Article Published in the NAEA Monthly Mentor by Jill LaGrange, Art Educator Summit
We pulled up in front of an old Texaco station, painted white, gas pumps removed, and a cantilevered overhang, much needed in the winter storm tonight. Without being asked we blurted out, chocolate, mint chocolate chip, banana, strawberry, and black cherry, my mom always ordered the same. Through the window and bright, blinking, illuminated business signs we watched as each scoop was perfectly formed, placed perched on an ice cream cone and gently secured to a cardboard tray. My father appeared with a huge grin next to my mother’s window, she swiftly cranked down the window of the 1969 white Pontiac station wagon. First placing her cone on the open glove box door, and then passing each cone to the back. One by one, all of our hands became clenched with napkins, our tongues catching all the drips and bliss. You can imagine my delight when I realized my memories aligned with artist, Wayne Thiebaud (CBS Sunday Morning). His art depicts the array of food served at picnics of his childhood and his memories as a restaurant employee. May 20 was filled with friends, music, art and celebration as Greenland Elementary School concluded its year-long celebration of 50 Years of Learning.
Former Greenland staff received invitations to attend the special daytime event. They were taken for a tour of the school, visited classrooms, and were part of a special staff luncheon in the library. At 1 p.m., everyone took part in a school assembly, where student council members lead the introductions. The guests shared memories of Greenland School including what job they performed as the school and their favorite school lunch. The assembly continued with students singing the new school song, a selection of “Why Greenland is Great” created by students, and a "Happy Birthday"chorus to the school. A beautiful student-created mural was unveiled in the school’s foyer. Greenland Art teacher Tom Beirlsketched out the piece, and every student in the school had a chance to add their own artistic talent. If you look closely, you can even read their names in the foliage of the trees. That evening, families joined the celebration at Fine Arts night featuring art work, student vocal performances and ice-cream treats. Oconomowoc Area Schools -From the hands of a child into food for the needy, a Meadow View art project has provided a heartfelt Valentine for patrons of local food pantries.
Students at the elementary school made and sold heart-shaped clay pinch pot bowls with the proceeds going to the Ashippun and Oconomowoc Food Pantry. The project raised $1,900 for the local resources. "I came up with the project after participating in the 'Empty Bowls' project at Carroll University," explained Meadow View Art Teacher Linda Kowalewski. "This project is commonly done at the college and high school level. It involves students making bowls and serving soup to the community at a cost, about $15 a bowl. The consumer gets to keep the bowl and the money goes to the food pantry and soup kitchens in the area. The idea was started in 1990 by an art teacher that wanted to make a difference in the community through art," she added. The idea was something Kowalewski tossed around in her mind. "I started to think, how could we do this at the elementary level? " she wondered. The teacher arrived at a solution. "We could do pinch pots, in heart shapes, just in time for Valentine's Day. We made our heart, glaze-fired it, put Hershey kisses in them, which were donated by Piggly Wiggly, and then sold them for $5 apiece. Parents could buy their own child's (pinch pot) if they wanted to," she explained. Kowalewski called the project "Clay it Forward, Works of Heart". "Many parents and teachers 'Clayed it forward' and purchased hearts for students that couldn't afford to buy one," she said. " Because of their generosity, all of the pots have been sold," the teacher added. There were 377 students in grades one through four who participated in the fundraiser. "Students loved working on it. We plan on doing it again next year and I will have an after school workshop for teachers and administrators that would like to make one," Kowaleski said. Meadow View Principal Jason Schreiber believes activities such as 'Clay it Forward' are essential to provide to students. "Service projects are an important part of the learning process because they give our students an audience. Who am I making the clay heart for, or who am I writing for? By having an audience, it forces you to think beyond yourself," he explained. "Service projects also build a sense of community. Mrs. K did an outstanding job with Clay It Forward. Our 4th graders had a project earlier this year with Children's Hospital and our Student Council did something with Angels Grace. We have such great students and staff who are always looking for ways to connect with our community," he said. PARK LAWN FOURTH GRADERS STUDY AND CREATE PIECES BASED ON WORK BY FAMOUS ARTISTS
Each month fourth graders at Park Lawn Elementary study a new artist and create a project related to the person's work. Students have learned about Charley Harper, Georgia O'Keeffe (Wisconsin Artist) and are currently finishing collages in the style of Romare Bearden. In order to study Romare Bearden, the students watched a video about the artist and learned how he infused his love of jazz, farm life, trains and city life in Harlem into beautiful works of art. Park Lawn fourth graders began their work by drawing a guitar that had to be added to the collage at the end of their work. Their art piece had to contain watercolor paint, music note paper, colored pencil or crayon and special collage paper. The students were very creative and are looking forward to their next artist Claes Oldenburg. #oconomowoc |
Greenland's New Art News!Kristin BunkerMy name is Kristin Bunker and I am the art teacher at Meadow View and Ixonia Elementary Schools.
