Arts Update - Review

Arts & Activities, Oct, 2000

PERMISSION GRANTED TO PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD

Teams of students (grades K-6), teachers and parents are invited to pull out their mixing bowls and build sculptures using the Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats[R] Recipe. This is the third year for the contest, which "provides a hands-on opportunity for fun in education," according to company spokesmen. The contest incorporates a variety of skills such as measuring, designing and food science. Those interested in participating may receive a complete contest entry kit by calling (800)962-0065 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST, or by downloading the the entry forms at www.eetandern.com. Only one entry will be considered per school and must be postmarked by Oct. 31, 2000.

IT'S A WONDERFUL, COLORFUL WORLD

Sakura of America is again holding its "Cray-Pas[R] Wonderful, Colorful World Contest" for the year 2001. Started six years ago to foster art education, participation in the program has steadily increased. Current contest deadline is December 15, 2000. Full details are available on Sakura of America's Web site: www.gellyroll.com, where you can also view last year's winners. You may also call (888) 418-0327, ext. 177 to order posters and entry forms.

DON'T MISS THE NAEA CONVENTION IN NYC

It may seem a long way off, but now is the time to decide whether you will attend the 2001 Convention of the National Art Education Association. The dates are March 14-18, the place is the New York Hilton and Towers, and the theme is "Remembering the Past, Anticipating the Future." Keynote speakers include Christo and Jean-Claude, and Robert McCall. For registration information, contact NAEA, 1916 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191, www.naea-reston.org.

ART WORKSHOPS IN ARIZONA

The Scottsdale Artists' School (SAS) announces its 2000-2001 schedule of over 90 workshops in all media. Offered October through May, all classes are taught by nationally known professional artists. The three- and five-day workshops are limited in size, so early registration is encouraged. For more information, call (800)333-5707 or (480)990-1422, or visit online: www.scottsdaleartschool.org.

ODYSSEY OF ROCKWELL KENT

Through October 29, you have the opportunity to view some marvelous artwork in the exhibition, Distant Shores: The Odyssey of Rockwell Kent. Featured in last month's issue of Arts & Activities (page 28), Kent (1882-1971) was most admired in his lifetime as a painter of dramatic landscapes of remote places. Distant Shores is the first major, museum exhibition devoted to a central, dramatic aspect of the art and life of Rockwell Kent: his repeated sojourns in remote wilderness areas. More than 90 paintings, prints and drawings, selected from private and public collections worldwide are featured. The Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Call (413) 298-4100 for more information or visit www.nrm.org.

STUDENTS' ART PROGRAM AIMED AT WORLD PEACE

After only a year in operation, Students' Art for Peace has thousands of school kids around the globe exchanging peace-oriented artwork as tokens of international brotherhood. Teachers in schools from every corner of the world have adopted the program to put new purpose in their students' artwork. Youngsters in countries as diverse as China, Latvia, Iran, Brazil and South Africa are exchanging their visual ideas about peace with students in every part of the United States, from California to Maryland.

Teachers at any level from third grade to college are invited to participate. The Students' Art for Peace staff takes responsibility for getting student artwork into the hands of children of similar age. When possible, the students themselves decide which country they want their "Peace Pictures" sent to. An annual contest (this year's deadline is Dec. 1, 2000) is held to select the student artwork that best carries a message of world peace. Winning schools, teachers and students receive international recognition. Full details and sample student artwork are found on the Web site: www.art-for-peace.org. The site includes a "Teacher's Guide" with imaginative ways to stimulate student interest in the program.

DREAMS, DESIGN & DIMENSION

Teachers and students can explore new dimensions together with the Crayola[R] Dream-Makers[R] "Dreams, Design & Dimension" guide. The new guide provides lesson plan ideas and art activities that encourage creativity and allow students to investigate design concepts in an interdisciplinary adventure. This year's theme focuses on the unique relationship between visual art, design and math.

The guide features hands-on activities that emphasize the use of design principles to communicate ideas and expose the hidden proportions, shapes and symmetries in our environment. The lesson ideas and activities in the "Dreams, Design & Dimension" guide give children the opportunity to apply art to their daily experiences and to gain a more complete understanding of their surroundings.

The "Dreams, Design & Dimension" guide marks the first time in the history of the Crayola Dream-Makers program that the entire guide can be accessed free of charge online. By providing this edition of the the guide on the Crayola Internet site (www.crayola.com), the company hopes to reach an even broader audience. Interested educators can order the guide by sending $5 for each guide to: Crayola Dream-Makers, P.O. Box 21187, Lehigh Valley PA 18002.