Art Department News

May 2013

Middle Level Art / Ms. Findlay

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful spring! We are very busy in the art room. 6th grade students have finished their clay gargoyles. They are presently working with visiting artist Ellen Crane creating African Adinkra block prints for an accordion style book assemblage. 7tth grade students have completed their plaster cast cultural mask project. They are working on an impressionistic paintings along with a one point perspective composition. 8th grade students are glazing their clay bowls. They will be starting the artist business card designs.

Don't forget to come to The 2013 District Wide Art Show Wednesday May 15th 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM.

May Quote: "I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music".

~Joan Miro~

6th Grade News

2012-2013

Visiting artist, Ellen Crane is working with 6^th grade art students. They are learning about Adinkra cloth symbols developed by the Ashanti people of Ghana in Africa.
The symbols are carved out of a calabash piece (a type of gourd) and stamped on cloth. Each symbol has a different meaning relating to proverbs or character traits very similar to the character education themes we promote here at Tamarac. Originally these cloths were called goodbye cloths and were worn only at funerals. The fabric you wore and how you wrapped it showed your relationship to the deceased. The symbols on the cloth contained messages in their patterns. Now these cloths are worn at many occasions including weddings.
The 6^th grade students have to develop a design using Adinkra symbols that they think represent them. They then make up an original symbol which is incorporated into the design. Ellen Crane shows students how to transfer these designs onto a block and how to carve and print the blocks. Students then make books with their prints using an origami fold that enables the books to open in an accordion like fashion. Students also write a reflection piece explaining their choice of symbols.
This is a wonderful print making and book making experience, along with being a great connection with the cultural diversity offered by this beautiful African art form. I thank Ellen Crane and BOCES Questar III Arts in Education for making this program possible. I also commend the students on the quality of their creative endeavors on this project!

7^th Grade News

7th grade art students are working on culturally inspired plaster cast mask. This project includes a research and writing portion which gives students the opportunity to build literacy and technology (computer usage) skills. Students are then given the challenge to explore problem solving strategies in building the forms of their masks in a symmetrical format. Finished mask incorporate drawing and painting techniques. I have been very impressed with the finish outcomes! Great job on the masks!!

3rd Annual 2012 Districtwide Art Show Draws Largest Audience Yet

The 3^rd Annual Tamarac Districtwide Art Show was a huge success on May 10 with the largest turnout yet. The school hallways were packed with community members who enjoyed the artwork on display, the live music from the steel drum band, singers and student musicians, and the movie screenings. “The community really showed their support this year and the students and art department would like to thank everyone for coming out that night. It was a great success,” said Art Teacher Jennifer Girard. Click here to see photos from the event… Posted 5/15/12.

The Finished Character Education Art Mural!

Middle School students working on the Character Education Art Mural

2010

Greek Ornamental Printing / Grade 6

Visiting artist Ellen Crane

2010

Clay Rattles / Grade 6

2010

The Empty Bowl Project / Grade 8

6th Grade Clay Kylix

7th Grade Plaster Cast Mask

8th Grade Mixed Media Fish Prints

See more examples on the Class Work Page

8th GradeGyotaku

Print Artist Ellen Crane With Third Quarter Students

Pictures, Photos & Happenings

Gyotaku (the Japanese art of printing fish) with visiting artist, Ellen Crane

Ms. Findlay's 8th grade art classes 2009-10

Visiting artist Ellen Crane introduces 8th grade art students to print making. Students replicate the Japanese art form of "Gyotaku". They also designed signature stamps like that of the "Hanko" still used today in Japan. Their signature stamps incorporated an element of nature along with their initials. thank you to Ellen Crane for this wonderful workshop!!!

View video at : (http://animoto.com/play/LZxEjW2wy00FPi0IQ5xM1g)

8th Grade Studio Art Throwing work shop November 2008

View video

http://animoto.com/play/0IZSIjpBgtlnMQjverzo3g

Go Green Mural is done!

