Art News!

ARTSONIA! 2011-12
All of our students' art portfolios can be viewed online at Artsonia. Percy Priest Elementary is ranked #1 in Tennessee and #76 in the Nation so if you haven't checked it out yet, log on soon! In the meantime, check out the gift shop with your favorite PPE artist's work on it!

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ART Happenings in 2011-12

Drawing on Chihuly

Recently in art class, the 3rd and 4th grade students have been learning about glass artist, Dale Chihuly and his amazing team. 

The students have been focused on the process the artist works through to get to a finished installation, or a piece of artwork designed for a specific space. The first step Chihuly takes is to create "drawings" of shapes and colors that he finds interesting. He is often inspired by the structure of things found in nature. He uses lines, shapes and textures to create structures in his paintings. These Chihuly-style drawings are also inspired by objects from nature.

The next part of Chihuly's art making process is to find the best team members to help him create his glass pieces. Like a good coach or the conductor of an orchestra, he puts the best person in just the right job so that the team can be successful. The students had the same experience working as a team as they designed and created a class installation made from recycled materials. They had to choose a form, or a three dimensional shape, a color scheme and a location for their installation as a group. The finished pieces are being installed in and around the school. The pieces were inspired by Chihuly and his work which is now on display at Cheekwood.

The 3rd and 4th graders now have a much better appreciation for the number of steps and hands that it takes to make one of Dale Chihuly's sculptures a reality, which will make their visit to see his work at Cheekwood in October even more awe-inspiring! Thank you for taking the time to appreciate what these students have learned and created through art.

CHECK OUT The New Online PPE Art Gallery at
http://www.artsonia.com/

Recycle material needed for art class.
The art department is collecting some recycle materials for storing paint and keeping it fresh between classes and for a wonderful Chihuly-inspired project so if you have these things at home and could send them in ASAP, we would appreciate it! Thanks so much!

• egg cartons

• plastic bread bags

• empty, plastic water bottles of all sizes without the caps

• puffy paint you might have left from a past project

Also note a revised art show schedule will be out soon. Check back for the latest details. Our dates got crossed on the first flier, so be on the lookout for a REVISED art show schedule coming soon to a Friday Folder (and then a refrigerator) near you! Check the website for the most accurate information.

Be sure to check out your child's artwork on http://www.artsonia.com
For log in information contact Tina Atkinson.

About Art at PPE

Percy Priest, Art isn’t just a class…it’s an adventure! Every day that students come to art is another day to grow, think, learn, explore, discuss, write and create. The art classroom experience intertwines the elements of art and the art standards with an enduring theme that challenges students to draw on prior knowledge and personal experience in order to solve visual art problems. Students explore concepts such as identity, community, place, humans and nature, heroes, and heritage, just to name a few. Many units are inspired by prior knowledge from grade-level studies or children’s literature as well as artists and cultures from around the world and throughout history.

Of course art production and working with a variety of mediums adds complexity and fun to the learning process. Students create clay vessels and sculptures, weavings made of a variety of materials, printmaking including incised plates and original stamping, drawings and paintings all while learning and applying the principles of design.

You will be amazed at what our students can do! One example is our outdoor classroom, located in the center of our U-shaped driveway. This classroom was designed by the 4th grade class of 2006 in the art classroom. The students spent 12 weeks learning, researching and developing ideas for this wonder learning space that would be accessible for all students at PPE, beautify the school and offer a new place for students to explore nature, read, meet, interact and learn together during the school day. Their dream became a reality two years later thanks to the generosity of our PTO and many other community members.

To showcase our student’s amazing minds we hold grade level art shows throughout the community. Each student in each grade level has a piece of art work displayed during his/her grade level show. There is an opening reception to celebrate the student’s accomplishments, giving them an opportunity to share what they have learned with family members as well as educating the community. Maggie Moo’s in Green Hills and Davis Kidd Bookseller in the Mall at Green Hills have been our partners for the last several years and generously give their time and services to support the art program and to make the art shows very special for the students.

Look for an online art gallery to come! Artsonia!