Dixon Day at MHA for the 2nd & 3rd Graders

 

We had a special program on December 10th.  A visitor from the Dixon Gallery and Gardens visited to talk with us about the Sassafras Tree.  Follow the link to watch a short video about the event, then stop by the school to view our tree sculptures.  http://youtu.be/8pZjBxEwICA

On Display at MHA

Painting With Unusual Objects by the Kindergarden and First Graders.  Click on this link
http://youtu.be/RIPzBLvaG4Y  to watch a short video about the exhibit.

On Display at MHA

LINES IN MY WORLD by the 2nd and 3rd Grade Art Classes
go to http://youtu.be/hj1Mwc09sHE for a short video and details...

KINDS OF LINES by the 4th Grade Art Class
go to http://youtu.be/NY_9tacvloo for a short video and details

PROTRAITS PAINTED ON TISSUE PAPER BACKGROUNDS by the Kindergarten and 1st Grade art classes.

go to http://youtu.be/xOaMAEcT8Os for a short video and details

LINE DISCOVERY by the 5th and 6th Grade art classes.  I'm still working on the video for this one.

The Art of Discovery

“We all look like scientists…” was the running joke this week as my students donned the new lab coats that I ordered to protect their clothing.  It’s true.  Pre paint splatters, my art students did resemble med students, but all kidding aside, art and science have always been connected.  The earliest scientist, were very often artists as well.  Before photography, scientists had to record their discoveries with detailed drawings.  It also takes a highly creative mind to make the many leaps a major discovery requires.

In the art room, we do many creative exercises to enhance our imagination.  Often the assignments that I give have very few instructions and are open to many interpretations, all of which enforce the lesson that I am trying to teach.  Out first assignment of the year is always to decorate our Eye Journals.  These journals are used for recording information and trying out new ideas before starting a project, and then reflecting on those ideas after the project is completed.  All the journals come with the same plain green cover and so they need to personalized.  Using a variety of supplies the students’ each came up with different ideas about how their journal should look.  A lot of creative energy was flowing around the room as we worked and we all had fun...

Here is a link to a short youtube video from these first two weeks of school.  Enjoy the show!

http://youtu.be/0sSMr5EcQqM

Here is a link to the Leonardo da Vinci Invention Convention video:
http://youtu.be/abeQqOcsOok

 

Here is a link to the 4th & 5th grade end of the year video:
http://youtu.be/oajUiQkWOlw

Here is a link o the 2nd & 3rd grade end of the year video:
http://youtu.be/PaYAQyfTodc

Here is a link to the Kindergarten & 1st Grade End of the Year Video
http://youtu.be/1jO5RIt36T4

All parents are invited to the art class portfolio parties.  Please note that some classes meet in groups.  A list of the groups has been emailed to you.  If you have trouble opening the e-mail please feel free to call me.  I look forward to seeing you.

The Kindergarten will have their party On June 5th.  Group one will meet at 2:00, group two will meet at 2:30. 

The First Grade will have their party on May 31st. Group one will meet at 10:00, group two will meet at 10:30.

The Second Grade will have their party on May 31st.  Group one will meet at 1:00, group two will meet at 1:30.

The Third Grade will have thier party on June 5th.  Group one will meet at 12:30, group two will meet at 1:00.

The Fourth and Fifth grade will have their party on May 31st.  The boys will meet at 9:00 and the girls will meet at 3:15.

The Sixth grade will hold their Annual Leonardo da Vinci Invention Convention on May 30th at 8:30.

Portfolios and Art Journals will be distributed at the convention.

Today we had an amazing trip to the Dixon Gallery and Gardens.  We were met by Miss Linley who showed us around the gardens.  We viewed, touched and smelled many fantastic  things that grow on the grounds and were even treated to a bouquet of snapdragons from one of the gardeners.  At the edge of the south lawn and around the front of the building we enjoyed the sight of Lee Littlefield’s fantastic wooden sculptures.   They reminded us of things that we saw in books by Doctor Seuss.  Miss Linley dropped us off in front of the galleries and then everyone had a chance to act as tour guide as we viewed the Kattner American painting collection.  When we got back to school we finished off our adventure with a picnic lunch on the MHA lawn.  We would like to thank  Chanah & Eli Frieden for helping us with our transportation and for providing us with the special dessert for our picnic.  You can enjoy a short YouTube video by clicking on the link below: 

http://youtu.be/skKcPTA-dfA

made in DIXON 

March 11th - April 8th

This show features works of art created during the Dixon educational programs.  I strongly encourage you to take your family to see it.  It is wonderful for children to see artwork that has been created by artists their age.  If you need some added incentive,  you should know that Ezra Somer, Becky Weinstein, Yonah Yarmush, Sima Stein & David Finkelstein all have works of art in this exhibit that they created during the fall on Dixon Day at MHA.  (Scroll down to the post on November 15h for details.)

How To Draw a Face

Some of you have asked me to repeat my demonstration on how to draw a face in proportion several times.  To make things easier on you Meira Braverman video taped me doing the demonstration today and we put it on youtube.  Just follow this link and enjoy the video as many times as you want.  http://youtu.be/OCbOcMHQr84

The Garden of Our Imagination

The Kindergarten and First Grade have just completed one of my favorite Tu B’Shvat Projects!  After listening to The Lorax, by Doctor Seuss, we had a discussion about why trees are important to us.  We also talked about how Doctor Seuss used his imagination to come up with a unique way to tell the world about the significance of trees for our environment.   We used our own imagination to invent made up trees.  Here is a short video so you can watch the fun in progress!  If you want to see our complete collection of Imagination Trees feel free to stop by and have a look at our display.

In Case You Were Wondering ...

... What goes on in the art room,Take a glimpse at this short video of a few things that we have done this year.  Then go ahead and few a few of my old blogs.  Feel free to visit the art room any time!http://youtu.be/lbYhhO3vkSE