The Art Studio turns to T.A.B.

The art room is up and running as a full choice studio! So far only the drawing and painting studios are open, but the variety and quality of work coming out of the art room has continually impressed me. For more information on TAB, go to http://teachingforartisticbehavior.org/ or http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/links/toolbox/TAB-CHOICE.htm

Here are a few highlights from the past two weeks:

   - a 4th grader approaching me, saying he’d like to learn how to shade with pencil better. I announced an impromptu lesson to the class, and a few others joined us to practice shading a flower pot from observation.
    - a 1st grader who usually rushes to be the first completed, instead spent an entire class period drawing on a single 6”x9” sheet of paper.
    - a 1st grader who drew people with a single circle and four lines for limbs, sat down to draw a favorite cartoon character from observation quite successfully! I had no idea he was ready for such a high level of drawing, and never would have provided the opportunity at such a young age.
    - a group of Juniors collaborating around a table drawing planets on black paper with oil pastel, discussing best ways to blend the colors to create the illusion of a sphere, and essentially teaching each other.

Gearing up for next year

As the end of August approaches, Ms. Bazinet, Ms. Stewart and I are busy getting ready for the start of the new school year.

We chose this year's Arts theme shortly after the start of LAST year.  After we thought of it, we knew it was a great theme.  In some ways, it's a continuation of last year's theme, which was water.  Expanding from this one element to all the other elements of our planet seems like a natural extension, and an opportunity for rich connections over these two years.  I loved watching Juniors build snow sculptures, and dance like thunderstorms.  And creating rhythms and new timbres from pools of water has been one of my favorite Sage experiences.

So, this year's theme?  eARTh.  I can't wait to see students struggle with ambiguity, build community, and find alternate modes of expression through the lens of the eARTh around us.

The Next Sage Food Network Star

For cluster week this year I offered a a cluster all about hosting your own cooking show. Students planned, tasted and designed their own three minute segment where they created a healthy lunch. Please click on the following links to see their final demo.
Devon and Melanie

Evie and Abby

Nataly and Giana

Alicia and Julia

Leah and Jane

The Sage Page Online Gallery

There have been requests again for the link to our Sage Page Gallery. This is the website that I publish student work on. You can find it here: www.emilymiah.com/sagepage

Don't forget to keep checking back as the Junior and MS students wrap up their free art projects!

What's up with that big picture of Audrey?

You may have noticed the BIG picture of Audrey in the cafeteria. Our digital photography cluster participated in a global art project by the street artist JR. Here's a link to his Ted Talk on his project - I highly recommend it!

http://www.ted.com/talks/jr_s_ted_prize_wish_use_art_to_turn_the_world_inside_out.html

We may have more posters coming...stay tuned! And thanks to Mr. Miller for creating the first!

You can find more photographs from our cluster on our Sage Page Gallery: www.emilymiah.com/sagepage

by Zachary W.

by Phillip K.

by Kippy S.

by August D.

Article about Brain Development in Music Makers

I thought this was a pretty interesting article.
It's short and sweet, telling of a study that shows the significance of music making on brain development.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505083421.htm

Light Festival this Weekend at MIT

Looking for something to do this weekend?

This festival of lighting installations at MIT looks like a pretty exciting union between art and science:

http://arts.mit.edu/fast/fast-light/

Thanks to Ms. Martin for letting us know about it.