We have been busy!

We have been busy despite the snowy and slippery weather conditions. Some winters in Portland are like this...not all, but some.

I am just going to give a comprehensive update on all the recent projects right here on this page:

Kindergartens just completed a mixed media project inspired by Uri Shulvitz' "Snow." It is one of my all time favorite books and is 100% relevant to what we just experienced.



(I have to look into my phone app as I am taking student pictures and unable to upload them in this current blog system :( 

1st graders completed their Eric Carle inspired "Very Busy Spider" painted paper, mixed media project - that culminates with a spider web made of glitter. Really there is not anything prettier than glitter. Their work is hanging in the halls near their classrooms.

2nd grader have been making 3-D paper sculptures of birds. We have tried to look at birds in terms of nature and biology and have read some books and watched some quick videos.
Birds are so amazing and diverse they have been a broad and strong inspiration for us all.

This is a challenging project and the kids have loved it and are working quite hard. When they are complete, they are to name and describe their bird, where it lives and nests, eggs, diet...and are invited to write a story about their bird - realistic or imaginary. So far - fantastic!





3rd graders Have just completed their study of George Rodrigue - and his "Blue Dog" and were using this time to make a quick holiday gift.

4th grade have learned about the fiber artist Gabriel Dawe and are just about to do some string art as a quick project to reinforce their learning. Owls next.

5th graders are busily working on their Andy Warhol "Endangered Species" prints - which by the way are included in a great Warhol print display NOW at the Portland Art Museum. I even got over there this weekend to see them in person - stunning.

Two of our students:








The Warhol prints at PAM

November!

Can you believe it?
I can't except for the fact that students are working away and producing lovely work...also the art room is getting messy.

Tomorrow I will be at the BESC -PPS headquarters to hang student art work for the Wilson cluster Student Art Show. All the schools that feed into Wilson High School are showing student work. 
The show will be up until January. We will be having a Closing Reception TBA.
My plan is to show the collaborative work created by the 4/5th class and the 5th graders. Choosing their work showcases 80+ students, plus their work is beautiful and unique.

This Friday the new art tables are getting assembled with a parent team and Scott our custodian. Thank You!
I'll send a photo with them all set up.

In the meantime here are a few pictures of what has been going on.
Each grade level page will get updated as a summary of what your child has been learning and creating.

Back to School Night and SIGN UP to be on the Art Show Team

Hello-

Back to school picnic is next week and it is an opportunity to sign up for various PTA sponsored events.
One favorite event is the Capitol Hill Art Show - which is held in early April and features multiple pieces of art from EVERY student who attend CH! The halls are filled with colorful, imaginative and skillful art produced by the students through their arts tax funded program.
The art is displayed for a few weeks and we host an Opening Reception/Celebration the night of April 6th.
But- to put on this show take significant effort by a dedicated team of parents. Please look for the Art Show table at the back-to-school picnic and consider being a grade level leader.
This is a great opportunity to meet other parents and affirm the efforts and growth of our students, your children.

We have begun our work!

PPS - Philosophy for the Visual Arts Program

Last spring a group of K-5 art teachers worked beyond our teaching day to articulate and begin to build the curricular infrastructure for the K-5 Arts Tax funded classrooms (such as ours at Capitol Hill.). An overarching philosophy and goals were written. As we start the the school year, I thought you might like to begin by being oriented to our frame of reference.

The visual arts program in Portland Public Schools (PPS) focuses on providing a safe space for all students to create art in a variety of media. The program facilitates student success regardless of differences in cultures, backgrounds, and learning styles, honoring the PPS Equity Policy. Through the art-making process and by sharing and responding to art, students discover and express their personal viewpoints. In studio practice and reflection, students develop critical and creative thinking skills and become innovators who see challenges as opportunities. Active engagement in the visual arts inspires lifelong learning, fosters a student’s sense of self, as well as cultivates a connection to the world around them.

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Our K-5 goal is to ready students to continue their visual arts education through middle school and high school. When students are confident, feel competent and personally connected to art, they are more likely to choose to broaden and deepen their visual arts education.

The PPS K-5 Standards and Objectives (K-2 and 3-5) provide a framework and a common language for visual arts teachers when planning and deepening their teaching practice. The National Core Art Standards were the foundation for these documents.  

Welcome Back to school for school year 2016-17!

Summer is not quite over, but we are all coming back to school.

Before I launch in what is in store for this year, I am going to post a lovely picture from a trip I took this summer. This is just a little pause, before we all get very busy learning.

 

     A cairn - a genuine collaborative sculptural installation in nature!

The school year is rapidly coming to an end.

Well - I think we have had another very good year. I have worked at incorporating more time for students to practice talking about their work and reflecting about the process. We are not perfect, but have made some progress in making this last step more of a habit.

As usual - I am very happy and proud of the students' work ethic, understanding and resulting projects.
We have gotten through the season of Art Shows, with much enjoyment and kudos for the Artists!

Here are some pictures from the last month.
Thank you for your support this school year.

Art is Elementary Show at City Hall, 24x PPS K-5 schools participated

Capitol Hill Art Show = Sucess!

Yay for the adults who worked hours and some hours and hours to make the CH Art Show a reality. Emily and Emily are the real heroes of this event, plus Erin and many others who devoted energy and time to setting up the show. Thank you.

Congratulations to the Students!!!!- who are the STARS of the show. Your beautiful work is honored!

Here are few pictures of the display.

Capitol Hill Art Show !

 

 The Many Colors of Capitol Hill

Student Art Show 
 CAPITOL HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Thursday, April 7th 6 -7:30 pm

Live student musical performances ~ snacks served 

 

Show season - for ART

Hi -please SAVE the DATE/s!!!!

We are entering the "Show Season" for art made at Capitol Hill School.
The largest show will be of our students' work - here at the school - ~1,000 pieces!

April 7, 5:00-7:30 Capitol Hill annual Art Show
Every student will have 2 pieces of art work on display, as our school is transformed into a huge Art Gallery. We will also have musical performances and refreshments. * (help needed to mount and hang this show, many hands make light work - please contact me)

This is a wonderful celebration of our students' creative efforts, so please come and admire your child's and their friends' work.

 and if that is not enough....
The Heart of Portland - a K-12 PPS district-wide show will be at the Portland Art Museum this year. Each school is invited to select 1 piece of art to display at that venue. 
The Opening Reception for that will be Monday April 4th.

and there is still more!

Art is Elementary - a K-5 art show of student work created in Arts Tax funded classrooms within PPS, will be held at City Hall - April 19- May 5th, 
Reception May 5th 3:30-5:00 
In this show, 5-7 pieces of student work will be displayed.


For these other shows, I will contact families via email to notify them of the opportunity offered to their child.

My problem and I am being honest here - is that I have way more stellar student work than I have off-site opportunity to show. The kids have done a wonderful job learning and persisting in the development of their work and it is truly the best I have ever seen!!!!!!

4th grade Kandinsky Improvisation