Learning About Camouflage and the Art of Liu Bolin

The first grade classes studied animals in winter in their classrooms. They learned that animals can survive in the wild by camouflaging with their environments
We looked at artwork and a video by Chinese artist Liu Bolin where he disappears into his surroundings.
We talked about how color, pattern, and texture all work together to help animals, or artists, blend in.

Can you find Liu Bolin?

Hiding in the City- Art No.1, 2013

Hiding in the City- Vegetables, 2011

The first graders hid in their own paintings!  They used a variety of colors and tools to make different textures and patterns.  See if you can find their hands in their paintings:

1 Matas 

1 Nye

1 Dattilio

Kindergarten Learns About the Primary and Secondary Colors

Kindergartners use their hands to learn about mixing colors!  

The students mixed the fingerpaints in the cookie tray and explored making lines and shapes in their paints.  When they were done drawing, I took a piece of paper and made a mono print of their fingerpainting.  This way they can explore the paint as much as they like without worrying about the paper tearing or coming apart.  I have to do the printing since I am the only one with clean hands!

Their beautiful prints are in the hallway by the kindergarten classrooms. 

Kindergartners Make Paper Bowls!

I love to end the year with the kindergarten making paper bowls!  

First the kindergartners blended recycled shredded office paper in a blender with water.  

Next, the students had to press the water out of the slurry of paper pulp.

The students pressed the paper paper pulp into plastic bowls.  

After the bowls were dry, we applied a coat of white school glue mixed with some water to seal them and make them more durable.  Then we painted them with acrylic paint.

They did a great job!

Guest Artist Thea Alvin shares with us her art of building with stones!

During the second week of May, the K-6th grade art classes hosted stone mason, artist and designer Thea Alvin.  At the beginning of each class, Thea shared slides of her stone art installations that are in Vermont and around the country. 

Marion Moon Gate, 2014, Mandala Gardens, Marion Illinois

In Good Time, 2014, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, Vermont

After Thea's slide presentation in the art room, we went outside and she shared with us her love of stones.  She taught us how to build walls and arches, how to look at the stones and how they relate to each other.  

Even when the weather was too cold and wet to be outside, we built with stones inside!