Metal Tooling Masks

5th Graders learned about the art of repousse, also known as metal tooling. Students designed either a Dia de los Muertos mask or an animal mask. They embossed (popped out) parts of their image, which created a relief sculpture.  

 

 

Trapeze Acrobats Inspired by Alexander Calder

Third Grade students learned about Alexander Calder, an artist who created kinetic (movable) sculptures. He first created an entire circus from found objects. He also made the first mobiles, and liked how his art could change just by a breath of wind. Students created their own trapeze acrobats after watching a video clip of trapeze performers.

Molas

Molas are made by the Kuna people who live in Panama and Colombia. Women sew many layers of fabric together and then cut away layers of fabric in a design to show the fabric underneath. Then the women wear these fabric designs on their dresses. When they are tired of wearing that particular design, they cut off the mola and sell it. It takes the women from two weeks, to six months to make one mola.

Fourth Grade students designed their own molas, but created them in the opposite way of the Kuna women. Usually, the artist must cut away layers of fabric to show the fabric underneath. Instead of doing this, students glued layers of paper together, showing just a little bit of the color underneath.

 

Urban Landscapes

Second Graders discussed characteristics of urban landscapes, also known as cityscapes. Students drew a city skyline and then drew many urban details. They colored the sky with oil pastels.  

Creative Transformations

5^th grade students learned that graphic designers and graphic artists are artists who make people see everyday items in a new way. They looked at Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup cans and discussed how changing the colors on the soup can labels could make people really notice the soup and want to buy it. Students also discovered that there are artists who create new fonts to use on the computer. They chose one letter of the alphabet and transformed that letter to look new and interesting. They used common “systems” that graphic artists use to help them come up with new ways to look at their chosen letter of the alphabet.

Los estudiantes de quinto grado aprendieron que los diseñadores gráficos y artistas gráficos son artistas que hacen que las personas vean objetos cotidianos de una nueva manera. Ellos miraron las latas de sopa Campbell’s de Andy Warhol y hablaron sobre como cambiar el color de las etiquetas sobre las latas podría hacer que las personas realmente se fijaran en esta sopa y la quisieran comprar. Los estudiantes también descubrieron que hay artistas que crean nuevas tipografías para usar en la computadora. Ellos escogieron una letra del alfabeto y la transformaron para que luciera nueva e interesante. Usaron “sistemas” comunes que usan los artistas gráficos para ayudarlos a pensar en nuevas maneras de mirar la letra que escogieron.

 

 

Winslow Homer Seascapes

First Grade students looked at artwork by Winslow Homer. Like many artists, he painted what was around him. He lived near the ocean so he painted many seascapes. He also liked to show the power of the ocean, so many of his seascapes show waves crashing into each other and on the shore. Students painted two papers, one for the sea, one for the sky. Then they ripped the sea paper to create a jagged white edge, for the waves. They glued these to the sky. Finally, they created a sailboat with cut paper. They glued these boats to a popsicle stick to actually "sail" it through the waves. 

People We Care About

2nd Grade students read "Li'l Sis and Uncle Willie" by Gwen Everett. Students studied William H. Johnson's life and why his artwork is important. Students drew themselves with someone that is important to them, much the way Johnson did. Students drew their portraits as if the people in the painting were looking at a camera, the way Johnson did in many of his paintings. They painted their portraits with tempera paint and then outlined their shapes with black marker.

Line Monsters

Kindergarten students practiced proper painting techniques while painting different kinds of lines. Then they painted between the lines with colors in rainbow order. Finally, they cut out eyes and mouths to turn their line paintings into monsters.

Kinetic Bird Sculpures

Fourth Grade students studied Alexander Calder, an artist know for his kinetic (movable) sculptures. Students created these birds from materials that Calder himself, also used; paper and wire. Students painted papers to be used for the bird's body and head. They used wire for the neck and feathers for the tail. These sculptures literally rock!

Mirrors with Radial Symmetry

Third Grade students learned the meaning of radial symmetry (the design must be the same all the way around the circle). Students looked at examples of tin mirrors often found at marketplaces in Mexico. Students discussed the radial symmetry found in these mirrors. Students designed their own mirror using radial symmetry both in the design and pattern as well as the colors used.

Los estudiantes de tercer grado aprendieron el significado de simetría radial (el diseño debe ser igual alrededor de un circulo). Los estudiantes observaron ejemplos de espejos de lata que se consiguen con frecuencia en los mercados de México. Los estudiantes discutieron la simetría radial que se ve en estos espejos.

 Los estudiantes diseñaron sus propios espejos usando simetría radial en el diseño y patrón, y también en los colores que usaron.

Only One You/Nadie Como Tu

All students in the school read “Only One You” by Linda Kranz, which celebrates how each person is unique. Then students created a unique fish to be part of our “school” of fish!