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Experiential Art and Creative Expression
There are so many things competing for time in our students' young lives. At seemingly earlier and earlier ages there is increased rigor in school, structured time at sports and other extracurricular activities and greatly increased time on screens. At New Morning, we believe it’s time to re-introduce the world of ART as a way to balance, rejuvenate and inspire our kids' hearts and souls.
This year in art, the program that Ms. Andrea, our art teacher, is calling Everyday Art - Every Day! is focused on exposing kids to art in an organic and integrative way while simultaneously encouraging the everyday practice of making art. Humans are inherently creative and art is woven into all the ways in which we move through our lives. We can learn to recognize the art in the everyday and we can then learn to create that art as well.
IMAGINE
Learn about a new project or process, brainstorm ideas, ask questions, develop new skills that will meet the project’s requirements.
DEVELOP
Plan, research, list, experiment, find resources, sketch, collaborate with Ms. Andrea.
CREATE
Produce the first version of your project.
DISCERN
Reflect, analyze, seek feedback from peers and Ms. Andrea, revise, improve.
MASTER
Revise, discuss, present your total journey through the process.
Every Day Art
The first part of our program this year, Everyday Art will be captured through in class learning about art influenced or demonstrated by these ideas. Art in building and construction (tile making), art in advertising (printmaking and signage), art in our relationships (connecting with other classrooms' students through an artists trading card program), art in storytelling (illustration), culinary art (cake decorating and garnishes) and art in celebrations (holidays, recognition, civic pride). Our in-school projects will be centered around these every day human experiences and how art is impactful and necessary.
Art Every Day
The second part of the program, the - Every Day! part, is a means to give students the ability to take this learning beyond the classroom into their everyday lives through an art journaling program. Loosely guided but unstructured time to be creative is essential to artists young and old. While we use our limited time in class to teach concept, skill and project completion, it’s the creative time that an artist spends alone dreaming and playing that creates a passion and satisfaction that can last a lifetime.
To many students the idea of an art journal will be entirely novel, as will the concept of record keeping through pictures rather than words or even more poignantly on a digital device. But there are things that are captured and an emotional attachment that forms when we use our art as a tool of personal reflection, recording the everyday things in our lives whether they are ideas, objects, observations or events. The journaling and take along art materials will allow this part of the program to make a difference in the lives of our kids well beyond their time in the classroom.