Art is all around us

What a busy week for art students at ICSJ!  Not only are many students exhibiting work at Art on Sedgwick this coming Friday, but many submitted work for the very first ICSJ art show at the Hill Street campus this coming week.  (Art submitted Monday will still be accepted.)  Look for it in the foyer of the gym when you visit for the Spring Show Thursday night!  Furthermore, several students artists had work displayed at a gallery event at the gallery of local artist Vicky Tesmer!  I am so proud of all of our student artists!

Kindergarten

Kindergarteners made thumbprint paint bugs after learning about various kinds of bugs and insects in class.  We read from In My Garden and watched music videos for "Icky Insects" and "The Bug Parade" to gain ideas and knowledge about various bugs before drawing their legs and antennae.  This allowed our paint to dry before we drew with crayon.  Great job, Kindergarten!

First Grade

First graders shared in a reading of children's classic Rainbow Fish. This lovely story about the joy of sharing helped inspire us to create a beautiful collage of Rainbow Fish!  Students began by using the wet-on-wet watercolor technique to create watery backgrounds in which our Rainbow Fish will swim. 

Second Grade

Second grade completed their puzzle landscape drawings before flipping the page over to draw puzzle pieces.  Students met the challenge of drawing a grid by using fractions of the page and then adding the pieces that hook together.  Way to go, second grade!

Third Grade

Third graders learned about abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock, and how he felt that art should express feelings but not always illustrate them literally.  Students watched a clip of a video of Pollock himself describing his process of splatter or drip painting in the wide open spaces in which he felt most at home.  Then, students created their own work of abstract expressionism, inspired by Jackson Pollock.

Look for the work of both 3rd grades in the ICSJ art show!

Fourth Grade

Fourth grade drew sketches of famous artworks using a scale-drawing technique involving a grid to maintain proportions.   These famous artworks will be rendered "interactive," as they will have a cut-out portion for a viewer to enter the frame!  Students will not meet this week due to Spring Show rehearsals, but check back in two weeks to see their progress!

Fifth Grade

Fifth grade spent a second class period transferring their storyboard ideas into a digital animation using iPad app "Puppet Pals HD."  Check back soon for video!  Early finishers further experimented with storytelling by creating traditional comic strips.  Great work, fifth grade!

Later in the week, fifth grade went on the architectural boat tour before visiting the stained glass window museum at Navy Pier.  This was a great opportunity for students to learn about the architectural styles and history of buildings downtown!  We will be applying some of this knowledge in a fun city building drawing activity soon.

Sixth Grade

Sixth graders discussed what it means to create a portrait, reflecting back on previous Odyssey through the Arts portraiture.  Then, students looked at a slideshow of famous artist self-portraits over time.  They noted how the self-portraits chosen became more and more abstract over time.  This set the stage for our upcoming sign language self portraits.  With the help of Miss Foyle, who knows sign language, and a sign language alphabet on display, students planned how they might express themselves in sign language.  On computer paper, students sketched their portrait ideas, with a background to incorporate other personal details or interests.  Check back soon for an update!

Seventh Grade

Seventh grade learned about the Surrealist movement this week, reading from Scholastic Art and looking in-depth at Salvadore Dali's "The Persistence of Memory."  Students learned terms such as "juxtaposition" and "levitation" before applying these principles on their own!  Students used a combination of their own drawing and magazine pictures to create surreal images.  Well done, 7th grade!

Eighth Grade

Earlier this week, eighth grade had a unique opportunity to video chat with famous and prolific illustrator Wendell Minor, using Skype technology! Minor created some of our best-loved book covers, including those of To Kill a Mockingbird, America the Beautiful, The Call of the Wild, The Red Badge of Courage, and a number of David McCullough books, including 1776 and John Adams.  Students shared thoughtful questions they drafted in Language Arts with Ms. Bradley, using background information about Mr. Minor.  Check back soon for video!

During art class, eighth grade learned about documentary photography through the Odyssey through the Arts.  Thank you to our presenters for sharing your knowledge and passion for learning in the arts!




Students celebrate their gallery night with artist Vicky Tesmer:



On display at the local Starbucks is the flyer for Art on Sedgwick!  Please join in if you can!