Ms. Sapelly, thrilled that one of her students loves "eighties music," dove into her pile of LPs and took a handful to Gilmore. She made photocopies of their covers, and the student was really excited...but he has yet to include them in his 'hands' project!!!
Two students, caught up in the excitement of a sports event, took the class time to create lovely green silk headbands. One featured a cd cut in half with beautiful writing on it, the other a feather. They wore these around and showed them to their friends upstairs. Ms. Sapelly photographed them before they left for the game. Another student used a pile of black yarn and created an amazing hand, the lines of the yarn reading like veins, with some strands spilling outward into space.
Principal Klein visited us, but seem concerned about the lack of students sitting in the class...and the few that were walking the hallways. Ms. Sapelly realized that three were absent, one excused for math extra-help, another ran to get her purple knitting yarn, and the other two were upstairs...so, six students sat deep into their work! But, she realized, she only started with nine students for the day anyway!
All turned out well, and we look forward, cautiously, to Thursday...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
January 23, 2009
The class 'hands' include a variety of details. Beards, knitting samples, beads, black and white 'graphic' areas, ipods, and pool tables emerge on several pieces of watercolor paper. Hand gestures range from outstretched to peace signs; one student opted to exclude fingers!
Ms. Sapelly showed some of her own work today, but most students were uninterested, and wanted to work on their pieces in progress. They did, however, like the 'church window/ eye pieces,' and some expressed interest in learning the quilting and dissolvable stabilizer technique that was used in their making. Ms. Sapelly promised to 'demo' the technique after the Admiring Hands project is complete.
Ms. Sapelly showed some of her own work today, but most students were uninterested, and wanted to work on their pieces in progress. They did, however, like the 'church window/ eye pieces,' and some expressed interest in learning the quilting and dissolvable stabilizer technique that was used in their making. Ms. Sapelly promised to 'demo' the technique after the Admiring Hands project is complete.
January 21, 2009
A lot of energy this day, for we came off of the Martin Luther King holiday and the excitement of the inauguration...I saw evidence of Gilmore's participation of the event in the form of large cardboard backdrops and posters littering the art room.
We continue to work on the Admiring hands project, but some were somewhat distracted and excited as the day wound down. A couple of students, however, sat in complete absorption, quietly coloring or adding words to their role model's hands...
Ms. Nesralla, Assistant Principle, paid us an admiring, encouraging, sweeping visit, exclaiming, "I have no artistic talent!" No matter how hard Ms. Sapelly tried to counter her opinion of her artistic abilities, Ms. Nesralla waved her hand and shook her head as she strolled out of the room.
We continue to work on the Admiring hands project, but some were somewhat distracted and excited as the day wound down. A couple of students, however, sat in complete absorption, quietly coloring or adding words to their role model's hands...
Ms. Nesralla, Assistant Principle, paid us an admiring, encouraging, sweeping visit, exclaiming, "I have no artistic talent!" No matter how hard Ms. Sapelly tried to counter her opinion of her artistic abilities, Ms. Nesralla waved her hand and shook her head as she strolled out of the room.
Friday, January 16, 2009
January 16, 2009
A shrinking class population it seems this week, but Ms. Sapelly believes it's due to the long weekend...families may be taking an extra day for an extended vacation. Still, we were fortunate to meet with Ms. Megan Kenealy, Community Outreach Coordinator of the Fuller Craft Museum. Ms. Kenealy organizes all sorts of great classes and connects artists with the public schools...Ms. Sapelly is one of those artists, and is sooo grateful for the opportunity to teach at Gilmore Academy.
Ms. Kenealy met with students and asked them questions about the Postcard Project, while observing their work on the Admiring Hands Project. All were intently working despite it being the Friday before a long weekend!
Ms. Kenealy informed students about the Art Aspire gallery opening to be held at the Fuller Craft Museum in June. Their work will be part of the exhibition, and she encouraged them all to attend the event! They will be receiving formal invitations as the date nears...
Ms. Sapelly brought in her hand project, which will be quilted on muslin using tiny running stitches... she worries that she won't have it done by the deadline. Students were interested in the technique, and she will bring in some supplies next week for those who want to incorporate textiles in their work.
Ms. Kenealy met with students and asked them questions about the Postcard Project, while observing their work on the Admiring Hands Project. All were intently working despite it being the Friday before a long weekend!
Ms. Kenealy informed students about the Art Aspire gallery opening to be held at the Fuller Craft Museum in June. Their work will be part of the exhibition, and she encouraged them all to attend the event! They will be receiving formal invitations as the date nears...
Ms. Sapelly brought in her hand project, which will be quilted on muslin using tiny running stitches... she worries that she won't have it done by the deadline. Students were interested in the technique, and she will bring in some supplies next week for those who want to incorporate textiles in their work.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
January 14, 2009
Everyone seemed tired or prone to outbursts today, as some students went on a field trip, returning just prior to class. Mr. Stewart interviewed students about their experiences while working on their projects, finding out how they felt about the class, for his documentary film making elective.
Ms. Sapelly reviewed the Admiring Hands project, and passed out a sheet with guidelines, ideas, and details to include in their drawings. Students finished up with their questionnaires and began working on their 'hands' composition.
