Artistic Explorations: Student Art Exhibit

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Art is...

"I ... am always obliged to go and gaze at a blade of grass, a pine-tree branch, an ear of wheat, to calm myself..."

Vincent van Gogh

1853-1890

The Painter On His Way to Work

Vincent van Gogh

July, 1888

Destroyed by fire in the Second World War

Art is edgy. Art is sometimes unexpected, even dangerous. Art is...

The focus of this week's Art History lesson was Vincent van Gogh. The lesson was kick-started with the question- 'Why am I here?' followed by, 'What if I devoted my life to the pursuit of an answer?'

For an excellent essay on 'Staying Dangerous', by Jon Acuff, click here.

The Trinity Student Art Exhibit received rave reviews from parents and family members. Here are a few of the pieces exhibited:

Mr. Corwin and a student, admiring work in
the Student Art Exhibit

Clay and Wood
by Alli Meyer

Acrylic on canvas
by Jamie White

Acrylic on Canvas
by Rachel Levi

Acrylic on Canvas
by Samuel Carter

Acrylic on Canvas
by Claire Mintich

Clay and Wood
by Davis Martinec

Digital Photo
by Emma Carter

Here are a few of the directions we traveled this week:

Marbleizing paper

Etching on Plexiglass

Harvesting vines for a sculpture project

Marbleized Paper
by Katherine Irwin

Proofing an etching

First Proof
by Samuel Carter

Harvesting Vines

And, here is an excellent photo
by Chase Smith

Sunday, February 19, 2012

" Real work always includes a respect for the material at hand. The material can be a pork loin, or a mahogany plank, or a lump of clay, or the will of God. But when the work is done well there is a kind of submission of will to the conditions at hand, a cultivation of humility. It is a noticeable feature in all skilled workers- woodworkers,

potters, poets and prayers."

Eugene Peterson

This week, Jamie White asked me, "Does somebody tell you what you have to teach, or do you take suggestions?"

"Do you have a suggestion?" I asked.

"Maybe."

Over the years, I have found lessons from a variety of sources; walks in the woods, or, grocery aisles (something I learned from Eugene Faehnle, a revolutionary Memorial designer) provide a plethora of ideas. Sometimes an article will inspire a project, but sometimes inspiration comes from students. Benjamin Franklin said,

"Tell me and I forget.

Teach me and I remember.

Involve me and I learn."

I think I will make a sign for the Art Room-

Suggestions Welcome Here

Tuesday evening is Family Night at Trinity. Here is a sneek peek of the work that will be shown in the Student Art Exhibit.