Lots of art-making at PS 6 in Jersey City this week. While the school continues its centennial celebrations, ART YARD BKLYN participates by conducting lessons pertinent to its own theme of TRANSFORMATION directly related to this special anniversary.
Teaching artist Rachel Rath led 3rd graders in an origami (the ancient Japanese art of paper folding) lesson, using custom designed and drawn paper made by the students in an earlier lesson.
Rachel taught the young origamists the proper folding techniques to create flowers.
The flowers, while some tulip-like and others carnation-like, are representative of the school's namesake Jotham W. Wakeman's love of flowers. He was known to wear a carnation in his lapel every single day to PS 6 during his term (of 57 years) as principal.
In our school gallery, Teaching Artists Quentin Williamston and Fatima Traore worked with students in developing their paint mixing and application skills while continuing their work on giant scale paintings of the school building throughout the decades.
While some students painted, others added special details and highlights with fine-point markers. In addition to art-making, these students learned how to correctly use an old-fashioned (well, depending on when one attended public school, that is!) overhead projector. Each classroom at PS 6 is equipped with smart boards, making the simple overhead projector a piece of history - much to the student's fascination.
First graders worked happily and diligently with Teaching Artist Golnar Adili in a lesson called Inside Out where they honed their folding and taping skills to create shallow boxes.
Before box creation, they drew images on pre-cut paper which will serve as a wrap for the boxes.
In the drafting stages, students drew images which they felt were relative to the school's anniversary and discussed what might be drawn on the INSIDE of the box. The OUTSIDE may be realistic while the INSIDE might be personal or a fantasy. Viewers of these completed works are in for surprises.
4th graders took a sentimental journey in fashion illustration with Teaching Artist Sarah Gumgumji. Sarah brought her personal collection of gemstone and pearl jewelry and other ornamental adornments to class - as well as dozens of images of items worn from 1919 and through future decades.
Many of which might have been worn by teachers and administrative staff of PS 6 way back when. Items included tie clips, broaches, pocket watches, hat pins, pearl necklaces and tiara-like headwear. Working directly on black paper with pencil and then highlighting with white gel markers and metallic Sharpies, they imagined what their own great-grandparents might have worn as decorations or what Jersey City-ites might have looked like while taking a walk past PS 6 one hundred years ago.
Reminder that our exhibition Metamorphosis at ART YARD Gallery @ MS 226 in South Ozone Park, Queens opens Tuesday May 7th from 11am-1pm.
In other exciting news, our student Vera Tineo opened Working Process, her Senior Exhibition at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. Vera writes about the exhibition: “My art is an exploration of my identities, resources and experiences in life. This exhibition of prints and handmade paper shows the skills and knowledge I have learned this year in school. The process of installing Working Process helped me understand the strong work ethic that I am going to need throughout my life if I continue to create.”
Here is a tour of Vera’s exciting, ambitious and accomplished exhibition:
Tomorrow Saturday May 4th from 6-8pm is the artists opening for 100 Works on Paper at Kentler International Drawing Space, 353 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook, Brooklyn. Several ART YARD Artists have work included in this benefit exhibition.
The artists reception is a great way to preview the work and, for those of you who plan to attend the Benefit on May 18th, this is the perfect time make your wish list of artwork. Yes, you read that correctly -- if you purchase a ticket for the benefit, you get to take home an artwork at the end of the night!!
Hope to see you tomorrow at Kentler and Tuesday at MS 226,
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