Blog Archives

Highlights from NAEA Convention in NYC!

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I am back from the National Art Education Association’s convention and had a blast in the Big Apple! It was an enjoyable 4 days (3 for me) of non-stop professional development, workshops, seminars, artist talks, free museum visits and receiving free art supplies! There is so much to sum up that I can’t possibly do it all in one sitting. Instead, I will provide you with some photo highlights from my trip:

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Attended a Lei Making workshop with representatives from Kamehameha Schools on the Big Island of Hawai’i

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Enjoyed a seminar and reunion with Summer Vision DC friends and posed (with my sketchbook) next to famous movers and shakers in the art education world (L to R: Carole Henry, me, Renee Sandell and Paul Ruther of the Phillips Collection)

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Hopped over to the Museum of Art and Design in Columbus Circle to see exquisitely beautiful glass work, jewelry, photography and other forms of forward thinking contemporary art…

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Paid a visit to the MoMA to see some of my favorite works of art from modern times and today (contemporary!)

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Checked out some beautiful examples for fun art projects at the NAEA Exhibition Hall

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Listened to the dynamic duo Sandy and Adrienne talk about aesthetics and perception across cultures…

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Froze for 1.5 hours at the Big Screen Plaza in Chelsea, waiting for Miktad’s artwork to appear on the screen…

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*Look* There it is! Congratulations, Miktad!

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Up close and zoomed in… I was so excited to see the artwork live, hence the camera shake!

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Created an artist trading card in exchange for some cool art supplies and samples…

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Practiced being a henna artist using the innovative project materials from DickBlick.com

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Took pictures at Oliver Herring’s TASK Party, sponsored by Art21 and NAEA

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And finally, enjoyed some time at the Whitney Biennial in uptown NYC!

But wait… and last… but certainly not least… stood in the same room and heard world renown artist CHUCK CLOSE speak about his life, art and career! Chuck Close has been a favorite artist of mine since I first learned about him in high school, and I’m so glad to have caught part of the talk during the conference.

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Thanks to everyone who supported me to attend this spectacular event. My creative batteries have definitely been recharged and I am looking forward to incorporating the new things I learned into my art curriculum. I am hoping to post video slide shows of the TASK! Party and Big Screen Plaza art show in the next few weeks.

Students: Get excited about this spring! We have several art field trips coming up for 1st – 8th grade, as well as 2 art shows from now until the end of the year…

January Art Projects Recap

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Pastel drawing on black paper – 2nd Grade

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January has been a busy month for all our young artists. The unseasonably warm weather has allowed some classes to go outside and draw from nature. We have also been doing a variety of art projects using drawing, painting and mixed media skills. Here are some of my favorites from PreS to 5th grade. Hope you enjoy the creativity of our students!

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Metallic Crayons on black paper – PreSchool

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Snowflake sculpture with feathers, sequins, styrofoam ball and glitter – 3rd Grade

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Abstract “Marking and Mapping” with markers and tracing paper – 5th Grade

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“Finish that Picture” symmetry drawing – 2nd Grade

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Blobs of Symmetry – 2nd Grade

Happy New Year!

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Welcome back to school after a wonderful winter break! I hope everyone enjoyed the time off and got to relax a little as well. This week, as a part of our annual “New Year Reflections” project, we dove right back into our Visual Journals with goal setting and decorating a popular New Years’ quote: “New Years Day is every man’s birthday.” We talked about the meaning of the quote and had a great time setting intentions for the rest of the 2012 school year and beyond. Enjoy these creatively pensive works of art, handpicked by the 4th grade class at PA.

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The Prints are READY!

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The prints are printed, cut and mounted on colorful card stock, the names of the recipient carefully penned and decorated. We will be delivering these cards to the Oakton Library and those in our community (Oakton Shopping Center) early next week, before the start of the Winter Solstice (the shortest day of the year) and the start of winter break! We will also be passing the cards out to all PA teachers and staff members during this time as well.

If we don’t have an opportunity to check back before the break, have a fun-filled holiday season with your family and friends!

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Sketching Outside…

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This week, in celebration of the gorgeous weather, students in various grades took their view catchers, portable studio materials and went outside to sketch during their art period. They were asked to compose a picture plane using the view catcher, and draw only what they saw inside the small square. This exercise helps them focus and observe the natural world around them. We went all around campus and even to the mediation garden to pick a “just right” spot to draw. Students really enjoyed this exercise, especially because it took place outdoors.

Enjoy these other pictures of our students in action, as well as their sketches!!

We hope to do this a few more time before the weather gets cold. Let’s hope that is sooner than later.

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