November / 2015
Happy November! Big news in the Art Studio Classroom: We are very lucky to have a student teacher with us through mid-December. Ben Kellogg, Mr. Kellogg comes to us from SUNY New Paltz, where he is studying to achieve his Bachelor of Science in Art Education with a concentration in Metal Arts. He has been a great addition to our classroom and school working on getting to know our students and help support their learning.
I hope you take time to check out some of our city’s museum’s offerings…for example-this weekend on Saturday, November 7th from 9:30am-3pm, The Whitney Museum offers Kids and Family Day for the new Frank Stella exhibit…the event is free with admission. Another great show not to miss is the Pablo Picasso Sculpture show at the MOMA. Both of these shows are great for any age child. There are many museums that offer special programs for children-check out their websites and go visit them!
To those of you who have sent in donations thank you for your support! Ms. King
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What’s going on in KINDERGARTEN?In kindergarten we are continuing to visit books and draw responses, as well as practice drawing from observation by drawing real pumpkins. Students are asked to notice shapes and lines and try and draw what they see. Kids can practice this skill at home-observational drawing-by drawing objects around the house and drawing the outline first.
We also discussed The Day of the Dead, El Dia de los Muertos, a tradition started by the Aztec people of Mexico over three thousand years ago! When we can in art we will celebrate traditions practiced by a wide variety of cultures. This project helped with learning about symmetry, coloring making careful choices, and using scissors. / NEWS FROM FIRST GRADE-
First graders are designing their hot air balloons using pencil, Sharpies and oil pastels. This week, they will start to paint watercolor backgrounds for them to fly across. The students will learn basic water color technique and application. Once the backgrounds are complete they will make baskets out of folded paper, and then attach all of the pieces together creating a mixed media collage.
/ SECOND GRADE NEWS:
We are continuing our Bearden inspired cityscapes in stages. Students are currently painting the sky/background. They will next start cutting the shapes out for what will be in there cityscapes. If you have old wrapping paper, or any printed paper at home you want to get rid of-or architecture magazines-we welcome the donation of them for this project!
Look on line for his work, The Block.
THIRD GRADE ARTISTS
Third graders are knocking my socks off with their Frida Kahlo projects! I truly am in awe of how they are coming out thus far, and cannot wait for the students to start on phase two-collaging a jungle background for their portraits. Ask your child what he/she has learned about Frida so far?
/ FOURTH GRADE NEWS
Fourth graders will be going to the Guggenheim in November. While there they will view works by artist Wassily Kandinsky, as well as see parts of the current show. In the past students have loved this trip as not only is the art on view inspirational, but the building, (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright), is a work of art. Students will be honing drawing skills-so please make sure your child has a sketchbook here in the art room! Thanks! / WHAT ARE THE FIFTH GRADERS UP TO IN ART?
The fifth graders headed off to the Whitney today (November 4th) to see the Frank Stella Retrospective. While the students were there learning about one of his larger than life sculptures, Frank Stella himself happened to be sitting on a couch observing them! Talk about a New York moment! He said, “Let them enjoy the work.”And that folks is one of the amazing things about living in New York City!!! Because where else do these sorts of encounters happen? The show is truly brilliant-encompassing the span of his career, with two gorgeous sculptures out on the terrace. Please take the time and go back with your child-you should be receiving a pass shortly, if your child attended the trip today.
Later this month fourth and fifth graders will be treated to a screening of Ellis. Here is the description from their press kit:
ELLIS awakens our collective memory, taking you back to the early years of Ellis Island through the experience of one immigrant.
Set in the abandoned Ellis Island Hospital complex and using JR’s UNFRAMED art installations, ELLIS tells the forgotten story of the immigrants who built America. It is the story of the ghosts of our countries past, the individuals who fled poverty, discrimination, and dictatorships, for a chance at a new life and eerily foreshadows the plight of those who currently seek the same opportunities and safety in this country and other parts of the world.
The short narrative film stars Academy Award® Winner Robert De Niro, is written by Academy Award® Winner Eric Roth, and is directed by the artist JR. This is a truly exciting opportunity to share with our students. If you have time-visit the website below-or start a conversation with your child about immigration…maybe someone in your family, or someone you knows relatives came through Ellis Island? Share their story with your child.
For more information, please visit the film’s website:
As Picasso said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain one once they grow up.”
Reminder: Turn off the TV, the iPad, and the X Box games, and let your child(ren) be creative at home-have drawing supplies such as paper and crayons, or markers handy. Scissor and glue practice can be done by having your child cut magazines, or construction paper to make collages. Draw out shapes and have them practice cutting along the lines-HINT: it’s easier to draw shapes on the edge instead of in center of the page for little hands to cut them out without the frustrations! The more a skill is practiced, the better one becomes at that skill.