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Editor's note
Arts & Activities, Jan, 2005 by Maryellen Bridge
Come along as we take flight with fantastic classroom-tested ways to excite students about art history and appreciation. There are different ideas to achieve this goal, and we have assembled lesson plans from around the country that have been proven to work.
"Generational Teaching: Turning Art Students into Lifelong Learners" (page 24) outlines how a teacher in Farmington, N.H., worked to make art a part of children's lives, not just their week. Through such activities as an "Art Museum Show," "Artistic Scarecrows" and "Interactive Displays," children and their parents, together, experience and appreciate art in powerful ways.
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In "Kudos to Kandinsky" (page 26), a study of work by Expressionist artist Wassily Kandinsky helped children in Lathan, N.Y., to break away from realistic-inspired work and provided an opportunity for them to their own successful "improvisational" expressionist works of art.
Incorporating ordinary clothespins into a surrealistic artwork is the challenge for Illinois high-schoolers in "Pinned to Surrealism" (page 28). Some intriguing work results after a study of Surrealism, a review of perspective concepts, color theory and color mixing, as well as a discussion of the use symbolism in art and writing.
"'Fans' of Art History" (page 30) describes an art-history unit developed by a clever teacher in Kansas City, Mo. Using the traditional technique of reproducing masterworks--but with a twist. Instead of the usual paper or canvas surface, these kids would be painting on blank paper fans! Miniature reproductions of paintings by such artists as Chagall. Matisse, Renoir and van Gogh were studied and analyzed before students then did their best to match the colors and painting techniques of the masterworks.
There are other fine lesson plans and articles found in this issue, some involving the art of other cultures ("Masai Magic" on page 42, "Talking Sticks" on page 44, and "Pictographic Pouches" on page 46). One thing all of these have in common: the goal of turning students into appreciators of art.
Of course, each issue of Arts & Activities has this goal in mind. For a complete listing of the articles that have been published since the September 2004 issue to this present issues, refer to the Volume Index, starting ON page 16. We publish an index in each January and June issue, to assist you in finding art projects and articles on the specific subjects in which you are interested. A great way to keep these indexes in order is to photocopy them and keep them in a threering binder for quick and easy reference.
Another great reference featured in this issue is our 2005 Buyer's Guide (page 48). In it you will find hundreds of companies whose goal is to help you create the best art program possible. Whether it is art reproductions, DVDs, clay, pastels or paints--they are all available through the fine companies listed in our Buyer's Guide.
So spread your wings and take flight. The goal is so close ... it's just ahead as you turn the pages in this issue and utilize the references and classroom-tested ideas presented this month.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
