Cameras in action
Potter Liz Proffetty recently borrowed the digital cameras from the Maine Department of Education to teach a really interesting technique to the Pre-K -6 students at Southport Central School.
The school was asked to participate in an installation in the Children’s Garden at the Boothbay Botanical Gardens. The theme was “Trees, Timber and Traditions.” Though each grade (pre K-6) used the theme of a clay leaf shaped tile, each grade approached the theme slightly differently. The pre-school class used stamps and pressed objects from nature into their clay leaves to create texture. Grades 1-3 drew and painted various landscapes onto their clay tile. Grades 4-6 first created the clay leaf, painted and glazed them and then used photos that they took at the Boothbay Botanical Gardens during a field trip. The photos were transferred to the clay tile using a relatively new technology that allows the ink from the laser printer to bond with the glaze on the clay leaf.
The students enjoyed using and combining modern technology of digital photography, editing and laser printing and the ancient medium of clay to create a collaborative public art piece. The work will be on view at the Botanical Gardens in the Drawing Cottage throughout the summer.
If you are interested in borrowing the digital cameras to use with students please contact me argy.nestor@maine.gov.
me arts ed 