What is Art?

As I prepared my classroom yesterday for the start of school and 2011, I set a group of prints around the easel for our Art of the Day discussion. The big question will be "what is Art?" As we explore the different approaches by individual artists, the cultural, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual implications of their works will hopefully shine through in the conversation. The constant evaluation of the students' personal connections to art and art-making, informed by a growing understanding of media and technique, will engage these 4th and 5th graders in what will be, no doubt, an interesting debate. I can't wait for 2011 to start in the Studio!

As I explored over the break, I found this awesome video that begs the question: What is Art? It is great for the laugh, and for the (edited) shortened clip to share with students in a discussion. The video is by Creature Comforts, and I found it on Art Matters. It is also a great example of claymation:

Connecting through Art Ed!

I learn so much from my PLN! I finished compiling the resources for the TAEA Elementary Division wiki and am amazed at what we can glean from fellow art educators from all over the country. I am so impressed by educators at every level, who pool ideas, links, and their own creativity to immerse their students in new endeavors. One of the art educators whose websites and blogs inspire us to do more is Craig Roland (@craigr on Twitter) whose Art Junction site lead me to find this link to an article about sketchbooks. TAEA has created a new sketchbook initiative to engage the artist within each teacher, and this post provides some food for thought. As a way of inspiring elementary art educators to participate, we launched a theme for elementary: Connecting! So let's start connecting our thoughts, media and creativity, and immerse ourselves in creating art!

Strokes of Genius

I take a lot of photographs. I have created slide shows for my students to share with them the wonder of color, line and form. It is to teach them to see. It is not a simple task, as many of them have never taken the time to explore up close what is around them. I had taken a series of photos of vegetables at the Portland Farmers Market. My own children saw the variety of colors and forms before them and were in awe. My students were blown away by the richness of color and the cornucopia seen as images on a screen. I have taken flowers for still-life projects, and encouraged students to go eye to stamen to really see the details. Besides the touch of pollen on their noses, they were engaged by the details. This photo of a resident bluebonnet reminds me of the beauty in the details. The simple wonder of what lies just beyond our doorstep, and when we really look, the wonder of that stroke of genius.