I graduated in 2008 with a BFA in Art Education from UW-Milwaukee. This is my 9th year teaching art; I have experience teaching at all grade levels, but have a passion for working with elementary students! My husband and I have a 2 year old named Jack (who keeps us running!!!) and a cat named Emmett. In my free-time, I paint abstract watercolor and acrylic ink paintings. I sell my work on Etsy as well as do commissioned work. I also play the piano, enjoy reading, wakeboarding/surfing, traveling and going on adventures with Jack-Jack!! I feel that every student has the ability to succeed in the art room and to create something beautiful and meaningful. My classroom is a safe-space to let that expression and creativity run. I give my students every opportunity to explore multimedia to aid in their own self-expression. I look forward to my student’s creations this year as we learn more about the history and techniques that art has to offer! Jen LooserMy name is Jennifer Looser and currently teach elementary art to students at Park Lawn and Ixonia. I have lived in the Oconomowoc area for most of my life and everyone in our family is an OHS grad! My husband and I enjoy visiting our two children, Josh in New Orleans and Ayssa in Denver, whenever we get the chance.
I received my art education from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and Carroll University. My Masters Degree is in curriculum and instruction from National Louis University, Chicago. Cooking is my latest joy and visiting new museums and galleries keeps my creativity alive. I enjoy painting and sculpting in my art studio at home and never run out of ideas, just time. I believe that creating visual art is an instinctively human form of communication. I feel this should be cherished and children’s skills should be developed to their highest potential. Through the curriculum all art disciplines are explored using a variety of media. Building grade level skills, learning art related terminology, developing personal expression and gaining an appreciation for the arts are the core elements of my philosophy. Jill La Grange
Jill La Grange has been an art educator for the past 28 years. La Grange is passionate about
nurturing within students a lifelong love of art and learning and encouraging them to find joy and a personal voice through their art making. Jill LaGrange’s student art experiences, reach beyond the traditional “four wall” classroom environment. Students are encouraged and challenged to integrate their art forms and appreciation of art into school, community, state and national art venues. Her students have created an all-school gallery, known as art(CADE), a Nature and Fitness Trail, a 35’ by 40’ mosaic labyrinth, community art gallery (Gallery 113), an interactive map mural and have won various local, state and national awards. Moreover, she has been recognized as the Wisconsin Art Educator of the Year. Melissa WinkerI strive to create a creative space where students feel comfortable taking risks, trying new ideas, and practicing new skills to continue improving as visual communicators. We will be thinking like inventors, designers, and artists in class... and hopefully outside of class! I encourage student to develop skills to problem solve and challenge themselves while learning techniques to create and decode art and design. From our Kindergarten student-artists to our wise, artist mentors in 4th grade - every student will be exploring, expressing and learning about historic and contemporary artists and designers, how colors inuence how you feel, how form inuences function, how to improve our realistic/observational drawing, and, of course, experience the joy of creating.
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December 2017
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