Visual Arts Newsletter : February 16, 2017
Academy For Integrated Arts

The past few months have been a busy time in the art studio at AFIA.  I am thrilled to continue working  with your student as we explore the world of art!  As AFIA families know, our school is committed to providing rich, artistic learning experiences for your student.  AFIA scholars receive fine art instruction in the art studio between two and three days each week.  The role of the visual arts program is to enhance and support the work your child is doing in their classroom as well as provide art-specific content instruction.  During this trimester we have continued working on community-building activities such as the birds with messages of peace and kindness (pictured above).  Also this trimester, each classroom has had the opportunity to visit and participate in an interactive  visual arts  workshop at The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.

Each grade level works to meet specific, age-appropriate fine art expectations that are designed to enrich the art experiences they encounter in their classrooms.  They are often exposed to a wide range of materials that encourage students to try new things and take creative risks.

Kindergarten/Pre K-1st Grade

The youngest artists at AFIA have been continuing to explore many new art materials and processes, while also beginning to look and think deeply about the work of famous artists throughout history.  We have studied the works of artists such as Georgia O’Keefe and her beautiful representations of nature ,as well as artists who work sculpturally, including the kinetic sculptures of Alexander Calder.  Emphasis is often placed on the details we notice in artworks and the ways that art can tell a story.  The creativity and individuality that each young scholar shows in their unique interpretations of artwork has been impressive and inspiring.  By studying famous artworks, we are able to build our knowledge of the elements and principles of art, while also practicing our fine motor and communication skills.
2nd-3rd Grade

2nd and 3rd graders have also been exploring famous artists and new ways of creating artworks.  We have continued to work on 3-dimensional artworks, including portraits in the style of Pablo Picasso.  The artist Piet Mondrian has provided inspiration with his  geometric shapes, primary colors, and attention to craftsmanship. 2nd and 3rd graders have also been creating accordion books and hand-made art journals.  We are always working to fine-tune our ability to communicate visually in meaningful  ways that support the students’ writing skills.  I am looking forward to more painting and sculpture as we move into the Spring.

 

4th-6th Grade

This winter has been an exciting time for our 4th-6th graders scholars to showcase their cooperative learning skills and problem-solving abilities. The oldest classes visited The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art to view the “Bridge Builder” exhibit by artist Siah Armajani.  After this field experience, the students returned to AFIA with inspiration and ideas for building their own bridges both literally and figuratively.  In this ongoing project, the scholars have been able to put their math, engineering, and writing skills to great use.  In addition to bridge-building, we have also had opportunities to paint, create fabulous large-scale self-portraits, and work with a variety of interesting art materials.  I cannot wait for these scholars to show off their work at our next Celebration of Learning.

Please feel free to contact me at school or anytime through email at dorothy.miller@afiakc.org.  I would love to hear from you regarding  your student as well as  any questions or suggestions that could help me provide the best possible art experience for your child.