A-maize-ing

To initiate a week long celebration of autumn, we decorated the school with pumpkins of many shapes and varieties and tied several corn stalk bundles to the arbors and gates. We then began an investigation of many fall related things, including corn. The students shucked the corn, many of them had never done so, carefully removing the husks and the silks and saving them for future use in the studio.
Then, of course, we had the great reward of EATING the corn right off the cob.
Corn has many uses. The husks alone can be used for tamales, decorations and corn husk dolls. Once the corn was shucked and eaten, the green husks were carefully tied into several small dolls. The children were interested. So, I purchased several bags of dried corn husks (the kind you use for tamales) at a local mexican market, soaked them in warm water and used these to make more corn husk dolls. As I made the dolls, the children and I talked about other kids who lived here hundreds of years ago. In a time when they didn't go to a store to purchase a toy, but instead looked around at the things in their own home and yards, and used these supplies to craft their toys. All the while I carefully tied the husks into a doll body. When the doll was finished, I explained that the doll could now be dressed and decorated in any way they wanted, pointing to a variety of containers filled with interesting fabric, buttons, yarn, feathers, raffia, etc.
Over the next several days, the children made a village of dolls, each as unique and creative as the imaginations of their maker.
Here are just a few examples:The toddler classes were invited to paint their corn husk dolls and then bring them home.In closing this post, I'd like to extend a heartfelt wish. I hope that each of you escape into the crisp fall air and feast your senses on the magesty of the season with at least a smidgen of the wonder and awe that we each possessed in the heart of childhood.

The past week in the studio was spent balancing parent projects for the upcoming auction, open ended activities with the students and time spent in the classrooms. I will post photos of all the beautiful class projects soon, but until then I will be skimping on the studio blog. To tide you over, here are a few photos of the children from the week.

The extended primary (XP) class took a walk in Cherry Creek and enjoyed a delicious frozen yogurt from a local vendor.

On Friday we initiated the first of our monthly, all school, assemblies with great success. Each class shared three favorite songs before returning to their individual classrooms for dismissal.

Have a wonderful week enjoying the fall leaves spinning with color.

the first week of autumn

The leaves are swaying toward a colorful farewell. Trees are donning golden dresses and the mornings are far cooler than they were just a few weeks ago. Autumn has arrived. In the studio we have been busy exploring and experimenting with a variety of materials. This child is using liquid watercolors (I prefer them fully saturated, rather than watering them down) on 120lb cold-pressed watercolor paper.

The effects are beautiful and reminiscent of the changing colors emerging outside.The morning classes took a "Signs of Fall" walk to the park and I was invited to join them. While many of the children scurried across bridges, up ladders and down slides, some of us investigated pastels on black pastel paper. Pastel paper has more "tooth" than construction paper and is archival, thus preserving each artistic rendering over time. On thursday the toddlers enjoyed applying liquid watercolors to 6"x6" squares of watercolor paper. While the XP students added watered down color to spay bottles and experimented with the effects.

Meanwhile, puppets continue to emerge in the studio, with several new ones born daily. I introduced a book of puppets made by Paul Klee called Hand Puppets to several of the older students. They were entranced by his creations and came up with several new ideas for making puppets. I will continue to follow this interest in the weeks ahead.

The school is preparing for our annual fund raising auction and the studio is also being used to complete parent led art auction items with each class.

I hope all of you take a moment to breathe in the fresh air of a changing season and enjoy the magic of creativity within you.

toddler day in the studio

The toddlers are in the studio one day per week and this week they discovered the light table and projector with youthful awe and enthusiasm.

Occasionally, some of our older students and/or siblings will join us, modeling a different way of using a material. The toddlers love to emulate and soon they are attempting something similar. It is such a joy to be among the children while they encounter the newness of their world and such a gift to be included in their circle of trusted adults serving them.

Back in the saddle again

WELCOME BACK! School is in full swing again and the beautifully prepared environments are a hum of activity. The studio itself, didn't officially open until last week and students eagerly entered the space with a desire to explore. I decided to make a few changes. First, I am subtly introducing grace and courtesy lessons, with a tone and presence which supports what the teachers are already doing and builds on what the children learned last year. The returning students have been an enormous help in reminding the new children to put an apron on, tuck in a stool or put materials away. Second, I decided to begin the year with free exploration of the environment. I put out a variety of provocations, including: paint at the easel, water-soluble oil pastels, drawing tools, collage, mixed media supplies, light/shadow exploration and non hardening clay. I have been watching the children carefully and documenting their interests, explorations and questions.We continue to begin each day with a daily drawing. This remains a gentle transition from classroom activities toward more open studio explorations.Each child then has the opportunity to talk with me about the drawing. Occasionally they volunteer information and sometimes I offer comments about line quality, shape, composition, etc.An interesting study emerged in the first few days. The children began making puppets, one right after another, with interest and enthusiasm. I will continue to observe this interest and am already drafting a number of questions to unearth a deeper understanding of their curiosity and how best to follow it.The studio will take on a new role for a few weeks as we prepare for our annual auction. The studio will participate in creating class gifts in partnership with the parents. I look forward to another fun year with the children. Keep checking back to see how the days and months evolve.

the annual art show

Art glorious art! Oh how I love my job! Children, Art, Children, Art...throw in a little nature and I am in heaven. After weeks of labor and months of planning our "All School Celebration" art show finally arrived. It was a fabulous success. Here are a few photos to share:

The picture above is an example of some of the children's seasonal explorations

And here is a sampling of a classroom space study, complete with a collaborative robot and solar system...

In this picture you can see both our study of watercolor media and the powerful immergent project of worry dolls that evolved over several months in the studio. Each doll is accompanied by an original story from the artist.

These are a few of the self portraits and interviews we did using water soluble oil pastels. Every child in the school made one and I compiled yearbooks using their photos, portraits and interviews to sell at the show.

Here is another angle of the space display...

And here is a photo of the Autumn door we created as a mural in the style of Tony Ortega, 95% of the artistry on this door was done by children aged 3-5. How great is that!

The school spent several months learning about Egypt. Here is a sphinx that we made with the help of my dear friend, coworker and professional sculptor, Amy Laugesen.

And here is the pyramid and palm trees we made during our Egyptian immersion.

These are some of the beautiful oil pastels created by the students

and a few more surrounding one of the murals we made with Tony Ortega this year in the studio.

And here I am moments before the show. Proud of the show but my greatest reward is that if you ask any of our students if they are an artist they will say YES without hesitation or doubt. They are celebrated, inspiring, creative artists and I hope that truth will plant itself deep in their hearts and continue to grow throughout their lives.

week 23-24-25

Okay, so where are we and what are we doing in the studio? Well, in truth, the studio is closed in preparation for the all school show. I have been sorting, matting, cataloguing and organizing student work with the help of a fabulous team of parent volunteers. I have been collecting stories, interviews and documentation. In short, I have been immersed in some of the greatest art and feeling myself every bit as fortunate as I might working on similar tasks at the Met.
When I emerge from my labors and reenter the fabulous realm of creating and exploring with the children, I will post again. If you are a local or a parent, please consider coming to our annual show on May 12th from 5-7P at the school. It is shaping up to be a truly amazing experience.
(The photo above is from a past show).