Art Update

Ridgeline Montessori
Public Charter School

Public Charter School District 4J

2855 Lincoln St., Eugene, OR 97405

(541) 681-9662 fax: (541) 681-4394

ART Update

Upper El and Kindergarten Art December 2, 2008........By Helen Liu

After our experiment with working with smaller (1/3) groups last month while studying tertiary colors and complementary colors, we are now back working in the classroom with whole groups. The potential for messes when mixing color forced us to work in the hallway and with only 9 children at a time. Feedback from students revealed that most did not like the smaller group, 30-minute format. Students liked having longer time to work and they did not like missing out on art every week since 1/3 groups meant that not everyone got to do art every week. We will try to find ways to keep messes down and work with whole groups as much as we can.

After the brief intro to color theory, students worked on a project I called “Not Your Grandmother’s Quilt.” Students were introduced to the quilts of the African American women of Gee’s Bend in Louisiana. Principles of symmetry vs asymmetry was introduced, as was the idea of contrast and element of surprise in making a design. Students were given magazines to cut of to make a design. As a follow-up to this project, we looked at the art of American artist Romare Bearden whose amazing collage work provided inspiration for many interesting collage by students.

This week, another medium was introduced. Students began working with color pastels. We hope to build on the drawing skills learned from using charcoal earlier in the year and expand it to using color.

Kindergarteners have been productive and enthusiastic artists! We have been experimenting with various art materials. So far, students have been introduced to color mixing with watercolor and tempera paints; charcoal and pastel drawing techniques; and principles of symmetry. The symmetry work resulted in many amazing masks with paper cutting. For inspiration, we looked to the work of Henri Matisse. The follow-up work on portraits was simply amazing! I hope parents have been successful in getting the charcoal and color pastel out of the sleeves and elbows of these enthusiastic artists!

In case you missed the news on Ridgeline eNews, four students’ portrait work were selected by the University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Art Museum. There is a reception for the artists on Dec. 7th from 2-4pm. Congratulation to Chaya, Alex (from Bonnie’s class and Emily and Lily from Kindergarten.)

Look for reproductions of student work on the Art page on the Ridgeline website.

ART PROJECTS

Questions? Call (681-9662)

RIDGELINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Saturday, 12/13 Parent's Day Out 11am-2pm (sign up in the office)
Monday, 12/15 Budget Committee Meeting (parents welcome) 2-3pm
Monday, 12/15 Site Council Meeting 6-7:30pm
Monday, 12/15 Please bring food and toiletries for Joy of Sharing
Tuesday, 12/16 Please bring homemade pictures for residents of Cascade Manor for Joy of Sharing
Tuesday, 12/16 Janell's Class to the Grassroots Garden
Wednesday, 12/17 Please bring coins and money for the March of Dimes for Joy of Sharing,
Thursday, 12/18 Please bring a holiday letter written to a patient of Sacred Heart for Joy of Sharing
Thursday, 12/18 Lost & Found
Friday, 12/19 Choice Day—repeat any of the events of the past four days
Friday, 12/19 Bonnie's Class Sidewalk Sale 8:00-8:20 and 1:00-1:45pm
Saturday, 12/20 Winter break begins - Enjoy your vacation!
Tuesday, 1/6 Classes Resume - doors open at 8:15am