Ms. Sapelly reviewed the Admiring Hands project, and passed out a sheet with guidelines, ideas, and details to include in their drawings. Students finished up with their questionnaires and began working on their 'hands' composition.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
January 12, 2009
Ms. Sapelly met with Ms. Lobo before class, and went to Emmanuel House to work out the logistics of the art elective visiting and working with the seniors. It became apparent that this was going to be impossible due to scheduling, so Ms. Lobo and her Community Service Learning class will do the Hands Project with the Seniors, while Ms. Sapelly's Room/Stories elective will interview role models, and work with their 'hands' instead.
Ms. Sapelly had the pleasure of meeting Professor Burns, a resident at Emmanuel and mentor to Ms. Lobo while she attended Bridgewater State College. What an inspiration!
Ms. Sapelly re-introduced the Admiring Hands Project, and all seemed fine with the change. She passed out the 'information gathering' questionnaire that both the student and the 'role model' will answer. This personal information can be included in their compositions.
Questions include: What is your favorite childhood memory?; What is your favorite food?; What are some phrases your parents used to say to you?. Ms. Sapelly suggested using words, derived from each other's answers, to fill in the hands or the 'negative' space around the hands. She showed several 'sample' hands she worked on using words, and images from magazines and newspapers. Students responded most to her own drawings that included her tiny, repeated signature covering the outside of the paper.
Students filled out their questionnaires during class. Already, one student has begun his drawing, a curve ball hand gesture throwing a baseball, including the words 'curve' and 'baseball.'
Ms. Sapelly had the pleasure of meeting Professor Burns, a resident at Emmanuel and mentor to Ms. Lobo while she attended Bridgewater State College. What an inspiration!
Ms. Sapelly re-introduced the Admiring Hands Project, and all seemed fine with the change. She passed out the 'information gathering' questionnaire that both the student and the 'role model' will answer. This personal information can be included in their compositions.
Questions include: What is your favorite childhood memory?; What is your favorite food?; What are some phrases your parents used to say to you?. Ms. Sapelly suggested using words, derived from each other's answers, to fill in the hands or the 'negative' space around the hands. She showed several 'sample' hands she worked on using words, and images from magazines and newspapers. Students responded most to her own drawings that included her tiny, repeated signature covering the outside of the paper.
Students filled out their questionnaires during class. Already, one student has begun his drawing, a curve ball hand gesture throwing a baseball, including the words 'curve' and 'baseball.'
January 8, 2009
Ms. Sapelly introduced the new project, The Hands, tentatively working with the Emmanuel House seniors, but was unable to give specifics due to her working out logistics with adjustment counselor Ms. Lobo. Basically, each student will trace or draw their hand, making a certain gesture. They will trace the 'others' hand as well (senior).
Students began working in their sketchbooks, tracing their hands and filling in their fingernails, and adding colored circles outside of the hand area. All were on the sleepy side, due to the gray weather.
Students began working in their sketchbooks, tracing their hands and filling in their fingernails, and adding colored circles outside of the hand area. All were on the sleepy side, due to the gray weather.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
January 5, 2009
We wrapped up The Postcard Project. Each student described the subject, images, colors, words, and other elements included in their compositions. Topics included domesticated animals, baseball, shoes, rings, colors, pepperoni pizza, Plymouth, a Pink Floyd song, summer, video games, water, and healthy food. One was dedicated to a friend and contained images and words alluding to a relationship begun in childhood.
Overall, the class impressed Ms. Sapelly with their passion and depth of work, which wasn't easy to do on such a tiny surface. Then, she asked each what they liked/disliked about the project, and what she could do to improve and enhance their projects.
1. Likes: The majority enjoyed the 'freedom of expression, no limits' on what they could include in their work. Mind you, this assignment had very specific parameters: size of surface and choosing three 'things/places' you cannot live without. Apparently, these limits didn't bother them, rather they freed their imaginations. Also, they liked working on a small scale; it didn't overwhelm them.
2. Dislikes: Not enough class time. Not enough variety of images and magazines available to use. Not enough found objects to use in their postcards. Ms. Sapelly repeatedly asked them to bring in their own objects, but no one did so.
3. Improvements: see above.
After class, as I finished packing and cleaning up, a student returned, and asked me if
"I taught any child classes in Boston. I spend a lot of time in Boston, love your class, and want to know if you teach anywhere in the city."
I don't...yet....but I assured her I'd get busy, with her help, and develop a youth class. I celebrated my birthday today, and thought that this was the BEST birthday gift I'd received in a long time. :)
Overall, the class impressed Ms. Sapelly with their passion and depth of work, which wasn't easy to do on such a tiny surface. Then, she asked each what they liked/disliked about the project, and what she could do to improve and enhance their projects.
1. Likes: The majority enjoyed the 'freedom of expression, no limits' on what they could include in their work. Mind you, this assignment had very specific parameters: size of surface and choosing three 'things/places' you cannot live without. Apparently, these limits didn't bother them, rather they freed their imaginations. Also, they liked working on a small scale; it didn't overwhelm them.
2. Dislikes: Not enough class time. Not enough variety of images and magazines available to use. Not enough found objects to use in their postcards. Ms. Sapelly repeatedly asked them to bring in their own objects, but no one did so.
3. Improvements: see above.
After class, as I finished packing and cleaning up, a student returned, and asked me if
"I taught any child classes in Boston. I spend a lot of time in Boston, love your class, and want to know if you teach anywhere in the city."
I don't...yet....but I assured her I'd get busy, with her help, and develop a youth class. I celebrated my birthday today, and thought that this was the BEST birthday gift I'd received in a long time. :)
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