CHARACTER EDUCATION MURAL ART PROJECT

This year, eighth grade art students decided to redesign an old mural near the 7th grade wing. The students decided on the theme of Go Green to help support the new Go Green initiatives that our school is implementing. This mural again serves as another wonderful visual message for the entire school and community to view and enjoy. Thank You to the Learn and Serve American Grant for making this project possible. Thank you also to the Tamarac custodians who prepped the mural board, filling holes and priming the surface. We appreciate everyone’s support on this endeavor! And a huge Thank You to the student artist: Hannah Haight, Amber Bornt, Massie Hogan, Mary Colanari, Linda-Lee Navarette, Rob Gilchrist and Tegan Fox.

8th Grade Studio Art Field Trip To The Arts Center for The Capitol Region

View video

http://animoto.com/play/5RZ1ud1mITMjhNtQ3S9afA

8th grade Studio Art Students participated in a throwing workshop with instructor John Visser at the Arts Center for The Capitol Region in Troy N.Y. All students completed at least one piece thrown on the wheel. These are being fired and glazed in the near future. Thank you to Amy Williams, president of the arts center, for helping to put together this fantastic throwing workshop. A huge thank you to John Visser who provided the wonderful instruction! Thanks also to the Arts In Education Foundation for providing the funding for this great workshop!

The Finished Pots

Australian print Project 2008

The 8^th grade Studio Art Class worked with visiting artist Ellen Crane. This print project is a cross curricular service learning project. Students have learned about the aboriginal people through a power point presentation on Aboriginal culture and art given by Mrs. Langley-Peck. The students viewed artifacts and pictures of Aboriginal art that were brought back from Australia through the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Program that Mrs. Peck participated in this past summer. Professional artist Ellen Crane taught the students printmaking techniques using Aboriginal styled designs for their block prints. Students then wrote a story explaining what their block prints meant inspired by the Aboriginal “Dreamings”. Mrs. Myers and Mr. Share’s first grade students will also view Mrs. Langley-Pecks presentation. They will then learn printing techniques in the Aboriginal style, from the eighth grade studio art students. The project will be in conjunction with the elementary student’s animal unit. This cross curricular program will provide a strong art enrichment experience while also providing the opportunity for cooperative learning for a myriad of students. Eighth grade art students will extend their learning by becoming the 'teachers' in this service-learning project. We’re all very excited about this project and look forward to viewing the end products of the student’s endeavors. A huge "Thank You" to Brittonkill’s Arts in Education program and to The Learn and Serve America Grant for making this project possible!

View Video

http://animoto.com/play/pKUy5LLzoEUyhZyvOV91hw

8th grade Studio Art Students extend their learning by becoming the 'teachers' in this service-learning project

Teaching The Aboriginal Symbols

Teaching Book Making and Drawing of Australian Animals

Teaching About the Dreamings

Sharing Their Books

Helping Them Print Their Books

The first grade comes to the middle school to share their finished books

Australian print Project 2006-07

8^th grade Studio Art students have been working with visiting artist Ellen Crane. This year we expanded the print project adding a cross curricular service learning component. Students learned about the aboriginal people through a power point presentation on Aboriginal culture and art given by Mrs. Langley-Peck. The students viewed artifacts and pictures of Aboriginal art that were brought back from Australia through the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Program that Mrs. Peck participated in this past summer. Professional artist Ellen Crane taught the students printmaking techniques using Aboriginal styled designs for their block prints. In April, Mrs. Myers and Mr. Share’s first and second grade students will also view Mrs. Langley-Pecks presentation. They will then learn printing techniques in the Aboriginal style, from the eighth grade studio art students. The project will be in conjunction with the elementary student’s animal unit. This cross curricular program will provide a strong art enrichment experience while also providing the opportunity for cooperative learning for a myriad of students. Eighth grade art students will extend their learning by becoming the 'teachers' in this service-learning project. We’re all very excited about this project and look forward to viewing the end products of the student’s endeavors. A huge thank you to the Brittonkill Education Foundation and to The Learn and Serve America Grant for making this project possible!

Article for the Communicator April 26th, 2007:

Elementary Students Study Australia

By Donna Langley-Peck and Helen Findlay

The 1^st and 2^nd grade students in Mrs. Myers’ and Mr. Share’s classes completed an in depth study of Australian culture and art through essay writing and picture drawing of Australian animals. Mrs. Langley-Peck then visited the classes and presented pictures, artifacts, and stories about the Australian culture.

This project is a continuation of the Service Learning Grant, and the Educational Foundation Grant, where the 8^th grade art students participated in Mrs. Langley-Peck’s presentation, and worked with Mrs. Findlay and Artist in Residence Ellen Crane on Aboriginal art, and printmaking projects.

