Update on After School Art Series

The next art series which will NOT begin until Mid-March of 2011 (not January as posted in the newsletter) will be all about storytelling and making simple stories come alive through acting and puppetry and general play-based-performances (Open to Kindergarten and 1^st graders). Registration for that will not be available until about mid-February and it will be online registration only. In order to be fair to all families who have not yet had a chance to participate in the after school art program it will again be purely through a system of 'first-come-first-served' basis. So please sign up (look to your left) to get e-mail reminders whenever I post on the art blog so that you get the news the minute it’s posted in February. I wish I could close myself and serve the entire community, but 20 slots per session, once a week for the whole year is all I can offer right now while my kiddies are young.

A note to all parents who want their kids in the next after school art session that begins Mid-March 2011. I have been receiving dozens of requests for space reservations for the next afterschool art program in March 2011. Although I feel incredibly humbled and deeply honored to see such interest in me and my programs, I am not able to reserve any spots at this time. I would like to keep this program open to as many families as possible and I believe that keeping it a truly democratic process is the only way to approach the process. I am working on coming up with some 1-time unique workshops for the near future as well as setting up possible for-profit art intensives for this summer. The best way to be informed of such opportunities is to sign up through my blog to get e-mail updates everytime I post.

Thank you HSA....

The HSA has recently bought the art room 3 display panels like the one you see above that will greatly enhance the way art is taught at Murch. Children will now be able to hang their 2D art when done and having visual access to every one's work will allow for more furtive discussions about process, specific skills they see utilized and learn from each other's observations and comments. The displays are very light and have wheels which means they could serve as temporary wall or art displays anywhere in the building. Thank you HSA!!

My next task in getting a state-of-the-art visual arts program in place at Murch is improving the dire storage situation in the room. As it's apparent to all parents who have come in to volunteer, the classroom is overwhelmed by too many needed supplies and too few placed to put them on. Please check back soon for more information on my progress in this area. In the meantime, of you have any extra shelf furniture or bookcase you no longer need, I'd love to have them....Aesthetics is not as important as sturdiness. I can always repaint them to freshen them up.....

Again, thanks HSA.....!!

Art Show Registration

I am sending the art show registration and more information this coming week in a tri-fold pamphlet. Yet, here is a sneak peak of the information for those who want to begin planning sooner than later.

GUIDELINES:

· Art must be 100% done by the registrant.

· 2D work must be matted with a black piece of construction paper creating a 2” border all around the work. (Ask me if you need BLACK paper). All this means is that the work is glued to a larger piece of paper that is BLACK in color. See image on the left for example.

· Work must have been done within the last 6 months and must be complete

· Label (included in this registration) must be secured with glue at bottom right hand corner of mat.

· If art is 3D, item must come in a box (such as a shoe box) and label included inside the box and not attached to work. I will place label near the work when displayed.

· Art AND registration must be dropped off together between 8:45-9am or 3:15-3:30 on any weekday before the deadline in the art room

IMPORTANT DATES:

**Friday, November 13:

Registration and art delivery deadline (3:30pm). No work will be accepted after this time. Art and registration form must be delivered to Ms. Cutelis in the art room by child or child’s family/guardian. See times under guidelines.

*****

**Friday, December 4:

Art Show Opening Night

7pm in the Gym

*****

**Friday, December 18 OR Thursday December 17

Art pick up between 8-8:30am and 3:20-3:40pm both days ONLY, no exceptions. Children or their families can pick up the art work during these times.

Note: do not drop off work until you get the registration and have a chance to fill it out. Work will not be accepted without a registration form and labels attached. Labels will be provided with registration forms.

5th Grade Watercolors hanging on 1st Floor

Please come see the 5th grade watercolors of DC and World landmarks. I displayed all 3 classes this afternoon in the first floor by one of the stairs closest pre-k building.

For this painting unit kids:
-learned the 2 basic techniques in watercolor, wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry
-Learned to begin with large shapes first and add details later
-Learned that details should be added on with a thinner brush
-Learned that colors become more intense when you add a second coat
-Learned that some artists choose to intentionally let their colors bleed into each other for the effect.


Please note that if your child's is not hanging on the wall (1) your child either did not complete it, (2) were in the group of works I just found in Ms. Otten's folder today.