I've "moved"... :)

Please join me at my new blog for my new school -

www.johnsonarthenryschool.blogspot.com

See you there!!

Amanda

My schools exterior wall "floral mural".

A view of the wall "before":

And "after" my mural. Technically "in progress"...

 

Exterior Wall Mural

Here is the mural I designed and outlined for my school's exterior wall, being painted in by the volunteers on Radio 104.5's "Paint and Plant" day. It was a wonderful day of community collaboration! I'll upload pictures of the finished wall when its complete.

Thank you all for your patience while I took time off from blogging to finish my Masters, get my National Board Certification, and have my son.  I will resume teaching in the spring semester and will begin posting again after that!

Happy Art teaching!

End of the year Show!

Our school had a very successful Academies Expo and Art Show!  Lots of local community turn out.  Toyota Teen Driver program was there, as well as WHYY Newsworks and Senator Leanna Washington.  Here's some pictures of our work before the crowd took over.

 

Social Comment Artwork

Students viewed artwork that addresses a social issue or makes a visual statement about a current topic for several months, considering how a viewer decides what the artist is trying to convey, how the media, size, and placement of the work supports the artist's message, and whether the work is successful.  Then students selected a topic of their own, drafted plans to create a piece about this issue, decided on what media to use, how large the piece should be, and where it should be placed in the school.  The artist statement, describing to the viewer what each piece is about, can be seen on the paper accompanying the work.

Gun violence

Environmental conservationism

This clock represents the changes views on homosexuality over time

Abortion, Marijuana Legalization, and Teen Pregnancy

Peer Pressure and Conformity

Bullying

Child Abuse

Obesity

Global warming

Animal Testing

Animal cruelty

Smoking

Bullying

Homelessness

Chihuly Inspired Chandelier

Students first watched a BBC special called "Message in the Waves" about wasteful practices and plastic pollutants, and their dangerous effects on ocean and coastal ecosystems.  To "do something about it" we decided to collect plastic bottles and reuse them.  Once we had about 180 bottles, we painted them, cut them, and created this large class chandelier.  

Our Class Mural

Students first decided our school walls looking a little bare.  We brainstormed ideas to paint, and put them to a vote on the class blog.  Decisions came in, an "under the Sea" theme was chosen, and students began drawing coral and animals to be combined into one large mural. 

Once the image was laid out, students painted in the animals and the coral, and then added the background. 

Finally the mural is nearing completion...

Nature Inspired Pinch Pots

We looked at nature for inspiration, and then used additive and subtractive ceramic handbuilding methods as well as manipulating the form of these pinch pots to create unique pieces.

Here are some completed works. 

Building Our Lanterns