Lids, Lights, Foam and More

This summer I had the opportunity to work on the set for a local production of Annie Jr.  Sometimes the most unlikely materials come together to create some of most interesting things.  We needed decorative corners for our entrance to the Roxy Theatre. 

Plastic lids, cardboard, and small cardboard tubes joined with hot glue

A little flat latex paint

Added to the set

The next challenge was to make lighted signs for this scene.  This involved reusing some very study foam core signboard, a little math (to figure out how to space the bulbs, etc.), some painting and a whole lot of drilling. 

 

 

 

Fine Arts Frenzy 2014

Fine Arts Frenzy

How did we do it?

 

Chihuly Project Explained  

Our project began with students collecting water bottles at snack times each day.  I also brought in other water bottles so we’d have larger bottles to work with. 

We removed labels, caps, and later cut the bottoms off each bottle using scissors.  The bottle crushes at the bottom at first, but once a hole is made, it’s easy to cut the rest.  We saved the caps and bottoms as well.  There are other ideas for their use as well. 

Painting the Bottles

Students painted the inside of bottles with acrylic craft paints or left over interior satin paint.  Both worked well.  I emphasized using a thin layer of paint to be sure it would dry over night.  (The reason for painting the inside was to get the shiny outside that looks more like glass.)

Cutting Spirals

As bottles dried, we started cutting them from bottom to top in spirals.  The closer the cut, the longer the “spring” or “slinky” we created.   I had to remind students not to cut too narrow as the larger bottles creating a very long spiral.  Too wide yields little change in bottle shape. 

Attaching each bottle with wire

The base structure was created from a 54-inch tomato cage wrapped in chicken wire. 

I attached bottles to the base structure with lightweight wire (floral wire).  It took several hours each afternoon attaching bottles.  The kids enjoyed seeing its progress each morning and were eager to prepare more bottles if needed. 

 






Before flipping it over

The children’s art show and performance took place at our high school performing arts center.  The kids were extremely proud of all their hard work! 

On Display at the Performing Arts Center



Art in Parts

Students in grades 4 and up demonstrated their knowledge of fractions through the art of origami.  They were allowed to choose colors that would represent a fraction of the total parts in each of their designs.  They glued them onto black construction paper when they were finished with folding and assembling.  The final step was to write a math problem or math statement that was true about their art. 

Wayne Thiebaud

During Fine Arts Frenzy 2012, third grade students had the opportunity to learn about the artist WayneThiebaud.  They practiced what they had been learning about fractions by looking at his painting, Cakes, 1963 and answering math questions about the painting.  Once the students finished with our review, they were allowed to paint their own dessert art using tempera paint. 

Here are a few examples of what students chose to create. 

Metal Sculpture

This summer I took a class with industrial designer, Alex Porbe.  During our sessions we looked at art created by a variety of artists. 

Next, we began to create a mockup of our final design.  The process involved using materials that imitated the shape and size of metals available for the welded sculpture. 

 

Joyful Celebration

This is the mockup (left) and the final sculpture(right) I created. 

The class was held in the evenings at the Community Arts of Tecumseh building, with a culmination at his workshop/studio where the welding took place.   Alex is offering the class again in October of 2012. 

Fine Arts Frenzy

Fine Arts Frenzy started out in the summer of 2011 as a collaborative effort between Adrian Schools and Boys and Girls Club of Lenawee.  Our first year involved integrating arts and science while working with students in 5^th-8^th grade as they chose a focus area in art, reader’s theater, or choir.  Our theme was space.  The kids worked hard to get ready for a culminating performance for parents and friends.

Students involved in art created props for the stage.  They also had the opportunity to create space art using spray paint.  They turned out really well.  We had them on display in the gallery the day of the performance.   I’ve included a short slideshow to highlight their work.  

 (Slideshow requires Flash Player) 

This year, Fine Arts Frenzy Does Math will take place during the first part of August.  Once again, we are collaborating with the Boys and Girls Club and will have a performance at the end of our time together.  We have two weeks to explore math through the arts!  Participating students grades 3-8 will be involved in learning math through the arts (visual, music, and dance).  One focus will be fractions, so I’ve been busy looking for and putting together art that involves practice with fractions.  I hope to post examples later.