In teaching today, the students worked marvelously on their self-portrait projects. I spoke with the 9th and 10th grade students about creating an artwork that would represent themselves or tell a story about themselves in some way. First students took a selfie and printed their portraits and collaged them onto their papers to start. In yesterday’s presentation, we discussed many different artists work and the concept of macro and micro. I wanted students to incorporate these concepts into their work for today’s session. We discussed how to communicate a message about a space in or outside their community in which they felt connected to in some way and linking it to the theme of place to add to their art project. There were many different directions students could go in and I wanted them to work in a mixed media format to tell the story of who they are.
At the end of the studio work session today, I conducted a think, pair, share activity in which the students turned to their partners and discussed their work. They had to share some things they liked about the work and offer some constructive feedback and suggestions for their partner in order to continue and move forward with their pieces. When it came time to share out to the larger group, and communicate ideas about their partner’s work, some groups felt comfortable and others did not.
Although students seemed adequate in discussing the artist work I presented yesterday, I realized that students were not used to talking about their own artwork in English. Some students were sharing, but others seemed shy and more reserved. After the class had ended I had a discussion with their English language teacher to talk about ways in which the students could communicate their ideas effectively in tomorrow’s group discussion. The English language teacher shared different ways in which I might structure the discussion including speaking points projected on screen. We had a productive discussion and I thought I would give them the following assignment for tomorrow at the end of the work session:
Speaking points / Artist statement guidelines
Self-Identity Network Project / Ben Tellie
Today in class, I would like you to share your work with the group near the end of our class session. Here are some guidelines for both speaking about your work and writing about your work in your artist statement. Your artist statement is due Friday morning at the beginning of the school day. Please drop off your statement when you come into school in the artroom. Don’t forget to have your name and a title for your work:
- Tell us one thing you like about your work.
- What materials did you use and why are they important for your project? (Speaking about your artistic process)
- What was the best thing about your experience making your artwork?
- What’s one thing you might do to improve your work? Or, if you had to change one thing about your work what might it be?
I also wanted to put up an art exhibition of student work in the Lauder School Community Friday morning. I am currently working with students to have them finish up their work so we can showcase it and have them write a small artist statements to go along with their pieces. I hope that this exhibit will inspire the community and add to the already wonderful art programming they have lead by Ildiko and her students. I am very proud to be working with them and Ildiko on these projects.
After the Lauder school today we left at 11:45AM to go to Central European University. I am most impressed with the university’s facilities and the technology they offer in each classroom. Everything is very professional and has smart classroom technology. It was a pleasure to visit this university.
We are were their not only to visit but to listen and support Yaffa’s talk on the Hebrew Language starting at 12:45PM. Yaffa discussed the Hebrew language, how it evolved, and important Jewish figures in history and literature. One thing that stood out to me was Yaffa’s approach to of communicating more information about Jewish diaspora and the revival of the Hebrew language and how important it is in Jewish culture.
