It's a Bumpy, Scratchy, Slippery, Fuzzy World

Lafayette first graders just finished dabbling in the world of TEXTURE!!!

First we explored tactile texture that we can touch with our hands... finding it everywhere... even on our shoes! 

After exploring how artists made visual texture we can see with our eyes, we created our own visual texture rubbings.

...we noticed that Sofonisba Anguisola's
Self Portrait is
full of visual texture like scratchy lace
and smooth skin, soft hair
and a furry collar...

...we created visual texture out of tactile texture
 with rubbings

Our rubbings became delightful sea creatures inspired by Eric Carle's textured paper cutouts: 

Our visual texture sea creatures took on some
tactile texture add ons!

And finally, did anyone say habitats?

Kachina Expressions Spur Our 3-D Creativity

Fourth graders explored the ways Native American art channels beauty as a part of everyday life. After learning how Northwest coast totems tell our clan stories through a life size paper sculpture, we then examined the Hopi culture's belief in the Kachina. 

The Kachinas are powerful supernatural beings in the spiritual life of the Native American Hopi and Zuni Pueblo peoples. Kachina wooden dolls are given to children to teach them about the Kachina forms.

We created our mixed media Kachinas to help teach our school code (Speak Mindfully, Act Mindfully, Move Mindfully) using a spirit power. Check out just a few of these delightful Kachina inspired sculptures:

Mr Catapano's class Kachinas stand ready and waiting!

Pottery Wheel Passion... Gettin' our Groove on!

Open studio gets a little "muddy" as we explore working on the wheel! Fifth graders are first to experience the mesmerizing power of the pottery wheel as they learn to center, raise the walls, and shape a vessel.

 Classmate assistants are at the ready to add a little water or coach their classmates in the next step to creating a wheel thrown pot!

Focus is key to keeping your CENTER and not losing control of your pot!

Many hands make the work easier!

Open Studio in the New Art Room Humming With Creative Juices

Some of us need a little more time to express ourselves creatively! Open Art Studio at recess is a busy and happy place just about every noontime! From Healthy Schools gardens murals to classwork, to a relaxed space to do whatever strikes your fancy...Here's what some of us are up to:

 Our open floor space has been a big hit with the "banner makers"... mostly collaborative pieces of the artists' choosing!

Weaving continues to be a hit... this weaver resourcefully weaving with ribbon and fabric scraps when the yarn scraps didn't provide enough variety!

Adding to the pile of "lollipops" for the 

fall festival decorations!

 

DOT DAY is About Creativity and the Courage to Make Your Mark... Celebrating with Millions of Kids Around the World Every September 15!!!

A day of happy faces, floating bubbles and  dots of all kinds to represent that we are all creative and we can make our mark in this world and won't give up!

 

The weather was divine and all 766 students had art hanging in our Lafayette gallery to celebrate our learning and our creativity!!!

 

Even the teachers and admin got in on the action and celebrated their creativity and courage!!!

And some kids found their own unique ways to show their Dot Day spirit!

I truly LOVE DOT DAY!!! Don't you?

 

INSPIRING US ALL!!!

Our new Lafayette art room can only be described as SPECTACULAR!  

Full of space and light and truly inspirational!

 

And complete with new equipment to support our passions here at Lafayette!

 

So, naturally, as we explore what SAMM (Speaking, Acting and Moving Mindfully) looks like in the art room, we are having wonderful conversations about creating an art room climate that feels supportive and empowering... where students feel comfortable experimenting and making mistakes and sharing their stories and expressing themselves fully! 

Of course the fact that DOT DAY is around the corner (September 15!) seems so very appropriate. 

Check out what DOT DAY is all about! Started by a teacher years ago and based on the book "The Dot", Dot Day is now celebrated by millions of students around the world!!!

The Sum is Greater Than the Parts

I'm finding it feeds my creative spirit to get outside my comfort zone and try some things I was never interested in before... turns out the experiences have been eye opening and inspirational!

The past two summers I explored art paper sculpture and book making at the Museum of Women in the Arts. This summer I finally took my first glass mosaic class taught by the veteran and renowned mosaic artist Bonnie Fitzgerald. 

Check out the link above to Bonnie's website!

Class was held in the historic Vienna Arts Center

Mid project... lots of bits and pieces!

Learning to grout...

My first finished project which I hope to hang in our new Art room at Lafayette!!!