Mrs. Findlay and the 8^th grade art students are now visiting the 1st and 2^nd grade classes to teach about Aboriginal art. The elementary students will then learn printing techniques in the Aboriginal style, from the eighth grade studio art students. This has been an exciting, fun-filled cross-curricular project with many imaginative art creations!

Thank you to Mrs. Meyers, Mr. Share, Ellen Crane, the Brittonkill Educational Foundation and The Learn to Serve America Grant for making this project possible.

Sharing their books and their stories depicted through aboriginal symbols Discussing aboriginal symbols

Talking about the Aboriginal's belief in the Dreamings Showing them how to draw the animals on the printing block

Demonstrating the Printing Process Choosing the paper for their prints A Day Of Printing.......

Aussie Print Project

We did squeeze in a quick visit from the elementary students so that they could share their Aussie Print Books with the 8th grade students. Here's a few pictures:

Character Education Art Project 2006-2007

Funded by The LEARN AND SERVE AMERICAN GRANT 2006-2007

April 2007

CHARACTER EDUCATION MURAL ART PROJECT

This year eighth grade art students have had the privilege to continue to work on designing new murals for Tamarac. The students decided to redesign an old unfinished mural across from the library. Given its location, it was decided that “books” would make a good theme.The students spent 6 weeks researching images and ideas for what messages they wanted to convey. The universal appeal of knowledge through reading became a central thread for the book theme. The second thread for ideas was based on a timeline beginning with Illuminated documents from the Middle Ages that then flowed into the timelessness of nursery rhymes and children’s book characters. Other images were added to represent the endless possibilities for topics that can be revealed through reading books.This Mural project has provided these students with an opportunity to use art skills and concepts to improve the visual environment of the school. They have also spent a great deal of time reflecting on the power of books to foster learning and offer entertainment for people of all ages. This mural is another wonderful visual message for the entire school and community to view and enjoy.Thank You to the Learn and Serve American Grant for making this project possible.Thank you also to the Tamarac custodians who prepped the mural board, filling holes and priming the surface. We appreciate everyone’s support on this endeavor!

The CEAP Mural is also complete!

2004-2006 CEAP Murals

The “Character Education Art Project” was completed last June. The murals were installed in the middle school cafeteria just prior to the opening of school this year. Eighth and ninth grade art students participated in designing these mural boards over a two year period. The boards portray the six character traits of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, justice and fairness, caring, and civic virtue and citizenship. Pictorial symbols of these traits along with symbols and ideograms from African and Japanese cultures were used as images in representing these traits and their meanings. These murals have provided the students with the opportunity and challenge to use art skills and concepts to improve the visual environment of the school. The murals also serve as a reminder to make good character building choices in our everyday lives. Thank you to The Learn and Serve American Grant which funded this project! Thank you to the custodians that did such a great job in installing them! And thank you to all the students who worked some hours and those who worked many, many hours in completing this worthy project! You all made it happen! Mural Artist are: Brianna Baldwin, K.C. Bariteau, Elizabeth Bradley, Victoria Caruso, Kathryn Cipperly, Tiffany Clemente, Laura Colaneri, Nicole Conrad, Chelsea Constanza, Danielle Demagistris, Stephen DeRubertis, Chelsea Donnelly, Mary Downey, Amanda Hadsell, Brenna Johnston, Rebecca Keefe, Alexandra Latham, Hayley Martin, Hope McCaffrey, Kayla Monahan, Kyle Monahan, Winslow Murdoch, Kaya Phillips, Alyssa Prout, Marrisa Urkevich, Amy Rogers, Rebecca Rothstein, Erin Shipley, Kerianne Squadrito, Jaclyn Waters, Cahill Wilson, Corinne Wilson and Elizabeth Young, THANK YOU!

Helen Findlay / Project Coordinator

The Character Education Art Project (CEAP), funded by THE LEARN AND SERVE AMERICAN GRANT 2004-2006

CEAP Mural pictures June 2006.

CEAP Photos

Japanese Prints with visiting artist Ellen Crane January 2006.

REQUEST: Thank you to those who have sent in old picture calendars and or magazines. I so appreciate your donations!!!!!