In memory...

The next project the students will begin is the much anticipated LETTER sculpture. The students have waited all semester for this project and have been eyeing my letter sculptures on the bookshelf. The students will be creating papier mache letters based on either a single letter or pair of initials. The letter has to be honoring someone (themselves, a family member, friend, someone who has passed) and should be designed to reflect the personality and interests of that person. They take into consideration font, color, and decoration in order to create a personalized letter. Here is one example below. I will post images of our progress.

40 min project

Here is an idea quick & simple project that can be completed in about 40-60 minutes: students create artworks in which they incorporate their name or initials into a camouflaged background. In this instance, I had students make the names into relief artworks and it served as a good blend between what they just completed (relief artworks) and what their next project is (sculpture based on a name). Here is just one example:

Complete reliefs

A few finished reliefs. Enjoy!

Inspiration

Speaking of other hats, another group I am a part of is the Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop. Free Minds is an incredible organization that I learned about through my work at the Incarcerated Youth Program. Free Minds builds literacy with incarcerated youth in the DC Jail by involving the youth in reading for pleasure, meeting reknowned writers, and producing creative writing. Free Minds is one of the most amazing groups out there working with our youth. Here is an image of one of the Free Minds members reciting some spoken word for a fundraiser @ Local 16.

Recently, Free Minds used my artwork as a point of inspiration for their poets. They posted my the poem on their writing blog here. One in particular stuck me, so I thought I would share it below:

Title: I had the Choice

Bound, tied down, held against my will.

Trapped by my own words,

Bound by my own actions,

Tied for my own choice,

But I had the choice so was it against my will?

Was I forced here?

No.

I freely tie my own hands,

I freely gave another person the privilege to judge me,

So am I really trapped or freed when my choices changed.

My many other hats

In addition, to teaching I am involved in several other artistic groups that keep me active in the DC arts community. One group I rejoined this year is the American Association of Museum's Emerging Museums Professionals. This year I am not only part of the group but helping to plan events with the lovely ladies on the leadership committee. We recently had a happy hour at Science Club and in December we are partnering with the National Museum of Women in the Arts for a play. In January we are touring the fabulous ARTLAB+ at the Hirshhorn. It has been wonderful to actively partcipate in the museum community while continuing to teach. Not to mention it is great for building connections and finding resources! Here is a photo from our recent happy hour. Can you find me?

Day 2

My students have begun constructing their relief sculptures out of cut cardboard. Here are two examples- you might recognize the one on the right from the sketch in the previous post. These two sculptures represent "talking on the phone" and "rise above." Can you guess which is which?

What a relief!

To begin their Stella inspired relief artworks, my students first had to create sketches and drafts on paper of their abstracted action. I was impressed by how serious and focused they were, taking the entire period to develop a good sketch. Above are a few highlights.

Learn to see art

BFAT (Ballou Fine Arts Team) has started painting our first mural. Before we can create the mural, students need to block out the brick background behind the 'learn to see art' mural. Here we are at work!

Stella Action Reliefs

Second quarter started this week and we have transitioned from making 2d artworks like drawing, parinting, and collage to 3d art. Our first project this quarter is a relief artwork made out of painted cardboard, foam core, and other found materials and created based on an action.

The students began this week by learning how artists take real life subjects to inspire abstract artworks. As an example we looked at the work of Frank Stella. While researching Stella I found this great series of looking questions courtesy of the National Gallery:

http://www.nga.gov/kids/stella/stella1.htm

(Yes it is for kids but they are great questions for people of all ages!)

Students created sketches all week for their artworks and I had some amazing conversations. We had everything from football actions like "tackle" and "touchdown" to more personal actions like "rise above" and "shatter." Stay tuned, pictures are coming!