Category: Collaborate

Week Eleven

4/13/2018

Acting Like Designers

For our final STEAM collaborative of the year, students are acting like an architecture firm and creating spaces using a variety of tools. To begin, students get into groups of four and assign roles: Project Managers are responsible for collecting images of the work, writing a purpose statement for the work, and creating a presentation of all of those items; Blueprint Designers are responsible for sketching out the way the building will look and the layout of the structure; SketchUp Artists are responsible for creating a digital rendering of the structure; and Maquette Builders are responsible for creating a physical model of the piece.

In STEAM class, we are working on thinking like Design Engineers and creating concept sketches of products. To get them thinking about product design, we watched the video below:

Afterwards, students started to brainstorm products that currently exist as well as those that do not that would help resolve frustrations they have. It was fun to see students come up with ideas and then getting feedback from others through a roundtable sharing process.

Before working on their final designs, I also took students through the act of creating a "Mood Board" to help better define their product. They combined images and words while thinking about their product and consumer to give an overall feel for their design as well as hone in on their point of view as the designer. I had never done this before with students. It is such a quick and easy activity to do and it helps secure their idea before finalizing their sketch.

Here are some of the results:

I am also super excited that the latest issue of Scholastic Art Magazine fits right into this project. I made sure to spend time yesterday going over their interview with Nike Chief Design Officer, John Hoke with my STEAM students.

Sometimes I think the people at Scholastic are reading my mind. This issue could not have come at a better time!

Alter Egos

We are nearing to a close for our Dual Enrollment class and students worked on finishing up their alter egos before starting their final exam projects. It has been fun to see students interpret a variety of media and concepts throughout the term. I am excited to see that students took a lot of liberty with their alter egos. Some used clay, others used wall paper and wire, and some used hot glue. With only a couple of weeks left before we finish final exam projects and say goodbye, here are a few of the solutions from this last project.

Week Seven

3/9/2018

Building More Skills

This past week, students were introduced to their next major project theme: Spaces and Places. It was fun to see students shift gears and think about how we can depict different places based on our experiences and interests.

To get students started, we looked at a variety of artists and then spent sometime on building understanding and skill with two challenges: Fast Collage and Photoshop Challenge 2. Both looked at how we can bring images together to make something new and both focused on students working with spaces by establishing a foreground, middle ground, and background in their work. In both works, students are asked to create quickly. It is always amazing to see what they can make in such short periods of time. The goal is for students to use this understanding of space in their project as they see fit moving into next week.

Here are examples of the work below:

Isaac: I created this by using an abstract collage with various scapes and figures, along with putting an unrealistic twist to the size of figures when looking at depth

Kari: I made an interesting piece of collage. There is a really cool background and the middle ground I had cats and then I had a dog for the foreground.

Bryce: I like this piece because it really shows the horizon and the mountain and also the lake thats in it. This could be one of my favorite pieces of all.

Gage: I made this with photoshop I outlined the mountains and the grass. Then I made the little details like al of the trees in the photo and the twigs on the ground. I liked this because I like to do photoshop.

Madeline: I selected the space challenge because I enjoy looking at the space and see all the cool things out there. I liked being able to create a cool effect with the sense glare and with the stars. It was all cool to see how you could create the planets with different patterns and colors. To see how the project came together to create something a whole image was very fascinating

Eli: In the photoshop challenge 2 I did The space image. This was an intermediate challenge and I really enjoyed it. I Learned many new things with photoshop and how it works. I also use lots of factors of art and the composition to get the whole art work. I really loved how the lens flare and the stars make the space look really realistic.

Olivia: To create this piece I used a graffiti name maker to create my name in graffiti. After that I put it onto a photoshop piece with a picture of the wall. Then I made it look like the graffiti was painted on the wall and had been weathered there over time. This made it look real even though it isn't, and that is why I decided to do this piece. It looks so real and it's really cool to have my name painted on the wall.

Niklas: I created this name using Graffiti Creator. I think the shape of the letters look very cool and I also really like cool colors like blue and green. I think the colors show me as a fun person.

Zander: The hallway I made was made in photoshop and it was made with a line tool, The gradient I used was a cool one that I found and this is what I made

Aron: In this image I have made a hallway. First I took a picture of a hallway, and I used the pen tool to fill in the lines of the image. After that I then used the gradient tool to make the background colorful. Finally I used the extort tool to add some cubes for the background. I selected this project because I wanted to try the most challenging project available, because that is kind of fun and the most rewarding in the end.

Technology-based Work

In my STEAM class, students are focused on technology this week for their second major "Can Do" project. They could make anything as long as it was technology focused. It was fun to see the variety of works students have started to make and how they have employed materials we have obtained thanks to grants from DonorsChoose.org and TangerKIDS.

We will be finishing up these works this week and moving onto the next focus: Engineering.

