Parent Workshops at PS 48M

02 Feb 2012, 12:43 PM by kaya, Elementary School

We had a great morning at PS 48M working with parents on portraiture they can do at home with kids. Teaching Artist Beto Sepulveda led parents through an exercise in using crayon transfer, black and white copies of photos, and marvelous imaginations to make some art.

Beto explaining the process:

Our parents working on their art:

Some of their finished works:

Experimental Videos at MS 258 Community Action School

21 Jan 2012, 12:27 AM by keith, Middle School

Students in MS 258's after school video program have been working with teaching artist Daniel Heffernan to create experimental, non-narrative videos. These "video poems" focus on shapes and patterns and utilize a wide range of effects in iMovie to transform their footage into these unique pieces. The students did all the shooting and editing themselves and we look forward to their next project, a series of short promotional videos focusing on the school and the things that make it a great place to learn.

“This class taught movies are made by filming, editing, and importing.  Movies are like other art forms because you can also express yourself in other art forms.  I think art is important. I think that because art is a way to express yourself.” – Brent

“I think movies are like other art forms because they mostly all tell stories in them.  This class taught me about how movies are made by showing me examples of images.” - Yarissa
 

Happy New Year and PS 40 has an I Teach I Learn

05 Jan 2012, 1:50 PM by kaya, Elementary School

Students and Parents prepare for an acting exercise

PS 40's film class, led by teaching artist Brian Wojo Womack, students opened their doors to grownups in their first I Teach I Learn. Everyone was invited to this open class, where students shared acting exercises and group storytelling activities. Parents were excited to hear about the film the class is working on and what they've made so far. The evening was such a success we'll be doing it again this semester. Great work everyone!

Groups share stories...

And then everyone in the groups tells the same story, the audience has to guess who originally told it based on clues they get through asking the actors questions!

PS 48Q's animation class

23 Dec 2011, 5:26 PM by kaya, Elementary School

We leave you this year with a video of animation projects from PS 48Q. Working with teaching artist Habibah Ahmad, PS 48's students made films based on the water cycle. You'll see dolphins of clay and creatures of paper perform magic acts. Next semester the class will continue with their science theme, we're excited to see what's next!

Video in progress of loading, check back soon!

Building Community through Public Art Making at MSAP

23 Dec 2011, 4:24 PM by frank, Middle School

Building Community through Public Art Making at MSAP

Students at Brooklyn’s Middle School for Art & Philosophy are building confidence and cultivating community through a public mural project.

UAP Teaching Artist Elizabeth Traina reports on some exciting public art-making happening in her visual art residency at Brooklyn’s Middle School for Art and Philosophy.

Working on a red brick wall in this bustling middle school’s cafeteria, MSAP students are experiencing the powerful effects of community art-making.

Attracted by the sight of paint brushes and ladders, fellow students and teachers pause to watch Elizabeth’s class engaged in painting a recreation of Raphael’s famous mural “The School of Athens” the original of which can be seen at the Vatican.

The figures in the painting are icons; representations of classical philosophers, they are stand-ins for some of the major pillars of western philosophy.

In line with Urban Arts Methodology, which takes students from experiencing a seminal work of art to creating their own original artwork, students are responding to this visual art “masterpiece” by working together to paint a mural that makes the teachings of the ancient Greeks visible, known, and integrated into the modern MSAP school environment and culture.

Says Elizabeth, “In our adaptation of The School of Athens, both MSAP Students and the original philosophers will be visually represented. The fresco, framed by an arch, is a passageway…and young people can enter the mural and engage with different philosophical ideas and fundamental teachings that are relevant to their lives today. Students involved in the project are learning important artistic tools such as depth of field and perspective, as well as color theory and general painting techniques.”

Besides learning fundamental painting technique, one of the challenges MSAP students have is to find ways to simultaneously honor the classical themes of the painting, while acknowledging the diversity of student voice and identity at their school.

To help achieve this outcome, students from UAP Teaching Artist Mike Cordero’s Design Class have been invited to visit the mural club to offer their feedback, share ideas, and lend a hand.

“Everyone in the school…students, administrators, even parents, are invited to come raise a paintbrush. We want everyone make their contribution to this important community mural project.”

Week by week the art work is coming together. Stay tuned as the students of MSAP work to fully develop their ideas for the mural.

Elizabeth says that there is “a dynamite energy” building around the mural, and she expects that students will bring the project to completion in the spring of 2012.

Urban Arts Mural Project @ MSAP is a 21st Century Learning Center Funded Program.

Posted by Michael Wiggins