Keith Haring – Inspired Figure Paintings in 3rd Grade

3^rd Grade Students learned how Keith Haring’s drawings evolved from Graffiti Art in the subways of New York to well-known Pop Art in famous galleries around the world.  Haring’s bold lines and symbolic figures often communicate strong messages about human relationships and our existence.  Students traced each other in symbolic poses and painted the figures to represent themselves.  They also chose a quote to speak for their own personal experience and outlook.  Sketchbook Pro - The children have just begun exploring Sketchbook Pro on their iPads.  They love discovering new techniques and enjoy the leadership roles of teaching their classmates!

Design Thinking Your Super Power

Lower School students dove right into a Design Thinking project this fall.  The challenge was to design a super power that they wish they could have.  They could choose/make-up any super power, but it needed to be something that was helpful to someone, or something else in their community or the world.  The students worked collaboratively to brainstorm (or IDEATE) their sketches on paper.  The next step was to build a sculptural sketch, (or PROTOTYPE).  The prototype needed to go through multiple adjustments (or ITERATIONS), before it was ready for spray paint and labeling/logo design.  Many of the designs were put to the TEST with imagination and brilliant success!  We are currently taking our designs to the iPad and creating digital renderings with 3D imaging software. This project is a great example of combining Science Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, or STEAM. The app we are using is called 123D Design and is free to download if you wish to explore from home. 

Kandinsky Art and Design Thinking

5^th grade students learned about Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky.  Kandinsky connected music and emotion to painting and is considered by many the founder of abstract art.  Inspired by the classical music of Scriabin and Schoenberg, students created their own Kandinsky-like paintings.  Next, the 5th graders ventured outside to create a Kandinsky-inspired mural.   During the following class, students were tasked with a design challenge to help them make deeper connections to Kandisnky.   They were asked to work collaboratively to design and sketch a product or mechanism that would help Kandinsky at some point in his life.  Students connected their experiences to Kandinsky’s and they practiced empathetic inquiry.  Our current endeavor in the design process is creating digitally rendered 3D models of the concepts on iPads.  Using Autodesk’s 123D design App, students are transforming geometric shapes into the structure of their prototypes.  Final details and iterations occur within their development as students educate and evaluate each other throughout the innovation process. This kind of project based learning gives students an opportunity to make deeper connections to artists and processes.  It invites curiosity and creativity and encompasses the direction of 21^st century education by engaging students fully, while practicing the elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics or STEAM.

Humanitas Exhibition Opens in the Art Center Gallery

Honors Sculpture and 4th Grade Students Collaborate on Environmental Sculpture

The entire Fourth Grade and Upper School Honors Sculpture visited the Pine Grove at The Schykill Center for Environmental Education. While there, together with almost 90 student artists, we talked about the power of collaboration, using natural, found materials to create art, and the HUGE thrill of building something bigger then ourselves. 

 

The student artists were also asked to think about the idea of making art that is site specific, and would remain in the grove after we left. We discussed the fact that the work is like our lives, it will naturally change over time, and the memory of the piece, and the experience, will live on in our hearts, minds and in photos-- much like life itself.

Each student group had about an hour to build a fort-like structure out of wood found on site. The structure was to house their entire group of about 6-8 students. They were all up for the challenge, and all found great success! The results are diverse, dramatic and glorious...just like the  young artists themselves!

Connectivity cards: Lower School Students Make Art in Maker Space

For this project, 3^rd graders were asked to think about what makes them who they are.  They sketched images that represented Topics ranging from their family history and culture, to their favorite foods or colors.  Students reflected together and discussed what makes them connected and unique from each other. They also talked about ways to celebrate these dynamics.  Using their iPads, 3^rd graders manipulated a profile picture of themselves and prepared the image for a digital transfer.  Using the laser cutter/engraver in the BCI, the connectivity cards were cut and engraved with their portrait image.  On the opposite side of the card, students transferred their drawing ideas in color.  Collectively, the students finalized the project by building upon each other’s cards to create

one Connective class structure.  Portraits displayed on the exterior of each sculpture present the image people see every day.  When you come close and look inside the sculpture, you can see a more intimate representation.