Took my two kids to the Corcoran today to see Chris Martin's 'Painting Big'

The Corcoran had a class for families and children ages 5-7 this morning and it was amazing!!! If you ever get a chance to take your kids to their family/child programs there, please do so! Children got to see and talk about Chris Martin's paintings in which he embeds lots of things and images that are meaningful to him. For this class, kids were asked to bring in their own images or items meaningful to them in order to later embed them into their own personal paintings. Nora took images of ballerinas and princesses along with lots of sticker gems. Luke took images of all his favorite scientists and some flat legos. I will post the pictures of their works later but have decided to absolutely do the same project with my Murch students. I love living in DC!! There is never a dull weekend.

Click here to read about the show. I was told that next week they will post all new programming for their winter family events. So check them out!

If there are any families out there who would like to go to these museum events regularly maybe we can form a group. Email me if interested at Miriam.Cutelis@yahoo.com.

Arts Opportunities for Murch Families

Shereth Gilson, the kindergarten assistant (above) in Mr. Brady's class is a professional singer with The Washington Revels. She will perform at Lisner Auditorium Dec.3-4 and 9-11, Matinees and evening shows. The website to purchase tickets, which go on sale on Oct.3rd, is www.revelsdc.org or 800-595-4849. Group discounts: 301-587-3835. She is a classically trained singer. She'd love to know if anyone from Murch is coming so she can arrange to see them during the performance. They include the audience in many of the numbers!! Ms. Gilson says It is an awesome experience. This year the program is Andalucian Treasures, Arabic, Jewish and Muslim music from the 7th thru 15th century and some traditional Christmas music. If you have questions for Ms. Gilson just e-mail me and I'd gladly forward your email to her.

Parent volunteers-all you need to know

I have had many parents approach me about volunteering in the art room. Parents are ALWAYS welcome to volunteer in the art room during times their child comes to art class. If interested in volunteering just e-mail me at Miriam.Cutelis@yahoo.com and let me know you're coming. Normally you can help maintain the class on task, or sit by a child who might need extra support. You can always also sit by your child and do your own art, help wash brushes or help hang, label or photograph art for the blog. Kids love showing off their parents to their friends and it also gives parents a great opportunity to get a feel on the class culture. Look forward to meeting you soon.

Stencils are put to the test.....check out our 5th grade sports mural...

After weeks of learning all about stencils and designing our own stencils students in Ms. McCoy's class finally got to create their sport mural. You can catch a glimpse in this amazing mural on the wall right outside the art room and look up!

Ms. Melissa helped us with this project.
It started to come together!


The final product below!!
Thank you to parent Ms. Melissa, Mr. Tait and Ms. Crawley (my student teacher) for all your help!

Love My Murch Parents!!

I just had to put out a huge thank you to Ms. Lisa (Lilly's mom) and Ms. Galen (Oliver's mom) again for going out and getting me various cans of spray paint for our stenciling class with 5th graders. I also want to send a huge thank you to all the parents who wrote me asking if I still needed spray paint. Wow!! I love my Murch parents. I do not take all your support for granted....not for a minute. Have a wonderful weekend!

How limitations spur creativity and discoveries

I gave each child 6 colors; black, white, red, blue, yellow and brown and they created so many new colors. Here are some sample swatches of their creations. In limiting their palettes children learn how to tweak the color recipes to create new colors. After gaining some experience in this, children can begin to purposely mix specific amounts to create a specific color.

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5th grade sports mural (McCoy)

Come see it. It's hanging right outside the art studio.

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Artists as creators and innovators

I went to this amazing professional development class at the Corcoran tonight and began thinking again about the benefits of the Arts in education. In my art studio at Murch, children identify themselves daily as innovators and creators. Within my classroom walls they work hard for themselves to satisfy an intensely personal journey. Rarely are children trusted and fully encouraged to seek for the answers within? Yet, that is what we do daily in art.

I don't just think I have the best job in the world; I know I have the best job in the world. Every day I experience children growing and gaining confidence from facing their fears, from learning from their mistakes and from looking within for all their answers.

Raising children who trust and honor their inner voice, who can articulate and combine ideas clearly or can combine tools from various venues in their work, will be most sought after in a future world which we do not yet know. Decades from now , it's the outside-the-box thinkers who will become indispensable to humanity.

The Arts is much more than creating artists, or reaching those 'hard-to-reach kids'. The Arts is about creating confident, flexible and articulate adults.

Thank you Ms. Lisa (Lilly's mom) for buying us the spray paints today......big hug!!!

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1st graders paint their additions to the hamster playground

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3rd graders detail their sculptures with detail brushes

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2nd Graders in Ms. Pink's Class Paint using natural dyes....

Ms. Cutelis brought in her juicer to make natural dyes...children brought the vegetables and the fruits.
Here is carrot juice...want to paint?
Children used the juicer to make their dyes

We labeled each dye and used them to color our butterfly paintings







Some of the dyes have a very strong smell.....like the onion...

Can any parents help with....

Dear Wonderful Murch families, I am doing this spray painting activity with 5th graders outdoors with our stencil designs this Friday and I just realized I will not have time to go get the spraypaint for I have a Professional Development class from 4-8pm downtown today, Thursday and won't have time to get it once I get out. Serves me right for not looking at my calendar all week and for leaving things last minute, but if you can help I will owe YOU a big one. Does any parent live nearby a hardware store or an art store and can pick me up 3 different colors of spray paint? I will of course reimburse you for them. I would need any 3 colors listed below.... red, orange, green, blue, green, purple, OR black Please email me BEFORE you go so I don't get 2-3 parents going out to get them. Thanks in advance for your help...... Miriam

Miriam.Cutelis@yahoo.com