First Glimpses: Finished Leaves

Leaves still in the kiln, freshly fired! Thank you, Janine Sopp, for lending your kiln expertise. Installation coming SOOOON.

Portraits of K

Picasso famously said, "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child." I sometimes wonder how Picasso would explain what he meant by these remarks. I imagine it had something to do with the unselfconscious truths drawings like these kindergarten self portraits reveal.  In all their variety- 

wild, self-contained, minimal, expansive, chaotic, dense, elegant and simple-we see a glimpse of how these children are so much the same and also so very,very different from one another. 

Thank you, Janine Sopp, for sending these.  Thank you, Kori, for providing this opportunity for our children. 

What creative expressions are your kids engaging with in the classroom? Please tell us about it! Contact me at bnsartsalive@gmail.com 

Third Grade Africa Museum: 2013

At the Third Grade Africa Museum last spring there was so much to see: poems, books, collages dioramas, murals, diagrams, paper mache, clay, watercolors and more. Through these diverse media third graders explored Africa as a habitat and ecosystem. Animals and plants filled the hallways in a dense tapestry reminiscent of the rainforest itself. Here is a glimpse of the treasures:

 

 

 

                 

If you are interested in blogging about YOUR child's classroom please contact me at bnsartsalive@gmail.com. 

LEAF-o-rama@ECORAMA 2013

Clay leeeeaves! 250 clay leaves were made by BNS students during Ecorama last spring- each one a celebration of their makers' individuality. Eventually they will be an installation celebrating the life force of our community. 

This project was devised by parents Janine Sopp and Josh Sarantitis in collaboration with the Arts Committee and made possible by the PTA who provided a microgrant to bring clay to Ecorama. Here are some "Leaf-o-rama" highlights:

Josh showing the kids one of the cutters they could bend and use to cut a leaf shape.

Parent volunteer Mia Barker working with students to help them  cut their leaves with as little wasted clay as possible.

Students are texturizing the clay.

Students added color (underglazes) and the leaves were carefully arranged on trays for drying.

Images of the fired leaves to follow!

Thank you to all volunteers who made this great project possible: Gilly, Kelsey Ann-Marie, Lyn, Melissa, Elise, Nurit, Mike, Mia. Who am I missing?? You were all wonderful. 

Thank you to Shelley, Johanna and Barbara for helping us organize and for sharing their space. 

Prektiss, Prektiss, PREKTISS! Third Grade Trip to Carnegie Hall!

We know very little about what is actually happening in these photos except what we see: Our third grade kiddos jamming with a live orchestra at Carnegie Hall! Can it get more awesome than this? 

Thank you, Jonathan for making this trip a possibility!
Were you there? Please tell a story! Add a comment below.

The Roving Parent: Nature and Books Inspire

The first grade learned about and visited Prospect Park as part of

the 1st grade green space study. The kids from Jenny's class made oil pastel landscapes:

Here's another from Jenny's 1st grade class: They combined their study of Eric Carle with a study of squirrels. They each painted their own watercolors and then cut out their own squirrel patterns.  This is how they came out! 

Thanks, Ann Marie Matava, for these great pics!

Do you have favorite author/illustrator who inspires you to create? Tell us! 

Arts Commitee @ Ecorama

Parents and clay artists Janine Sopp and Josh Sarantitis will be working with various students this Friday at Ecorama to make clay leaves. Arts Committee is working hard to eventually install the leaves in the school as a celebration of our community. Here is a brief sketch of the artists' vision:

Drawing by Josh Sarantitis

Please stop by Ecorama on Friday to see this wonderful project in the making. Feel free to leave a comment or a question too and don't forget to start following this blog!