Landscapes, Cityscapes and Booty-Chins

This month at CDESA we have been studying the work of the great American landscape artist Grant Wood and the work of Paul Balmer, a fantastic, contemporary artist from Australia.  The students learned that Grant Wood traveled all over the world, yet he thought Iowa (his hometown) was the most beautiful place he had ever seen.  They learned that when he was a boy, he drew with a burnt stick from his mother's stove.  They also joyfully observed that Mr. Wood has the distinct feature of a clef-chin....otherwise known in certain cultures as a (giggle, giggle) "booty-chin".  They learned that Paul Balmer lives in New York City, actually makes a living as a painter AND is still alive (this was a stunning fact because we usually study dead people).  Mr. Balmer even sent a personalized, hand-written postcard to each student - very cool!  After observing the works of these two great artist, they applied their knowledge to their own landscapes and cityscapes.  Check out Paul Balmer's artwork at http://www.paulbalmer.com/ and notice his influence in our students' cityscapes.

Experience + Discovery = Learning

As a parent, whenever possible, I allow natural consequences to do the teaching.  The experience of forgetting a lunch box leads to the discovery of hunger.  Hunger will be a far more effective "teacher" than a lecture on responsibility.  The same principle applies to the classroom.  Our art students are learning about primary and secondary colors.   After two days of explaining, demonstrating and pontificating about the attributes of primary and secondary colors, the students engaged in an art experience designed to reinforce these attributes.  The project was simple.  The students were given red, yellow and blue paint.  They were instructed to first paint shapes using red, yellow and blue.  Then they were instructed to paint shapes using secondary colors - orange, green and purple.  For a short while the art room was full of contented artists as they painted delightful shapes of yellow, red and blue.  Then it hit.  "Hey, we don't have any purple paint!" " Mrs. Ligon, I can't paint this shape orange because I don't HAVE orange paint!" "Mrs. Bowling, I NEED green!"  Our reply, "Make orange - use what you have to make purple."  Encouraged to press through incredulous skepticism (at having been asked to do the impossible) the students tentatively dipped their brushes in red, then yellow and began to mix.  Delight overtook defeat.  Wonder replaced doubt because a discovery had been made.  "It works!  It works!  Red and yellow really do make orange!"  We had talked and talked about how these fabulous colors work together to create new colors.  We had shown Power Points and given demonstrations, yet they did not really "get it" until they discovered it through an experience.  Art affords experiment and discovery.  Art allows children to create new things with assimilated information.  Art gives children the opportunity to experience, discover and learn!

Up Up and away!

There is a lot to being a teacher.  Much more than I ever knew before I tried my hand at becoming one.  Preparation is as much a part of the package as the actual teaching time.  Susanne and I have spent many hours planning curriculum, gathering supplies and brainstorming about projects and activities for our students.  We have enjoyed the quiet, cool hours spent in our classroom, organizing, cleaning, labeling, and laminating - making a vibrant space where creativity is inspired.  Yet, throughout the summer we have greatly anticipated that noisy surge of energy present in a classroom where children are exploring, learning and creating.  On Wednesday of last week we finally met our energetic third graders.  Of course we had a concise, obligatory discussion of "classroom expectations" and then we got busy!  It is always a good idea for new art students to experience "success" at the first attempts of artistic exploration. This not only builds confidence in their own artistic skills but also their confidence in our ability to instruct them.  This particular activity of drawing and designing hot air balloons always delivers!  At first glance, to capture the alluring brilliance of these floating beauties can seem impossible - down right intimidating.  But on closer examination the students learn that hot air balloons are mostly a simple combination of circles and rectangles.  The rest, the exquisite, colorful designs are whatever the student artists dream them to be - dots, zigzags, stripes and swirls, lightening bolts, hearts, flowers and cars, the solution is theirs to imagine.  This is why children need Art. They need the freedom to create a solution that is always right.  They need practice in recognizing that compliant parts often form the more daunting whole.  It was a productive first day and as imaginations engaged and the feeling of success grew palpable in the room, we knew our school year had finally begun!

It's Raining It's Pouring Our Summer Has Not Been Boring!