Mini-Hideaways

My 3D students are working hard as we hit the final stretch of class and our last major projects before we complete the course at the end of April. It is crazy to think of how quickly we have gotten to this point. This week, students finished working on their mini-hideaway projects and took photographs of them on their desired locations.

It was neat to see them completed and on location as well as read why students selected the places they did for their work.

Last Collaborative

One of my favorite components of this course has been the amount of collaborative work students have done along the way. We will be finishing our final one next week, where students are asked to create a large cardboard camera.

My students decided to use this older example as their inspiration and also make it wearable (since our next project deals with wearable works). It will be fun to see this come together in the next week.

Making Connections

This week was also spent making connections with our NIS program through Google Hangouts. It was fun to have students discuss various opportunities to create in our program and answer questions from 6th grade students about what it is like to be in Art and STEM in 7th and 8th grade.

Three to go

5/20/2017

STEAM Collaborations

The STEM teacher and I decided that simply one more collaboration was not enough for our students, so we did a JAM PACKED week and a half that included three! It was a perfect way to finish our last collaborations as a group and release some creative energy during State Testing.

Here are some of the results:

#1: Mandala Madness

When we plan out our collaborations, we want to make sure students are getting equal parts Art and STEM. This Mandala collaboration really is one of the most perfect blends we have found and offers a chance for everyone to help out.

First students get into groups of four and learn about various ways cultures have used radial design as a strategy to communicate ideas. After we look at some examples of various designs, students fold and cut their own mandala, using the fold lines as their lines of symmetry to transfer the design so it is symmetrical throughout their piece.

After students completed their designs, we went outside to translate them into LARGE replicas with chalk. I happened to be sick on the day we did this, but my students made sure to turn in images of their work. Here are a few:

Students also explored radial symmetry through digital means using Sumopaint and Photoshop.

#2: Piskels to Legos

In the spirit of translating images from one platform to another, students created images using the online program PiskelApp and then recreated them on our Lego Board! This Lego Board and the Lego pieces were purchased through a DonorsChoose project earlier in the year and funding from The Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters.

It was an awesome use of materials and it was fun to see all of the different creatures and creations students came up with to add to the board. This was our first time doing this collaboration and only had about a day to complete it. I think we will do some other really cool things with the Lego board in the future based on this experience.

#3: ArtPrize Youth Collaboration

Inspired by my trip to The Lab School in Washington, D.C. for The Power of Art Conference, I knew I wanted to do a large collaborative with students that would ultimately hang in our library. The new Youth Collaboration Award offered by ArtPrize was just the incentive to get something done by the end of the year and we hope we are able to connect with a venue in order to have it as a part of this year's competition.

The above video walks you through the five day process students went through to create this colorful work. First, students looked at the combines of Robert Rauschenberg and used his application of paint to inform their approach to attaching the canvas by making marks using a variety of tools. I was able to use donated paint from X-rite that was given to us a couple of years ago for this and a variety of paint brushes, sponges, texture tools, yarn, and stamps for applying it to the three 4x8ft foam boards. Even some teachers and our Assistant Principal got in on the action. They were simply encouraged to make marks and attack the surface (I had a great painting teacher in college who would say the same to me).

Then students were shown some images by Caledonia Curry and how she uses printmaking and cut patterns on paper to create collaged and layered works. We used the idea of paper cutting to create a series of portraits of students from our school (some of the images were from photos I had taken for the yearbook and others were from students own images) and various circle patterns. Students worked in pairs for this and it was fun to see the patterns and faces emerge as they cut into the colorful pieces of paper.

Once that was complete, we worked together to arrange the cut outs on top of the painted background until it seemed to look "right." Using Modge Podge and sponge brushes, they were sealed on top of the surface.

The end result is bright and colorful and reflective of the wonderful chaos that is both the end of the year and frequently in my Middle School Art room. I think we are pretty much finished (although we may add in some Sharpie outlines in the background - we are still debating this). We have until June 22nd to connect with a venue so our work can be a part of the ArtPrize Youth Collaboration Award consideration.

If you are interested in hosting this work, please visit the link and request a connection.

This work will be on display in the BCWMS Lobby during our Arts a la Mode/Fine Arts Night on Tuesday May 23rd.

STEAM collaboration #3

3/31/2016

This year, the STEM teacher and I made a big effort to collaborate more. We set aside at least one week per marking period to create works that delve into the intersection of our subjects through STEAM collaborations.

First semester, we worked on PSAs (three of which finished in the top three for the Meijer Great Choices Film Festival and two won recognition at the State Film Festival). Second semester, we ended 2016 with a collaborative origami mural to remind others to "be nice."

This semester, we decided to get a little more blended in our approach through an Architectural unit that asked students to design and create a structure in a group setting.

We were nervous about how it might work out because students were asked to do a lot in only a little over a week. They had to come up with a purpose statement for their structure, make a blueprint, make a sketch-up, and make a model.

