Beto explaining the process:

Our parents working on their art:

Some of their finished works:

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
 

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!

Video in progress of loading, check back soon!

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

Visual arts students displayed recent pieces covering serveral projects, all rooted in cultural traditions from around the world.  They discusses their process and decision-making, highlighting various visual arts concepts they had worked on, such as realistic body proportions, symmetry and patterned decoration.

Video students held a screening featuring two of their finished projects, the IS 528 Digital Portrait and "Revenge," a short horror movie that tells the story of the ghosts of bullied teenagers that haunt the students that harmed them, wreaking havoc on their Halloween party.  They also alswered questions from the audience and gave a preview of their current project which consists of paper characters in stop motion scenes with original dialogue.

"Our party is about celebrating the long time we worked together on out videos.  We wanted to show our work.  It's fun and I have been learning a lot of new things about video.  My favorite thing I learned was to make a stop motion video with characters and making them move so that people couldn't see our hands moving them." - Mark, 6th grade

"Today was a holiday party for the good work in video and visual arts.  I'm in both clubs, so I felt more proud.  I'm excited about the kachina dolls we're making.  They come from Native Americans and I'm not finished yet, but I really like it." - Gian, 6th grade

"In video we're working on animating paper avatars.  The stories are about heartbreak and friendship and stuff.  I'm excited about what we will try to do in 2012." - Isabel, 7th grade

"In visual arts we share our projects.  We help each other to do good work and encourage each other.  We're working on adding lines and patterns to a photo of a face.  We could do our own face of another face.  I like that so many people get to see our art and when they ask me questions about my art, it makes me feel like a real artist." - Joseline, 6th grade

At PS 90 in Coney Island, dance students are busily preparing for their winter dance concert today! Over 40 1st and 2nd graders, working with teaching artist Kathy Fleurissaint, have been honing their dance moves.

Here’s what they had to say:

Analia,6 – I like the songs we have for freestyle  

Eman, 7- In dance we practice our dance a lot and have fun.

Michael, 7 - we are practicing for a Christmas show, where we’ll be dancing for the parents and the rest of the school!

Ariel, 6- my favorite part is the freestyle dance because you freeze and then you dance and even when you are disqualified you’re not out, because you can help Ms. Kathy with the pausing and calling out numbers.

Bruce, 7- the most exciting part of dance when we dance and play games because dance shows you how to move your body.

(Also in the class interview, Mark wanted to share was 7)

The Life Stories and Media Lab students went to see "Stick Fly" on Broadway by playwright Lydia R. Diamond at the Cort Theater on Wednesday, December 21.

The play follows the LeVays, an affluent African American family who come together to spend a summer weekend at their Martha's Vineyard home. Themes of class, race and identity politics intersect in this contemporary comedy. Starring Dule Hill, Mekhi Phifer, Tracie Thoms, Ruben Santiago- Hudson, Rosie Benton, Condola Rashad and direction by Kenny Leon with producer and  composer Alicia Keys.

 I was immediately captivated by the storyline and the plot twists which kept me engaged and intrigued as it unfolded. My fellow ensemble members loved the play as it related to some of the themes we are exposed to and exploring in our own work.

After the play we had the opportunity to take a stage tour-the set was so unique because a lot of it was functional and the design of the rooms allowed us to view what was occuring in more than one room simultaneosly.

We were so lucky because acclaimed actress Tracie Thoms gave us an exclusive talk back on the set; and invited her co-stars Mekhi Phifer and Dule Hill to say hello, answer some questions about their experience in this show, and take a photo.

We learned so much from speaking with Tracie. It was amazing to find out how complex and time consuming it can get as a working actor on such a big production like this one. Tracie also pointed out that she is still discovering and evolving her character which was interesting to find out because I had this misconception that once you start performing your piece, then there is no more room for enhancement of your character. I remember first seeing Tracie in he movie "Rent" and was so moved by her performance and talent, as well as in "Stick Fly." All of us were blown away by her many skills humor, honesty, and overall how down to earth she is.

What made the night even more special was being able to tell Tracie how her peformances inspire me personally and help me develop as an actor.

Everyone should see this show!

THANK YOU TRACIE!!!

written by Devin Mojica

Students at PS 112 shared the great work they've been doing in their music class with the whole school this week. Their percussion unit focused on bucket drums, and teaching artist Martin Urbach led them in showing off their skills. This reviewer's favorite part was then they ended the show throwing paper snow all around the stage. Great work guys!

First up was the Good Lookin' Photo Club led by teaching artist Yarrow Lutz, represented by a slideshow of students' images from recent projects, some of which involved the photo students collaborating with students in the Fashion Club run by The Leadership Program.  The images highlight not only their amazing creativity and technical skill, but also show their willingness to take risks with the camera.  The slideshow can be seen in video format below. 

The Drama Club and the Music Club also presented collaborative performance pieces.  Working with teaching artists Heather Acs and Erika Kapin, students jointly explored the theme of heroic love to create short scenes accompanied by live musical soundtrack.  Drama students presented two scenes backed by performers from the Music Club, which made for a truly unique experience for the audience.

"First we learned the keys and fingering and then we learned how to play the pieces.  We collaborated with the Drama Club.  We both had a theme of "heroic love," then put our parts together.  We shared our work, then we added some things and edited some stuff out.  I was nervous to perform, but I just acted like nobody was there and played my part.  Before the program I didn't know anything about piano.  I wish we could have the program for more days." - Quadry, 12th grade

"Our topic was heroic love.  Our group was all boys, so we did a scene that dealt with brotherly love from 'Boyz in Da Hood."  It was like a Broadway show to have the live music during the scene.  As an actor, it makes you feel it more.  i was influenced by mafia movies and actors I like.  This is what I want to be, so that's why I study it and work hard.  I love acting and drama and it's something I plan to do as I get older." - Raymond, 11th grade

"We've been working on heroic love and my scene involves drug dealers.  We chose this because it relates to life.  It's a story about when a character has to do something he doesn't ever imagine he would do.  We wanted the audience to think about how there are ways to get money and things you want, but you have to choose the good ways to do it." - Courtney, 11th grade