We hope you are having a hot and happy summer!  Did you know that this past spring ArtPart started their rain barrel project?  Yes, it was quite fun to see how the efforts of many people in our community came together in such a creative way!  It all started last September when the United Way, ACE Hardware Stores and Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Co. launched a series of rain barrel workshops at the Tennessee Aquarium.  Forty rain barrels were produced for Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy.  We decided to sale the rain barrels in order to raise money for the continuation of art at CDESA.  The 5th grade students helped us paint and market the rain barrels.  They wrote and researched about rain barrels and produced their own hang tag.  The students spent many hours painting the barrels and learning about the benefits of rain barrel usage.  You may have seen us at the Chattanooga Markets over the past few months.  The school has been busy creating sustainable art by decorating these water-saving barrels.
The project to paint the barrels was loads of fun on many Saturday mornings.  We owe a great deal of thanks to Kate Leonard who just graduated from Chattanooga Christian School (CCS).  She rallied many high school students & friends to come and paint in their free time for this project.  Kate volunteered in the art classroom, as well and saw first hand the great need for art in the lives of the students at CDESA.  She wanted to help fund the efforts of ArtPart because she believes so strongly in the value of students learning creatively.  Kate is a real go-getter who knows the power of change and how it can start with the action of just one person!
Now for the best part....You can own your own rain barrel for less than you could purchase one in a store and help support CDESA's art program!  We still have rain barrels left to sell!  Please contact us at today to find out how to get yours!  You can email us at artpartchatt@gmail.com.

The Winner is......

2011/12 Kids First cover art contest winner - DeVon Saddler, third grade, Calvin Donaldson 

"Would you like to buy a coupon book?"  Yes, we've all heard it from neighbors, grandkids and various  miniature salesmen-in-training.  The annual Hamilton County Kids First Coupon Book sale is about to begin - a much anticipated event for ArtPart.  ArtPart loves good savings, but the cause of our great anticipation does not lie within the potential savings but within the positive recognition that this booklet will bring to our phenomenal art students at Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy (CDESA).  "How's that?'' you ask.  Well, let me brag a little.  Every year the Kids First Coupon Book committee arranges an art contest for the cover of the booklet.  All Hamilton County students are invited to participate.   Illustrations are submitted and a cover is selected.  This year the winning cover art goes to.....DeVon Saddler, a very talented Calvin Donaldson third grade art student.  DeVon was beyond excitement when he was informed of this achievement.   His fellow students were very proud as well.  They were not only proud of DeVon but more importantly they were proud to be a Calvin Donaldson student.  A Calvin Donaldson student had never won such an honor.  This is clearly due to lack of opportunity, not lack of talent.  Opportunity, accomplishment, school pride, affirmation, positive community recognition - this is the stuff from which healthy,  productive people are made. This is the stuff that has transformed the kids at CDESA because they had the opportunity to participate in the arts.


Unfortunately, DeVon will no longer be given the privilege to participate in art education next year because of a lack of funding.  Would you consider partnering with us to make art education available to all students at Calvin Donaldson so that they might be able to experience opportunity, accomplishment, school price, affirmation, and positive community recognition.   To give to this endeavor, please go to  http://www.cfgc.org/  click donate under Live Here Give Here, and choose ArtPart as the recipient.

"Kids First" cover art entries

"Kids First" cover art entries, a set on Flickr. Check out all six CDESA entries.

Hello World!

Well, here we are, on the world wide web.  What a journey this has been!  We started with a simple mission, a simple plan...."let's teach art!" and we ended with eyes wide open to a much more complicated issue.  The lack of art education available to the deserving children of our community.  We have an incredible city, one that embraces and encourages the arts.  However, only 11 out of 44 elementary schools offer art education - leaving a gaping hole in the academic experience of Hamilton County students.  We, ArtPart, would like to rally the troops (yes, YOU are the troops) and improve that 11/44 statistic.  Art is an important part of education.  http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/champions/message.html The act of creating fosters innovation, builds self-esteem, and reinforces academic understanding.  All children benefit from the intrinsic value of making art, not just those who are "gifted" with artistic skill.
Take DiCorius Knight.  As we studied, sketched and considered various skyscrapers (preparing for the creation of brilliant cityscapes), I told DiCorius that he could become an architect someday.  He had never heard the word before.  He did not know what an architect was or what an architect did.  DiCorius inquired and continued to create his cityscape masterpiece.  As we talked, his imagination constructed a cityscape on paper while his intellect constructed new aspirations for his future.  Three months later, DiCorius came to school as an architect on career day.  


This is only one story.  We have many.  We invite you to be a part of our mission to both advocate art education and to provide accessible art initiatives for as many Hamilton County students as possible.