Sketchbook Assignments

The last 5 sketchbook assignments are due 12/14/12.  Make sure they are completed!!!

Here is the link to the assignments in case that you lost them.

http://becsart.blogspot.com/p/sketchbook-assignments.html

Fused Glass

3rd and 4th period have been working on fused glass in art.  There have been some very successful pieces created.

Star Destroyer Work In Progress

A work in progress from Kyle of a Star Destroyer.  I can't wait to see the final product.

Minecraft in Art?

     With the shift towards a TAB classroom (see Changes in the art room) several students have taken their art making to the computer.  I have allowed some of the students to use Minecraft as a way to express their creativity and sculptural skills in a student friendly and less intimidating environment.  These students will be using the creative mode to help develop their architectural/problem solving skills in an engaging media.  “Minecraft allows the students to explore, collect resources, and then build anything they can imagine.  Players can also play together in the same world and collaborate on larger projects.  Think of it at 21st century online Legos that you can play with your friends.”

     Currently students are familiarizing themselves with the program.  Eventually we will be working on a Post-apocalyptic project.  Students will be working across art classes to rebuild a world that has been destroyed by a major world event.  Students that choose to participate in this project will develop journals to document their involvement in rebuilding the world.  Students will also develop architectural/city planning, aesthetic design, team building, and communication skills. 

While working in Minecraft students are addressing several of the Colorado Visual Arts Standards.

Standards Addressed:

1.      Observe and Learn to Comprehend

•      1.1    The characteristics and expressive features of art and design are used in unique ways to respond to two- and three-dimensional art
•      1.3   Specific art vocabulary is used to describe, analyze, and interpret works of art

2.            Envision and Critique to Reflect

• 2.2.   Key concepts, issues, and themes connect the visual arts to other disciplines such as the humanities, sciences, mathematics, social studies and technology

3.            Invent and Discover to Create

• 3.1.         Plan the creation of a work of art
• 3.2.         Explore various media, materials, and techniques used to create works of art
• 3.3.         Utilize current, available technology to refine ideas in works of art

4.            Relate and connect to Transfer

• 4.1.         Critical thinking in the arts transfers to multiple lifelong endeavors
• 4.2.         Visual arts impact community, cultural traditions, and events

Examples of student work so far:

Work of Minecraft art from around the web:

Related Links:

http://minecraftinschool.com/

http://minecraftedu.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

http://liamodonnell.com/feedingchange/2011/05/messy-learning-with-minecraft/

Changes in the art room!

    The art room is in a transition from a very teacher directed class to a student directed environment. Most “traditional” art rooms are teacher led. Every student is given the same project and expected to produce fairly cookie cutter projects. This style presents the students with a problem and requires the students to solve them in similar ways. While projects are created to grab the interest of as many students as possible it is impossible for every student to connect to the project on a deep level. After completion and grading of these types of projects students may immediately throw away their project.

     In a student directed classroom, called a TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) classroom, students are given the opportunity to find and create their own problems. Students are treated as young artists and are expected to create work that is interesting to them. This style of teaching allows students to find an area of interest and become a master in that area. A TAB classroom is broken down into several different studios. Some students in the room may be working with paint while others may be working in clay. This change transforms the art room into buzzing hive of artistic creativity where they can use art as for expression. Students have been given art survival guide to help them transition through teacher led to student led art making.

      Studios currently offered in the middle school art room:

• Drawing Painting 
• Clay Fiber 
• Arts 
• Computer Graphics 
•  Sculpture 

      As we grow through this process students will become more involved in their learning experience. Students will be able to clearly state their own learning objectives and connect their art and art making process to the Colorado art standards. I am excited to watch these young students grow as artists!

Packing Tape Sculptures Finished Part 1

Parts, Parts, and More Parts!

We are three days into our packaging tape people project and have used over three miles of tape.  I will still be accepting tape donations.  The work produced so far makes me excited to see the final products.