Technology infused into a favorite painting
Artist Petros Vrellis utilized technology to create Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting into a “light and sound show”. The swirling circular lines and shapes begin to dance across the screen. It has always been a favorite painting of mine, perhaps because in grade 3 my sons both created their rendition in art class and I have them framed in my home. If you’d like to watch please click here.
Nova at 9:00 on January 25, today!
This sounds and looks like an interesting NOVA episode that you might want to view. The program description below was taken from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/mystery-masterpiece.html If you go to the link you can watch a preview of the NOVA episode. Your students might be interested in this as well.
In October 2007, a striking portrait of a young woman in Renaissance dress made world news headlines. Originally sold nine years before for around $20,000, the portrait is now thought to be an undiscovered masterwork by Leonardo da Vinci worth more than $100 million. How did cutting-edge imaging analysis help tie the portrait to Leonardo? NOVA meets a new breed of experts who are approaching “cold case” art mysteries as if they were crime scenes, determined to discover “who committed the art.” And it follows art sleuths as they deploy new techniques to combat the multibillion-dollar criminal market in stolen and fraudulent art.
Thank you Wiscasset Middle School Art Teacher, Molly Carlson for sending me this information to share with you.
Puppet as metaphor
Many of you are familiar with Figures of Speech, the puppeteers from Freeport. This is a brief explanation from their website to give you an idea of how much more they are then “just puppets”.
Figures of Speech Theatre incubates the creative energies of its artist members, catalyzes the creation of theater rooted in the expressive power of the puppet as a distillation of life forces, and challenges audiences to venture into realms that are mythic, larger-than-life, animated explorations of the numinous boundary world between being and becoming.
If you’ve had the chance to see them performing I am sure you’ll agree with me that they are fantastic. John and Carol Farrell started Figures of Speech, I think, 32 years ago. In September they contributed at the TEDxDirigo that was held in Maine and recently I was sent the link to their presentation that was about the”puppet as metaphor”.
Take a look at their presentation by clicking here and let us know what you think by posting a comment below.
Several years ago after returning from three weeks in Japan through the Fulbright Memorial Fund program Carol Farrell spent a week with my students creating puppets which we linked to a social studies/Language Arts unit on Immigration. It was a wonderful opportunity for my students to expand their thinking and for me as well.
A few good stories
I have been cleaning out as I start 2012 and found over 20 drafts for blog posts. Each of the segments below could be full blog posts however, in the nature of “cleaning up” I have compiled them into a “this and that” post because I didn’t want to leave any out. Enjoy! There may be another post similar to this one since there are still 14 drafts!
This is a story about a woman named Vy Higginsen who brings young people together each weekend in Harlem to study gospel music. Her original intent was to save the music however it has turned into a much greater project. She has auditions each fall for 13-19 year olds to select the participants. Vy says: “Learning the music of gospel as an artform.” And a comment from a viewer: “In Gospel for Teens, we see in the faces of the youth how lives are transformed when they are granted a vehicle of expression.” I suggest you take a look at these when you have a few minutes to view them them from beginning to end.
View Part 1 by clicking here.
View Part 2 by clicking here.
Thank you to Pete Mickelson for sharing this information.
A teacher describes her teaching experience with experiential learning. Students using their own voice to explore their learning. She has taught in several schools in different states and presently in a school in PA with one 2 one laptops.
Thank you to Pete Mickelson for sharing this information.
Article from the Art of Science Learning written by Martin Storksdieck that you can read by clicking here.
Thank you to Pete Mickelson for sharing this information.
The International Child Art Foundation has served as the leading art and creativity organization for American children and their international counterparts since 1997. ICAF organized the Arts Olympiad, hosts the World Children’s Festival, and publishes the ChildArt magazine for the development of students’ creativity and empathy. The link below will take you to the Children’s World Festival celebrating peace and diversity. Please click here to learn more. And one of Maine’s students artwork will be included in the event. Read about it by clicking here.
For Art and Neuroscience check out this article about an exhibit at the Franklin Institute on Automaton. Please click here.
Providing opportunities for artists to pursue their learning and creating the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation website gives you an overview and information. Please click here.
Thank you to Nancy Salmon for sharing this link.
