A Deeper Connection

Last Friday in our window hallway I came upon Mr. Nik's fifth graders having an intimate interaction with Dorothea Lange's photographs. 

 

These pencil drawings will eventually become a part of our Arts Integration Multimedia Informance on the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Great Depression, coming up in March.

Portrait Fascination

I was thrilled to join 4F and 4K on their expedition to the National Portrait Gallery yesterday morning. 


We got the "VIP tour" from three engaging and knowledgable docents. We heard students wishing the tour were longer... I was in agreement! Who woulda thunk colonial portraits could be SO FASCINATING???

One serious art student capturing all he was learning!

Extraordinary Accomplishments

     Sometimes during OPEN ART from 12-1, students create something extraordinary... on their own... with just a little support and encouragement. THAT'S the kind of thing Open Art is for. 
     Sure, some of us come to the room because it's a relaxing place to draw and hang with friends. And some of us come because we need more than 45 minutes a week to get our work done. Some of us come to practice on the pottery wheels, or create a Comic Life strip on the Macs based on the zany adventures of ourselves.


... But some of us come because we have a need to CREATE! Check out this talented 5th grader's woven pouch created last month:

Fantastic, Fantasy Rooms!

How to read a portrait?

• FACIAL EXPRESSION
• FOCAL POINT
• GESTURE
• CLOTHING
• and our focus last month.....SETTING!!!!

• Each room unique and detailed, 4th graders explore settings through collage. 

We'll Miss Mr. Clayman!

As the New Year begins in the art room, things will seem a little different as our much loved student teacher, Mr. Clayman, has moved on to new things... hopefully involving an art classroom of his own:) 
On Wednesday before the winter break we had a chance to thank him formally and say goodbye in the Great Hall.

***Note his fabulous "golden L" apron, signed by almost all the students at Lafayette and that he's holding a special book containing thank you messages, recipes, poems and more from each class at the school... thank you teachers for your help in making this happen!  We also sent him out in style with a Lafayette hat and shirt and serenaded him with our "Hail to Lafayette"!

What is ART?

That was the question Mr. Clayman proposed to Lafayette 5th graders recently. Reports of articulate and thoughtful answers delighted me but didn't surprise me! Exploring that elusive subject is fascinating for any grade level and exciting and intriguing for Lafayette's top dogs!

After viewing Robert Indiana's LOVE painting, students created their own pop art word collage.

Mr. Clayman has posted a few of the finished products on the upstairs bulletin boards.

EXPLORING DC THROUGH ITS ARCHITECTURE!

Third graders begin to explore WHY our forefathers chose to emulate the Ancient Greeks in the architecture of so many of our iconic DC buildings. 

Ask a third grader what a doric, ionic, or corinthian column is... or about an entablature, pediment, or dome... most of us have begun to learn about Ancient Greek architectural elements in the art room... just another example of arts integration in action at Lafayette!






Mr. Clayman is teaching up a storm... we will miss him in January!!!!!