Sometimes We Just Need To Stop

I picked up this book at the Museum of Fine Arts about a year ago supposedly for my son but I actually find myself putting it in my bag and taking it with me here and there. It contains pages of interactive prompts that involve observing, collecting, documenting, analyzing, and comparing things you find in the world.   If you're feeling an urge to drift away from your quotidian path,  this might prove an interesting journey.  It has about 60 or so "explorations" you could do in any given order or time.  One of my favorite quotes in it is by John Cage. 

(The residual purpose  of art is) Purposeless Play.  This play, however, is an affirmation of life- not an attempt to bring order out of chaos nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply a way of waking up to the very life we're livng, which is so excellent once one gets one's mind and one's desires out of its way and lets it act of its own accord. 
(I find PK, Kinder and First do this beautifully and effortlessly)


Exploration Examples:

Exloration #24- Combinations.
 Combine groups of objects for visual or emotional contrast...  natural vs. human -made, alive vs. decaying or contrasing colors.

Exploratin #50- Found Smells
Go for a walk.  Make a list of all the smells in your neighborhood.  Be as detailed as possible.  Attempt to identify  sources.

The Art of Science!

Summer IB Programme

Learn more about the IB Programme

This summer, my school is introducing the IB Programme.    I am working with the kids by creating art (or artful things!) that coincide with  the central idea.  Some of the projects include collage, dioramas of habitats, terrariums, plant models, mobiles, and paintings.  It's been a lot of fun for me because science and art are two of my favorite things! Science is all about looking closer and noticing the little things in life...observing.  Of course we know that artists do that ALL the time... it's just a way of being.   Check out the video to see the joyful learning that's been happening so far!

This Week in Art... from Gabriela Elizalde on Vimeo.

Found Faces...Found Inspiration

A Found Lesson Within A Lesson
Yesterday I went to a workshop at the Museum of Fine Arts called Learning Through Art.  The focus is to teach Language Arts, Math, Science, etc through looking at artworks found at the museum and on the museum's site.  At one point, we were working on an  Impressionist piece  and a symmetrical mask.   Tape was one of the materials used.  Towards the end of the project we were to pull the tape off (and then discard it).  As we pulled and gathered the tape to throw it away I saw a face looking back at me.  The jumbled pieces of tape arranged themselves just so as to become a face.  Has that ever happened to you? Of course after that I walked around  asking for everyone's  tape wads.  Luckily, there was one left (She looks like a very pensive frog to me) .  Had I found more tape I'm sure bodies would of been found also.  Incorporating math and art could be done by asking questions such as what percentage of your piece is in warm colors?  What percentage is in cool?    What forms have we used here?  Language Arts...who did you discover?  Write a poem about your character, etc. Imagine a class set of these exhibited in a shadow box presentation...pretty magnificent I think!   By the way, these are a little bit smaller than  a golf ball. 

Transformation

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Masks

Transformation
What does it mean?   What can transform? Are humans the only things that can transform?    All of these questions and more were discussed at the beginning of this mask making project.  Students realized transformation goes on all around us (seasons, animals, people) it's just a matter of looking closer.   What fun it was to see personalities come alive through mask making. While some students decided to transform themselves in ways they felt comfortable with others ventured out onto unexplored territory.  Either path, the results were wonderful to see and share.


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The How To:

1. Cut poster-board into desired size.
2. Draw, paint or color mask.
3. Provide extra poster board to add other elements such as hats, ears, random shapes, etc.
4. Staple to the main piece. 
5. Cut a slit leading to each eye then cut around to form the eye shape.
6. Tape the slits closed on the back of the poster board.
7. Add a pop-sickle stick to hold mask.
8. Voila!

Reliefs

This was a really cool lesson for the 1st grade kids...they absolutely loved the results!  We looked at various images of reliefs throughout history and modern times.  We discussed various cutting techniques, borders, and how layering would create a stronger design.   ...and here are the results!

The how to:

1. Show examples to generate excitement.

2. Cut poster board into desired shapes.

3. Glue onto chip board.

4. Place foil on top and tape to back.

5. Use a wadded up napkin to apply gentle pressure on foil (circular motion works well) until the cut out poster board shapes become apparent.  

6.  Add a tiny bit of black paint and brush around (we used black  ink).

7.  Wipe off a bit for a distressed look.

7. Success!