Summer!

Here's a fun project we did today in summer school. I read a poem from Shel Silverstein about tree houses. Next, we looked at some real tree houses on the ipad. We discussed texture, line and pattern and students went to work creating their dream tree house!
There was fun chatter in the room while they were busy drawing!

Wow! Time Flies!

May flew by and I didn't post a thing!
We were busy working on our clay unit and unfortunately it went undocumented. You will have to take my word for it that amazing things happened in one month spent with clay and the results were outstanding!
We also had a Spring bird themed art show at the beginning of May. You could almost hear the birds singing on the halls when we were done!
Here are few other projects that we worked in too!



Students used scraps to create an animal in it's environment.


The upper level took a look at Georgia O'Keeffe for inspiration on these flowers for the halls!


We had an amazing Spring/Bird themed art show at the beginning of May. The upper level looked at Picasso's one line art for inspiration on these bird cages.


Students created doodle books to take home for the summer!


Hot air balloons in the works for the bulletin board in the Upper Level!

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

We had the chance to visit the Arboretum last weekend when it was marvelously warm outside. The tulips were starting to peek out of the ground and the birds were singing a happy song! In addition to going through Patrick Dougherty's 'Uff-da Palace", which is a magical and fun place for kids, we also got the pleasure of walking through, around and under Steve Tobin's Steel Roots exhibit. It is worth visiting this wonderful outdoor set of 16 sculptures. Here is the link for more information!
I love the shadows that this one created!

Spring is Here!

Spring is here and so are the bugs, butterflies, worms and other critters!



The kids did a beautiful job of creating their own personal garden scenes with a butterfly popping off the page!

Happy Spring Break!

Hopefully everyone is enjoying the sunshine and grass that is beginning to show up! We have started Spring break off with a sick bug in our house. Coincidentally, last week when we checked out books from the library my son chose two about germs! One of the books is titled Germs by Ross Collins. It has some fun illustrations of germ characters that have inspired artwork in our house while we are lying low with our own germs. The drawings are shapes that are easy to make and there is most certainly no right or wrong way to create one of these little creatures! The creatures have been carried over to play dough as well and seem to take on a life of their own! Hopefully no one else has a sick house during break but if you do it's a book to keep in mind!

Mini Frank Gehry

I had a pile of scrap card stock from trimming a project down this week and so I thought it might be fun to create a miniature Frank Gehry design. My 4 year old cut the slits in the card stock after I demonstrated and then he connected the pieces together. Next time I think we will color the pieces first and then assemble!

Chihuly Looking Necklace

I can't believe it has been a couple weeks since I have posted. The children have been busy creating some awesome Spring inspired art work to be displayed at the beginning of May and I don't want to give anything away! They have also been working incredibly hard on their lines and set design for the play this week! There are so many fun things happening at school and soon the snow will melt and we will have new buds and grass showing!

In the mean time, while we keep busily working, I wanted to show you this fun necklace. I found it at Creative Kidstuff. It reminded me of the Dale Chihuly hanging in the entrance of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. I wore it to school and the kids loved it! My son has claimed it now so I may have to pick up another one. It's a fun way to add a little color, spark and art conversation to a wardrobe!

Have a great week everyone!
Enjoy the warm weather and sunshine!