Although time was tight, students really pushed themselves and created some great works that combined both hands-on and digital building.

Check out the process below:

And some finished presentations:

Overall, this was one of the more successful collaborative projects we have done so far this year. We do not plan to do the exact same work next year, but will definitely work in the use of sketch-up for future 3D rendering as well as having both digital and physical components for students to create.

A Dot is A Lot

9/11/2015

Students finished their Dot Day works today and combined them to make larger spheres inspired by the Peter H. Reynolds book, The Dot. Before we made it to the larger work, students completed their individual marks, photographed them, and uploaded them to Artsonia. We uploaded more than 90 pieces today and I am so proud of how quickly my students were able to do it, thanks to Artsonia's classroom mode!

When students uploaded their works to Artsonia, they included how they connected with the story we had read and how their personal dot reflects their personality. Here are a few of their responses.

Christina: "The Dot" story is a story about a little girl that thought she couldn't draw. After her teacher helped her discover a way for her to draw she made more of the dots but every time it was a bit different. She turned a simple dot into art. This connects to me because I also don't think that I can draw but I do like to work with lines so that is my way of art just like the little girl in the dot story.

Ana: The story means that there are many different ways to make a dot, and every dot in the world is different. The purpose of us in class making a dot is that it means that every single one of else is different, thus resulting every dot in this room will be different. While glueing our dots together, means that we are all connect in some way.

Jack: "The Dot" story is saying to start with what you are good at and build from there. I started making patterns and colors and built from there.

Zach: The reason I used pattern for this circle is because it represents me, which this means that I'm fun and energetic. The dot story is saying even though you think your not that good at art, anything can be art even dots can be looked at is art as long as try and have confidence in yourself.

After we finished uploading the works online, students then folded their circles into equilateral triangles and began gluing their pieces together. If you plan to do this, you will need 20 to make a sphere. Five for the top, with points towards the center. Ten for the middle, that alternate points up and down. Five for the bottom, with points to the center. Once those parts are complete, you can glue them together. Here are some images of the process:

For the top and bottom, you will need to glue the five together so the points connect to center.

For the center, you will glue ten that alternate positions (pointing up and down).

The end result is a fun series of globes we will be able to hang in the hallway for everyone to view! We will make additional ones that are all colors combined with the leftover pieces from each class!

A Space for smART

2/18/2014

An Art Space Makeover!

Before.

After.

The Steelcase furniture gives seating for up to 13 students to collaborate and plan digital projects. The display cases show both student and teacher work as conversation and idea starters for those in the space. The gallery wall showcases student work and acts as a place for students to stop and examine examples of excellence in our program.

Our smART space is nearly complete. Due to grant funds from the 2013 winning Meijer Great Choices videos and other monies, we were able to purchase the canvases, paint, furniture, and frames that now fill the area leading up to the Art room. It has been awesome to see it come together and also see students taking a moment to enjoy the space and the art that fills it. This has become a popular place for students to share ideas as they collaborate on projects and work individually. I am very thankful to have the opportunity to introduce this kind of learning environment to students and look forward to enjoying it for years to come.

smART space

1/24/2014

The finished sign for the space outside of my classroom has been completed! 8th grade students and those in my after school art class did an amazing job collaborating and contributing to this triptych by making their mark. I hope to do many more paintings like this with my students for other areas in our school.

In addition to finishing out this piece, we were also thrilled to begin the transformation of the space outside of my classroom. This transformation of the smART (sit.meet.ART!) space will be completed once we get our framed art on the walls, which should take place in the next week or two. Students already got a chance to get in the furniture and use it to foster their learning and collaborate with each other.

Paint and Clay, Day 2

1/22/2014

I am completely floored with the results from the first two days in the Art class with this new group of students!

8th grade students and my after school class has done an outstanding job of working together to create the colorful collaborative painting pictured above.

7th grade students completed their bowls for our Empty Bowls event and some even brought in their donations to secure their own bowl for the event.

I am so excited with the progress in just two days of class… I cannot wait to see what else comes out of these classes as we progress through the term!

surrealistic me

6/23/2012

Earlier this year, 8th grade students created images using Photoshop for the Surrealistic Me, The Student Creative project. This project collected images from students that study all over the world and curated the submissions into a book that you can preview below and purchase to help support the Jacaranda School for AIDS orphans in Malawi. We submitted two classes worth of images for the project; Justin Thompson and Mariah Rae's portraits were selected for publication in the book. Check out the full book below!

Surrealistic Me | Make Your Own Book

student videos

6/5/2012

Rob Kelly from Janine Campbell on Vimeo.

Students viewed each others videos about artists and ideas covered this semester today to prepare for exams starting tomorrow. Above is one of the more inventive scenarios to discuss the artist being covered. Overall, the quality and content of the videos submitted this semester was some of the best since I started teaching this project last school year. Just imagine what it will be like once we get our new tech tools... CAN'T WAIT!