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Art with Mrs. Sahar

Welcome to our new art program!

Threes and PK are busy exploring materials including string painting, collage and watercolor. They learned safety scissors and how to use scissors. We use special scissors that are plastic and don’t cut skin or hair! This exploration is the main focus for this age group and they joyfully investigate what all these new things can do.

Artists Work Together!

We are all becoming familiar with our new art studio and are learning how artists keep their common space organized for art making. Students have independent access to a variety of materials at all times while special materials are brought out for certain projects.

2nd, 3rd, and 5th are finishing up individual collages with imagery/designs of their choosing. Romare Bearden and contemporary artist Mark Bradford inspire the students’ work. Differentiated one-on-one instruction is adapted to challenge every student at each grade level.

K/1 is highly focused on student choice as they investigate and make discoveries. K and 1 delved into collage and watercolor. They learned how to use these materials with their own imagery and designs. The artists are very happy to tell the stories behind their work!

Preschool

Artsonia: We will continue to use this site where you can see your child’s art. Please note that the original artwork will come home eventually! Our artists are taking their time to complete their projects and we are showing at future events. Sometimes we’ll be making temporary art together and we’ll be sure to take pictures!

Name Self-Portraits School began with name self-portraits.

Students illustrated things that they enjoy

which they arranged around their names.

Students worked diligently from concept to

pencil to finished work in full color.

4th grade is beginning a collaborative collage mural inspired by artists Romare Bearden and Mark Bradford who used their neighborhoods as inspiration Students are focusing on the theme of “What does MSPCS mean to me?” We’ve missed school so much!

Contemporary Artist Mark Bradford

Wish list

Interesting cardboard pieces, cardboard sheets, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, masking tape, duct tape, scrap paper, yarn, straws, mini staplers and small pieces of smooth wood in various shapes or old blocks. Thank you!

Suspendisse potenti!

Romare Bearden, The Block

THE LOREM IPSUMS SPRING 2016

Art connects with all aspects of life. There are so many things I would like to incorporate into our lessons but so little time! If you would like to further explore some of the ideas we’re working on in class, I have some suggestions for kids as well as parents. A great podcast for kids is NPR’s Wow in the World where you can hear about topics ranging from sea pickles to the science of laughter. There is a great Romare Bearden iPad app from the Smithsonian Institution. The National Gallery of Art has a pdf for children that you can explore together.

Grades K-2 collaborative sculpture: We’re going to be looking at how beavers build dams and at the sculpture of artist Gina Tuzzi to make large, temporary cardboard sculpture. These can’t go home! You can talk to your child about architecture and structures around you. What shapes do you see? How do you think it was built? Build with blocks together or any objects around

the house, including cereal boxes and cans, even if there is still food in them! Encourage your child to build temporary hide-outs or houses inside or outside. Grades 3-5 advertising: Look at products at home, in the grocery store and commercials on the Internet and TV. Ask students: Who is the target audience? How does the ad try to convince people to buy it? How is that done with pictures? How is it done with words? Who hired these advertising firms anyway? We will be discussing all this and will try our hands at making our own persuasive ads and commercials. This NPR Planet Money podcast features Tom Burrell, the first black man in Chicago advertising. He realized that advertising then was directed at everyone and that ads could target specific audiences. You may have a listen first before deciding if it’s a good match for your child (recommended for grades 4th and 5th).

Upcoming Lower grades: collaborative sculpture Upper grades: advertising and graphic design

Parents’ Page