Feedback from Hillsdale Library Art Display

Hi Nancy --

This art show has been so popular! We have received many compliments from staff and the public. Whenever I am near the artwork, patrons comment on how impressed they are with the quality of the work. It's not unusual to hear "Wow!" and "How old are these students?" 

The Hillsdale staff and our Director of Neighborhood Libraries delighted in discussing the chameleons during our staff meeting.

Thank you for a wonderful show, and please pass our thanks along to your student artists!

--Barbara

Barbara J Head

Youth Librarian
Hillsdale Regional Library, Multnomah County

 

GREAT JOB STUDENTS!

Benefit of offering Arts in schools.
link to article in the Washington Post

"...In short, the arts can’t save failing schools — certainly not on their own. The focus has to be on academic fundamentals. Yet I ended my morning at Savoy more convinced that arts programs can be more than a gracious dollop of artsy noblesse oblige for poor kids; rather, they can serve as a building block toward academic success."

From my years of teaching and observations of students, I have seen first hand how a positive art experience can serve as a building block for academic success. A student gains mastery in art* and then confidence. That confidence then spreads into the other areas of his/her academic life and gives them the courage and belief in their potential for success. It happens!

*
(and all of my art curriculum is developmentally geared to practically guarantee student success)

May 13, 2014

As I wrote earlier, we have some opportunity to show student work outside of our school building. Selecting work is harder than you might think as there is really too much quality work to choose from and too many consistently dedicated students at Capitol Hill to honor.

Umpqua Bank in Multnomah Village-  the month of May

5th grade Action Figure Sculptures are on display. The bank graciously hosted an Opening Reception for the students on Friday May 9th. The work will be on display (using the extra space at their discretion) for the next couple weeks.
All completed sculptures were included plus the additional 2-D work of some of our most dedicated art students.
Congratulations 5th Graders!

Hillsdale Library - May 12- May 25


Yesterday I hung art work from many students in 4th, 3rd and 2nd grade at the Hillsdale library.

You will find some wonderful examples of the 3rd graders' paintings- Bridge - Abstractions in the foyer of the library.

A sampling of the 4th graders, 3-dimensional Backpacks are in the display case in the foyer as well. Some Backpack Paintings are in the meeting room within the building.

A collection of the 2nd graders compositional work "Chameleons are Cool" are hung in the meeting room in the SE corner of the library.
I am told that many public meetings are held in that particular room and giving us the chance to introduce many citizens to our student work.

I am pleased to share with the public, some examples of what the Arts Tax has brought to Capitol Hill School.

Art is Elementary

show and reception details  

Well the fun never stops!
Capitol Hill students have created very beautiful and interesting art work this year. -no exaggeration-
There are several other art show opportunities off-site coming up soon.  Yesterday I was walking around the art show trying to pick pieces for the next show on the calendar. I could literally select any piece on display and be proud to show it to a stranger!
Strong students did well, middling students surprised themselves and weaker or less engaged students stepped up and did some stunning and creative work. 
Sorry to brag....but I don't know how the work could be better.

Kudo to the Artists of Capitol Hill
and of course to the
dedicated crew of parents who made this event a true celebration.

Next up:
PPS hired many visual arts teacher with the new funds from the art tax. The salary for my position at Capitol Hill is fully funded with that money. To clarify, the Dash 4 Dollars will pay for art supplies and materials for the students plus additional Artist-in-Residence events and workshops as requested by classroom teachers.
The new hire art teachers within PPS have banded together to thank the community at large for the Arts Tax funding and to share some of what the children of Portland have accomplished this first year within their new programs.

We are having a show. The art teachers are so enthusiastic, 25+ schools are sending work for display at City Hall. That is the good news. The bad news is that each school isn't allocated much room. I will bring 6 framed pieces of student work, but may be only able to display 3. As I wrote above, how do I choose 3-6 pieces from 800+ really great students' works? 
Guess it is a good problem to have.
Simply put, if your work is chosen to show, that is great, but if it isn't chosen, it's "not not great." I am looking for variety of ages, style, color and equal gender mix. I also confess I want strong effort rewarded, (which is about 40% of the students a really high number).
Selected students and their families will be notified.

• April 22- May 3 - Art is Elementary - City Hall - 3-6 pieces
• April 19 Lucky Lab - fundraising event for Wilson Area Arts Council-10-20 pieces
• May- Hillsdale Library - sharing space with Hayhurst art program, will show as many pieces as I can fit. Will check the space again next week.
• May (last 2 weeks) - Umpqua Bank - Multnomah Village- Again, need to go look.
• 

Capitol Hill - Art Show
Is this coming Friday 4/4/14
Opening Reception is 5:30-7:30
800+ pieces of student work!
Please come celebrate their efforts and applaud their accomplishments.

Huge thanks to Darcy Petersen who has devoted more than a month of efforts to bring all the art together and prepare it for hanging. Big thanks to those parents who helped her.

This is my first CH event and I am excited to see it all come together.
I am pleased to share all this student work with you the parents and community.  I have sincerely enjoyed working with these students, your children.
Thank you.

Organization for the school-wide Art Show is underway.
As I am new to this school I am having a parent show me the "ropes" about how all is done. (At my previous job I did do a school-wide art show, so I have some idea of how this all works).

Capitol Hill Art Show is April 4, 2014, so now is the time to gather all the student work and get it matted and mounted.
ANYONE willing to help, please contact Darcy Peterson, (3rd grade parent). She is the lead on the whole show.

Other art shows are in the works.
ARTS TAX - thank you. 
Myself and 2 other art teachers have been meeting and planning how to thank and show the larger Portland community the results and benefits of the arts tax. Our goal is to get K-5 student work out into the community somewhere during the month of May.  I have done some legwork and have secured several venues, the meeting room at the Hillsdale library, Umpqua Bank in Multnomah Village (a couple weeks in May) and a downtown store Boys' Fort (date to be determined). Anthropologie in the Pearl is giving it a second thought as well.

As art teachers, we whole-heartedly believe in the benefits of a visual arts education, regardless of a persons' future career. In the meantime, we want to share some evidence of the students' self-expressions.

So stay turned. 
Students at Capitol Hill have produced some good work this year in their brand new art program and I am determined to get it shown, locally at CH and in the neighborhood of Multnomah and Hillsdale and downtown!
I guarantee you will be positively impressed!

Thank you for your support.