing our school really impressed me this year (and last :)). Long hours, mess-ups, start-overs and learning curves were all a part of the process but, I wouldn't have it any other way. Many 8th grade contestants are repeat winners from last year and my new crop of 7th graders are so full of potential it's kind of staggering. To think these students have had little-to-no visual art exposure or experience before they get to me is amazing because they continue to impress me daily! So, without further ado, here are the place winners for the 2014 UIL Creative Arts competition:

1st place 8th gr. painting: Hailey W.

3rd place 8th gr. painting: Dominik J.

2nd place 8th gr. drawing: Brynn S. 

3rd place 8th gr. drawing: Laney J. 

2nd place 7th gr. painting: Ashton M. 

6th place 7th gr. drawing: Hannah H. 

4th place 7th gr. mixed/misc: Gabriela M. 

Here is a group shot of all the other submissions that are also totally medal-worthy!

My ArtSmart team also cleaned house this weekend. It was our first year competing so nerves were a little high but, they really brought their a-game. 

7th gr. 2nd-Ashlea F., 3rd- Jacob U. 4th- Cassandra M. 5th- Hannah H. 6th- Tyler M. 

8th gr. 2nd-Laney J., 3rd- Tate F. 4th- Tucker F. 5th-Andrea F.

I am so grateful that we have the opportunity to participate in these two contests! I love it, the students love it, and it's a great way to bring exposure to the amazing things students are creating in art.

Bonus! A Bulletin Board

In honor of African-American History month, my designated "Artist of the Month" board, is chock full of great artwork!

Featured on the bulletin board this month are 4 different artists! They are Faith Ringgold, El Anatsui (my all-time favorite), Betye Saar, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Here are some snapshots of the various works featured on the board!

This has been my favorite board yet!

African-American History Month

In the last weeks of January, 7th grade artists were preparing to commemorate African-American History Month! Last year, we did a similar lesson, but only to celebrate MLK Day. This year, I decided to have the party last all through February (and most likely-longer).

The driving concept behind the unit was overcoming obstacles (we all need to know how to do that!). Before we dove in, we studied the artist Chuck Close, his artistic style and his life. I personally love Close and students are always impressed and intrigued by him (who wouldn't be?). We discussed how Chuck breaks his portraits down into teeny-tiny pieces so it is easier for him to work. This is called a grid system. You grid a small photo and then use the same number of squares on a much bigger paper or canvas. The only trick is getting your measurements and ratio right!

1st period: artist Faith Ringgold, acrylic

Then we discussed subject matter and how the people or things you choose to paint or draw become significant because of the time and care you put into them. Each class was assigned a different individual. These people are all influential and important in the continuing fight for equality and had a positive impact on society. We talked about the different obstacles they had to overcome in life. While they are not all Americans, they are all important people that should be celebrated. We took time in class to talk about their contributions and why it is important they are shared and remembered.

2nd period: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., fingerprints

The different class periods also used different mediums, (a la Chuck) and we were all focused on trying to recreate the value (lights and darks) changes we saw in the image. Each student was given a small piece of the grid and had to recreate what they saw (lines and values) on their larger square-paper. This helped students to not become intimidated by the subject matter (yikes! a person). Often, students didn't even know what it was they were looking at. They only saw values!

3rd period: Nelson Mandela, fingerprints

6th period: Harriet Tubman, charcoal

It is a fun process and it is always satisfying (and challenging) to work as a class to put the big puzzle, that is our portrait, together in the end. It shows us that by breaking a problem into smaller pieces and working together to solve it, things become much easier. 

They did an amazing job!

7th period: Rosa Parks, acrylic 

And one final look at the whole display!