Welcome to Visual Arts 2011-2012 Grade 9

Welcome to High School Visual Arts Grade 9

Visual Arts Syllabus: Grade 9

Course Description
The Visual Arts grade 9 is a studio course designed to further develop foundation skills for art making. The course provides students with the opportunity to develop higher level skills in the application of media, techniques and processes of art making. An emphasis is placed on developing the individual student’s approach to problems solving. The course provides for the development of skills and concepts necessary for a student to be successful in the AP (Advanced Placement) Visual Arts course.

Student Objectives
Students will:
Understand and apply a variety of media, techniques and processes used in art making.
Explore the elements of art and principles of design.
Explore the visual arts in relation to history and cultures and other academic disciplines.
Reflect on and assess the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
Develop a personal philosophy on the nature of beauty and the nature and value of art (aesthetics).

Expectations

Time and Duration
This class meets 55 minutes 3 times a week for two semesters.

Open Studio
The open studio is designed to provide concentrated work time in the studio with a teacher present as a resource. Open studio is available for students who need extra time or who have missed a class period (re: Discovery absence and make up policy). An open studio schedule will be posted in the art room. Students should sign up if they plan to attend.

Homework
Students may receive specific assignments or just be asked to spend
time working on a particular in-class assignment at home. They should be
prepared to spend two to four hours a week outside of class on their work.

Sketchbook
Students will use a sketchbook as a visual journal to work through ideas, to practice
drawing and design skills, and to record their journey through this year. It is expected that students will use their sketchbooks as tools for developing and recording their ideas.


Critiques
Students are expected to participate in group and individual critiques throughout the
course.

Artistic Integrity
Originality and creativity are important components of this course. Students are expected to use artistic integrity throughout the course. It is preferred that students work from “life”. To facilitate their work, students may work from personal photographs that they themselves have taken. Other artist’s work may be used as a reference for personal artwork and should be properly credited.

Assessment and Evaluation
Assignments will be graded on a 100% scale per Discovery School criteria.
Production – Studio Work (75%)
Based on finished work as assigned.
Sketchbook assignments, written assignments, practice exercises
All work is graded using evaluation rubrics reflecting concept/creativity, skill/craftsmanship, knowledge and understanding.
Participation (25%)
Regular attendance is mandatory.
Use of in-class time.
Attention to lectures, directions and demonstrations.
Participation in critical discussion.
Proper safe use of materials and equipment.
Cleanup responsibilities and storage of work.
Demonstrates respect for all.

Supplies
Many supplies and basic equipment will be provided by the school, but some
supplies will need to be purchased by each student.

Sketchbook workbook journal (Purchased through the school).
Pencils #2
Ebony pencil
Charcoal pencils of varying hardness
Erasers – kneaded, Pink Pearl
Pencil sharpener
Ruler
Course Content
Students will complete two and three dimensional works. They will work with a variety of drawing tools and techniques, water based paints, printing processes and 3D techniques – constructing and modeling. Students will explore art in relation to history and cultures.

The Butterfly Project - The Houston Holocaust Museum

Some of our butterflies pose outside the administration building.


The last project of the year for grades six and seven was the Butterfly Project.

“In an effort to remember the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust, the Holocaust Museum of Houston is collecting 1.5 million butterflies. The butterflies will comprise an exhibition scheduled for Spring 2013.” See butterflyproject@hmh.org.

Our butterflies will make their way to the musuem this summer to become part of this collection to honor these children.

Students learned about - Artisit and teacher Friedl Dicker Brandeis.

"I remember thinking in school how I would grow up and would protect my students from unpleasant impressions, from uncertainty, from scrappy learning," Friedl Dicker Brandeis wrote to a friend in 1940.

Dicker-Brandeis and her husband were deported to the Terezín "model ghetto" in December 1942. She packed the two suitcases she was allowed to bring, full of art supplies. During her time at Terezín, she gave art lessons and lectures. She helped to organize secret education classes for the children of Terezín. She saw drawing and art as a way for the children to understand their emotions and their environment.

