The Ratner School Art Program

I trust you all enjoyed a restful and peace filled winter break. I am excited to be back at school with a full schedule of new projects and experiences for the students. I am sorry that half of the student body did not get to experience the MOCA field trip due to the unexpected snow day right before winter break. I was disappointed, but there was no way to re-schedule a visit to see the exhibit as they all closed the following week. We will be going to see the next set of exhibits in the spring, so everyone will get to go to MOCA! 

I am excited to tell you all that 3 of our students placed in the Scholastic Art Awards competition. I am so proud that Emma P. and Dustin C. received the top Gold Key Award and Abe K. placed with an Honorable Mention. This is quite a competitive program and the 7th and 8th grade students should all be proud of the work they created for the competition. The show is on display for a short time at the Cleveland Institute of Art from 1/17/2017 - 2/3/2017 in the Reinberger Galleries. 

Emma's Gold Key winning artwork

Dustin's Gold Key winning artwork

Abe's Honorable Mention award winner

Kindergarten Art

We began our two week study of the amazing artist, Alexander Calder. We looked at several examples of his work, paying close attention to his bent wire sculptures. We discussed the way the artist drew with the wire to create a 3-dimensional drawing based sculpture. We looked at the parts of the sculptures, mobiles and stabiles that were created by Calder and identified the base of the sculptures and motion found in his mobiles. After viewing the examples of his work, we transferred the class down to the Maker Space to begin working on sanding the wood bases for our sculptures. The students all learned sanding techniques and had a beginning lesson on wire bending, the use of pliers and learned how to cut aluminum wire with wire cutters. They were so proud of the practice sculptures they created. We will begin construction of the wire portraits this week in class.

1st and 2nd Grade Art

We are starting a longer term painting project based on the expressive landscapes of Vincent Van Gogh. I showed the students a short video about the life and work of Van Gogh and we had a group discussion about his work. I pointed out the technique of paint application and the rhythms that were created in his landscapes. The students then had the choice of one of 8 landscapes Van Gogh had painted to study and be inspired by. After the students had made their choice, we took time to study the painting and had a discussion about what they had observed. Each student shared one element they had not noticed on the initial viewing. They found several details and showed a stronger understanding of the landscape. We then identified the horizon line and began with the transfer of information on the large poster board surface. I am looking forward to introducing new color theory and painting techniques to the students.

3rd and 4th Grade Art

We began the highly anticipated Beatles album cover project this week. The students are so excited to begin this project and have been formulating their designs to create their personal album cover. This is another STEAM based tie in to the music program. We have been listening to the Beatles albums throughout the year, talking about their music and how it changed the music of the time and helped influence the music of today. I brought in several album covers for the students to analyze and have a group discussion on the designs. We talked about the power of type font designs to portray a mood, the use of color as a symbolic tool and of course, the impact of a visual image. Each student decided what kind of music their album would portray and developed a visual map of colors, type font style and how they wanted their photo taken for the album cover. They had a few props they could use and then we had a photo shoot! They struck many rocking poses! We had a lot of fun with the photo shoot and I look forward to seeing the development of their album covers.


                                                       

5th and 6th Grade Art

We have begun the rhombicosidodecahedron project! Thank you to the families that have brought in the cereal and light cardboard packaging for the construction of this project. We began the project talking about the different geometric solids and the identification of faces, edges and vertices found in a solid. We then talked about the importance of careful craftsmanship to create a successful piece. Each stage of the project requires a strong focus, whether it is tracing the shape, cutting, folding or gluing the faces together. This is an intense project, but one of our favorites.
I hope you will all find time to come visit the gallery and view the amazing shaded form drawings the students completed. They are dramatic and interesting to see the different techniques each student explored.

7th and 8th Grade Art

We began our painting intensive following the break. The students explored hundreds of Impressionist style paintings from the most recognizable painters of the era. Manet, Monet, Van Gogh, Pissaro and Degas were the painters most students chose. We had a discussion about landscapes, the rule of thirds and a few of the painting techniques that would be covered in the project. After the landscape was chosen, the student began laying out the composition on a large sheet of poster board. Techniques of light sketching, finding the horizon line and identifying the main elements of the painting were a few of the areas of focus for the students to think about while starting the project. Several students were able to start with the first color wash areas last week. We will continue to add layers of paint, adding details and gaining new techniques throughout the project.