When well-coached and inspired, kids are miraculous performers . . . and, they all deserve the opportunity to feel the nervousness and thrill of performing . . . shining as brightly as the spot-light they stand in.
Suzanne Farrell (George Balanchine’s muse) is quoted as saying, “The only place to learn is ‘out there,’ on the edge, when the beginning and end of your career hinges on that one performance, that one moment.”
Even though kids aren’t looking for a performing career, there is something about “being on stage” that demands their total commitment to every word they speak, every gesture they make, and every stage-direction they follow. They also experience the dynamic interplay between themselves, the other performers and the audience. In fact, I think the stage teaches one of life’s biggest lessons . . . the universal appeal of one’s vitality, awareness, presence and spontaneity.
Karen gives her permission to quote her with the above statement on the theatre.
The article written by Eric Fox for the December 13th issue is called “Every Student Is At Risk. I found it has ‘food for thought’ and recommend it. Please click here.
I am not sure when I stumbled upon this site but it has some good information that you might want to check out. Please click here.
Mrs. Girbino is an art teacher for grade 3, 4, and 5 at Leighton Elementary School. She has a blog with many wonderful ideas and examples of her students’ art work. You can check it out by clicking here.
“My grandfather taught me a valuable lesson, that there are a lot of boring people out there, the more unusual the people you hang out with, the more fun you’re going to have.”
A Capital Celebration – Augusta
Cony High School students perform
I had the pleasure of attending the music performances last week presented by students from the Augusta schools in grades 3-12. The civic center was packed; the family members and others sat on one side of the civic center, student performers on the other. It was a delightful evening with Master of Ceromony Mayor William Stokes.
Conducted by Ms. Hilary Anderson, the Cony High School jazz ensemble and the Cony High School concert band. Middle School Chorus by Mrs. Susan Pattershall. Mr. Dwight Tibbetts directed the middle school. Hundreds of students in grades 3-6 were directed by Mrs. Sharon Beaver, Mrs. Marianne Tibbetts, and accompanied by Mrs. Bernice Stanley. The Cony High sSchool Madrigals and the Cony High School combined choirs were directed by Mrs. Teresa Beaudoin.
It was a terrific program and I was delightful to go and get into the Christmas spirit! The evening concluded with a medley of songs that had me seeing all they way.
Grades 3-6 singing Music in the Tropics
Paul LeBrun – Digital Art Teacher
The following is the beginning of the explanation taken from http://gridjumper.net/2011/11/29/high-school-students-create-and-display-art-virtually/. If you want to read the rest of the description and learn more about the work Skowhegan High School students are creating please go to the link.
A Guggenheim inspired structure used to display student art work on the Maine Sim in Reaction Grid.
The Digital Art Students at Skowhegan High School in Maine display art work from the ‘real’ world in virtual museums and galleries. Approximately 50 students enrolled in Paul Skowhegan’s (all avatars use the last name of their school) art classes are using some of the latest techniques and software to create works of art that can, theoretically, be shared worldwide.
Students get directions for a specific project, incorporating the standards-based requirements and artistic techniques along with instruction in using the software and hardware. The results are 3D structures that reflect a unique aesthetic filled with artwork that each individual student selects.
As a visitor to the sim on Reaction Grid, my tour consisted of several student-constructed galleries, the Surreal Gardens, and a build that is being constructed in collaboration with an English teacher whose class is studying The Great Gatsby.
Thanks to Frank Chin for sending me this information.
Calling all student artists:
Overview
Over the last three years, the MLTI laptop screen saver image featured forty outstanding student works of art (twenty each year) with over 800 pieces of artwork submitted.
This opportunity once again is available for the 2012-2013 Screen Saver Image. Works of art submitted will be on display in a Studywiz Gallery where students and teachers may vote for and critique the artworks. The two works receiving the most votes (stars) will automatically be entered into the group of 20 finalists. A group of independent judges will score the remaining pieces of artwork. The 18 artworks receiving top scores from the judges, will be submitted to the finalists group as well.
Fashionista, Brandi Jo Shaffer, Gr. 12, Lee Academy
Most schools have active Studywiz accounts for staff and students. Please check with your MLTI Tech Lead for more information. If you do not have a Studywiz account you will be issued an account to post the work. Your Tech Lead can create accounts – please keep in mind it takes 24 hours for a Studywiz account to become active so don’t wait!!