In September 1944, Brandeis was transported to Auschwitz; Dicker-Brandeis volunteered for the next transport to join him. But before she was taken away, she gave to Rosa Engländer, the chief tutor of Girls's Home L 410, two suitcases with 4,500 drawings. F. Dicker-Brandes died in Birkenau on October 9, 1944.[Her husband Pavel, survived.After the war, Willy Groag, the director of the Girl's home L 410 brought the suitcases with children's drawings to the Jewish Community in Prague. Many of these drawings and children's writing were published in the book I Never Saw Another Butterfly.

*The above is from Wikipedia

Grade 8,9,10, Advanced/AP May 31-June 3 2011

Portfolios are ready to be picked up as well as all other student work. Some students prefer to leave their work behind. All work left in the art room will be included in the...

First Ever Unclaimed Art Sale!

June 6, 7, 8 In the Art Room 7:30 am – 1:00 pm
While Supplies Last!

YES!
It is true!
Many fine pieces of original student art have been abandoned in the art room. Now YOU have the opportunity to own one of these original works.

Affordable – 10-20 (or best offer) Lempira per Art Work
All proceeds of the sale will be used to purchase materials and equipment for the art room.

Questions? See Mrs. Campbell in the art room.

May 26 Grade 10 See You Around

Grade ten takes a break but they will be back!


Alec and Theo Sign Off

Shon signs in two languages.

Today was the last class meeting for Grade 10 Art before finals and AP Exams start. Some students are leaving Discovery School, as we know we all will sooner or later. They will be missed. Grade 10 has been a joy and privilege to teach. They have met every challenge I put before them, drawing, guacoles designs, mask making, painting, and of course THE MURAL.

The epic Library Rainforest Mural will be held over for a third year. It just keeps getting better and better. We will have a first quarter 2011-2012 Reunion Lock-In to, as the Pope said to Michelangelo as he worked on the Sistine Chapel, “make and end to it”.

Students will be welcome, these busy last days of the term, to stop by the art room during spare moments to pick up art work and finish a few unfinished projects – magic wand – to catch a few minutes of quiet study or find out more about AP and Advanced Art for next year. The 2010-2011 school year is not over yet. See you around.

Thanks Sherwin Williams for such great paint!

Grade 10 - May 19, 2011

Congratulations Grade 10!

The work you displayed in the 2011 Art exhibit is testimony to your creative thinkng and technical skill. Thank you so much for all of your work in helping to put up the Art Exhibit. You are always there when I need you.

Rainforest Continues

This quarter we are putting the finishing touches on the rainforest mural. It is a joy to see how individual skills have developed as we add more foliage for creatures to hide in. Insects, lizards, birds, monkeys and a big cat are all finding a home on the library wall. Will we finish this year? We hope so!

Grade 8 - May 19, 2011

Storybook Characters at Home in the Library...calling children to READ!

Hey, Peter! Two of our characters are missing.

Maybe they are in Mr. McGreggor's Garden.

Grade 8 students worked hard to help put up the art exhibit. They cut and curled hundredes of pieces of tape, ran up and down stairs on various errands. Their big project was the assembling and hanging of the of the "Chuck Close" panel. I sincerely appreciate all of their efforts. Thank you Grade 8.

Advanced - AP Art - May 6, 2011

AP Portfolios - Packed and Carried on their way by the UPS Man! Hooray!

Congratulations to Maria Steffania and Jan for being the first Discovery students to complete the Advanced Placement Drawing Portfolio!

Our two AP portfolio students Maria Steffania and Jan put the final touches on their digital portfolio and pushed the button to upload their work to the college board. Then they put five original works in the special portfolios sent by the AP College Board and carefully packed them. They were checked by Miss Gloria and handed over to the UPS Man. They are on their way.
The students should get feed back on their work sometime in July.