2012: LOL: Communicating through Art, The Delaware Center For The Contemporary Arts, Ages 10-12

Discussed how people use art as a tool for communication including examples of sign painting, text based art, and the Philadelphia Love Murals. Had students create large hand painted signs that were strung up and hung vertically across a garage door. Students also created painted silhouettes filled with text, using body language as a tool for communication. In addition Students painted a large scale text mural (182" x , that was installed over a three dimensional surface.

 

     

2012: Lead Teaching Artist, The Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, My Disguise, a Week of Wearable Art (Ages 4-6)

Had students create wearable paper sculptures out of cardstock, paint, feathers, artificial hair and collaged tissue paper; incorporating masks, headdresses, full body costumes, hands and feet. As the final presentation of their work, the students put on a choreographed fashion show for museum patrons, staff, family and friends. Managed two assistants, and off premise excursions.

2012: The Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Philadelphia PA

   

2012: Bright Lights, Big Art: The Delaware Center For The Contemporary Arts, all ages

Family Program, where museum classroom was open free to the public. I created a city planning project, where there was a large scale printed map of Wilmington, DE in the classroom. Visitors worked with me, and several assistants, to create collaged paper art, that was then placed on the map.

 

2012: Urban Mural and Street Arts (Spring), Pegasus Artworks, all ages

Wildcats Mural:  Claymont Boys and Girls Club

 

2012: Urban Mural and Street Arts (Spring), Pegasus Artworks, all ages

Pattern!

Members of the Claymont Boys and Girls Club took turns tracing each other onto large format paper, letting people overlap. They then gut this paper into grids, then took turns using pattern to define the composition. These drawings were passed around, so that students could add to to their classmates work

2012: Contemporary Connections: (Ages 9-11)

Propaganda/ Legacy

Delaware Center For Contemporary Art has had an an interdisciplinary art program in conjunction with Delaware Public Schools, exposing students to the connections between art and other core subjects, for twenty-nine years. This is a twelve week program, with additional planning meetings with the coreteacher, budgeting proposals, a field trip and tour of the DCCA, and and exhibition opening uponcompletion of designed project

I was placed at Stubbs Elementary, in the east side of Wilmington. The students of my fourth grade class were working on a long-term research project on American Presidents and their legacies. In Literature they are studying the role and purpose of the author, as well as intent and meaning. I believed that these subjects would translate very well into introducing contemporary art issues of propaganda, appropriated imagery and ownership. Keeping inline of the umbrella focus of “literacy” my project   focused on the power of words and images to sway groups of people and individuals. I showed example of both historic (French Revolution, Socialist Realism…) In addition to the politically charged works of Altos (Arizona based immigration reformists), Banksy, Jenny Holtzer and Shepard Fairy.

The students found a powerful quote of the president they are working with on their long term in class project, and were provided with an appropriated image from the National Portrait Gallery. They first primed their boards, and then use large format stencils and rulers to place their quotes on their boards. They then used tracing paper to “threshold” their images of presidents into a graphic icon, which they transfered onto their boards. They then hand painted in their panels, using red, black and white acrylic paint.  When these individual panels were finished, they were assembled into apermanent grid installation at Stubbs Elementary. 

2012: Contemporary Connections: (Ages 9-11)

Propaganda/ Legacy 

in progress.......

 

 

   

  

2011: Pegasus ArtWorks, Contemporary Street Art, Ages 8-10

Monsters!

2011: Pegasus ArtWorks, Contemporary Street Art, Ages 7-9

Mural: Respect

All ages of my groups at Claymont group participated in this project. Students designed mural, primed canvas and measured out bricks. They then enlarged their final drawing by using the grid system, and carefully sketching it out on canvas. 

200" X 60" Acrylic and paint-markers on canvas

2011: Pegasus ArtWorks, Contemporary Street Art, Ages 7-9

Wheat Paste! 

Students worked with India Ink on Newsprint, to make portraits of their classmates. I encouraged them to work on their line quality, and find their own style. I showed them several images of artists that use wheat-paste both in their studio practice, and in their street work. We later made paste, and pasted these indoors.

Christina School District: Professional Development: 2011

The Delaware Center For The Contemporary Arts (ADULT)

Inspired by the 2011 installation of Amanda Burnham at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, I lead an art activity where the art teachers of the Christina School District used alternative drawing methods, materials, and utensils to create a collective installation of their interpretation of the urban environment of the neighborhoods in Downtown Wilmington. We  discussed how signage, industry and community create a sense of place, as well as how to weave elements of installation art into a collective concept and use of space. I showed examples of different drawing methods and techniques, and approaches to the collaborative drawing installation.  We additionally discussed different approaches to using current exhibits and contemporary art as a resource in the classroom.

Outside the Box: Exploring Bigger and Better Sculptures (Assistant Teaching Artist) 2011

The Delaware Center For The Contemporary Arts, ages 9-12

This class explored large scale installations and earthworks, involving the use of light, fans, small motors and video.