This contest is open to Maine students in grades K-12. MLTI asks that students submit only ONE piece of artwork to be considered for the 2012-2013 screensaver. Please take careful note of the sizing and labeling requirements. Submissions not meeting these requirements or students submitting multiple works will not be included in the judging.
Strings, Patrick Ouellette, Gr. 8, Winthrop MS
The students whose artwork is selected will be recognized at the MLTI Student Conference to be held May 24, 2012 at the University of Maine, Orono. The 20 artists will be receiving free conference registration and will have their artwork projected on the big screen at various times during the event.
Timeline
Submitted artworks may be:
Submissions must be:
When submitting:
Artwork that is not properly labeled, sized or submitted on time, will NOT be judged. Students who submit more than piece of artwork will be not be included in the judging.
To view the photographs and have your students view the photographs you need to have a Studywiz account. If you do not have an account please contact Juanita Dickson at juanita.dickson@maine.gov to get account informationNot familiar with Studywiz?
View the MLTI Minute – Episode #122 – How to Join A Global Group in Studywiz. You want to search for the 207 Screen Saver Group in Studywiz.
Once in the Studywiz 207 Screen Saver Group, you’ll find a video that gives step by step directions including:
Blue Eyes, Veronica Jones, Gr. 9, Maranacook HS
2011-2012 Selected Screensaver Images
2010-11 Selected Screensaver Images
Please note: The Maine Department of Education reserves the right to make the final decision.
WatchMEUse the arts – It’s time!
“Creativity is not fluff, it’s foundational.” It is time to accept creativity as a required tool for improvement across Maine. The research is clear – creative people are good at helping to solve complex problems. And we could always use a few more Mainers who are skilled at solving complex problems.
Maine’s grade 7-12 students get much of their formal support in developing their creative skills in Arts classrooms, working with Arts teachers in studio art, choral and instrumental music, dance, theater and other areas. This is where opportunities exist to be purposefully creative, to not simply talk about “outside the box” thinking and action, but to practice it.
We want to know what Maine students, grades 7-12, are doing with those creative capabilities after they leave those Arts classrooms.
in this Challenge students are being asked to submit a three minute video that shows how their work in the Arts is helping them become an effectively creative person, and how that creativity is helping, or could help, them improve their school or their community.
So here it is: “WatchMEUseTheArts – Show us how the arts have moved, or could move, beyond the music room, beyond the art room, beyond the theater, beyond the darkroom, beyond the expected spaces to help students like you make their school or their community a better place for all.”
Submissions are due December 15h.
If you click here you can get the details and not hesitate to involve your students!
Debating media arts
Rich Wells and Marcia McCaffrey
My colleague from NH, Marcia McCaffrey, is co-chairing the National Core Arts Standards work and today she did a marvelous job facilitating the conversation. With representatives from NAEA, NAfME, the dance, theater, and college board, along with my colleagues from 28 states a great deal was accomplished. Marcia was a master at keeping the day moving and it was a fascinating day. (Talk about trusting the process!)
Part of the morning was spent in debate about whether we should have “media arts” as a separate discipline or have media arts standards incorporated in the other 4 arts disciplines. Thanks to all of you who contributed your opinion on the topic.
Here’s a bit of the conversation which you can also follow, listen to on what was streamed from the all-day meeting today.You can access the archived stream at http://nccas.wikispaces.com/NCCAS+Phoenix+Meeting+11-1-2011. The presentations for the debate were well researched and in the end the state arts specialists had two votes. One for the state and the other for us personally. 32 voites were in favorite of a 5th and separate discipline along with standards for media arts embedded in the other four disciplines.
Jane’s opening statement
We w0uld have to deal with the following:
Amy’s opening statement
Need to look at two components:
time based media – movies, animation, theater, etc.
interactivity – video games, computational arts, etc.
Mike’s opening statement
One important point: We can not have a media arts program in place and have them be in service to the other four disciplines – cross disciplinary works better for teachers!
So, there you have it in a nutshell from what I recorded. What’s next? The leadership team who is the governing group of the work, will make the final decision. I will keep you posted.
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