Walk and Rain
30 05 2008
The rain stayed away for the walking portion of Murray’s annual Walk-A-Thon, but not so much for the Fun Fair. Even though it was held in the gym, I do not think the festive mood was lost on the children. The Walk-A-Thon is a fundraiser for Chicago Public Schools and University of Chicago Internet Project (CUIP). CUIP helps our school immensely by giving technical support for our computers and network, working with teachers on technology-related projects, and providing teachers with technology-related professional development. They are invaluable resource to the school and the PTO has done a great service to this school by making the Walk-A-Thon about raising funds to purchase the services of CUIP. Thanks again!
Now…on to fine arts. The 3rd graders are still in the process of finishing up their still-life prints. We plan to have these ready to sell at the St. Thomas Art Fair next Saturday, June 7th.
Both 4th grade classes took trips to the Art Institute this week. The students have been learning about portraits and light and shadow in fine arts and with Ms. Holzhauer during their library class. The trip was a culminating activity to talk about what they learned in front of actual art. We looked at artwork from Edward Hopper, Thomas Eakins, and Henry Ossawa Tanner. When we looked at portraits, we asked the students to try to decipher the personality of the person in the portrait just by looking at them. We talked about the difference between a portrait and a “picture with people in it”. Finally, we looked at how artists use light and shadow to emphasize or deemphasize parts of a painting.
The 5th graders are continuing to work on their canvases to sell at the St. Thomas Art Fair next Saturday, June 7th. We have also begun to make signs to put up around our booth.
The 6th graders are finished with their graffiti pieces. Some students still want to use the airbrush, so we will do that next week. They will be bringing these home and their monochromatic portraits very soon. To finish up the year, we are going to watch a documentary titled “My Kid Could Paint That” about a 4-year-old abstract artist whose paintings start selling for thousands of dollars. Eventually, though, their is speculation that her father is helping her out. I have asked the kids to think about two questions, “Is abstract art art?” and “Do you think the girl did the paintings by herself?”
Until next week…the last full week…
