Excitement and passion and loud discussion reigned during class. Topics: The Profile Project, what Ms. Sapelly should teach next time, and Ms. Nessrella's request to students to petition Principal Starr-Klein to retain Ms. Sapelly.
After a lively and noisy debate, students worked as if we had a hundred more classes. Spontaneous watercolors, drawings in sketchbooks, or simple conversation claimed the class duration. Alas, I watched my ink-obsessed student continue to 'aim and fire' his inks, making yet another larger spectacular, riotous piece...
Ms. Sapelly quietly cleaned up and packed the few remaining supplies in her plastic boxes. Trying very hard to retain her 'joy'- as the students remarked to her that even when she tried to 'act depressed or angry' that it was impossible to wipe away the happiness in her face- ...her eyes fell upon the crocuses peering out from the pale grey swampy ground surronding the school, the clear strong blue sky...
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
March 18, 2009
A student came up with a novel way to apply ink: aim the filled dropper and fire it onto the paper, creating a magnificent, exploding, colorful design. This one in particular has embraced this technique, and each class I find him set up, newspapers underneath his paper, armed with various ink colors, ready to work.
The film crew of two arrived for the last time, just to interview students, asking them if they like the class better now than back in December, when we began...and WHY...But trying to get some middle school students 'to elaborate' is impossible. An A to the film crew for trying..
Ms. Sapelly reviewed the finished work, and realized that some students proved prolific, making half a dozen pieces. One focused on his shoes/feet, and created a variety of complex pieces that included outlines, cutouts, and inserts...
Ms. Sapelly failed to escape the film crew's notice, and was asked about how she liked teaching here...she responded "I'm trying not to think about this Friday, the last class, too much. I loved every minute teaching here..."
The film crew of two arrived for the last time, just to interview students, asking them if they like the class better now than back in December, when we began...and WHY...But trying to get some middle school students 'to elaborate' is impossible. An A to the film crew for trying..
Ms. Sapelly reviewed the finished work, and realized that some students proved prolific, making half a dozen pieces. One focused on his shoes/feet, and created a variety of complex pieces that included outlines, cutouts, and inserts...
Ms. Sapelly failed to escape the film crew's notice, and was asked about how she liked teaching here...she responded "I'm trying not to think about this Friday, the last class, too much. I loved every minute teaching here..."
March 16, 2009
Class energy ranged from peace to bedlam; at times, I simply watched, others I heard voices erupt in song or friendly teasing. More profiles of heads and feet/soles were emerged...shoes pulled off, put on watercolor paper atop the long rectangular desks, and traced.
Some carefully blew ink across paper while others dumped large bottles of tempera onto paper... or into a plastic shallow bowl, where students armed with rollers 'inked' them up and rolled and rolled and rolled upon their compositions...Brushes, plastic cups filled the sink, and muddy water spilled onto the floor...
Some carefully blew ink across paper while others dumped large bottles of tempera onto paper... or into a plastic shallow bowl, where students armed with rollers 'inked' them up and rolled and rolled and rolled upon their compositions...Brushes, plastic cups filled the sink, and muddy water spilled onto the floor...
Thursday, March 12, 2009
March 12, 2009
The Profile Project continues to excite and astound with all the various 'wet' media employed by the students, one of whom got out the ink roller and began furiously rolling out fuchsia paint; another got a hold of one and used the day-glow orange, then used its edge to create swirling lines. The green glitter resurfaced, and a student added it to one of her 'Jackson Pollock-like' profile/paintings/collages...
"This is my favorite project" is a phrase that echoes across the room. Alas, paint, ink, and watercolors are a fave among the students. Still, Ms. Sapelly is glad that they worked up to this point using collage, tracing, drawing, and other dry media...she doesn't think they would have embraced the paint as much if they used it in the very beginning...
She is thankful for one more week to work with them.
"This is my favorite project" is a phrase that echoes across the room. Alas, paint, ink, and watercolors are a fave among the students. Still, Ms. Sapelly is glad that they worked up to this point using collage, tracing, drawing, and other dry media...she doesn't think they would have embraced the paint as much if they used it in the very beginning...
She is thankful for one more week to work with them.
March 10, 2009
Green glitter, courtesy of Ms. Lobo, entered the room...and fell on paper, tables, and the floor, with much excitement. One student sat in the corner working intently with inks, then watercolors, creating a magnificent, contrasting composition.
Shoe prints and profiles abound; today we added a hand painted and inked with day-glow orange tempera....alas, yet another type of paint added to the mix...A very busy afternoon indeed, as Ms. Sapelly yet again forgot to keep track of time, and cleaned up the colorful aftermath of free artistic expression.
Shoe prints and profiles abound; today we added a hand painted and inked with day-glow orange tempera....alas, yet another type of paint added to the mix...A very busy afternoon indeed, as Ms. Sapelly yet again forgot to keep track of time, and cleaned up the colorful aftermath of free artistic expression.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
March 6, 2009
The profile project continues to surprise Ms. Sapelly. Outlines of shoes, made of burlap, are pasted onto painted, orange and blue canvas paper...A profile is collaged out of disparate inked, painted, and drawn paper in square shapes...One student is cutting out and outlining his shoes, and placing each different 'positive' shape into the 'negative' shape, creating unusual spatial compositions...
One student decided to trace her midsection, and Ms. Sapelly obliged. The idea of profiles expands... And the fascination with free flowing multicolored inks on watercolor paper continues...
The Admiring Hands project is on exhibit...they hang beautifully on a large bulletin board near the entrance of the school and the always action-filled cafeteria...
One student decided to trace her midsection, and Ms. Sapelly obliged. The idea of profiles expands... And the fascination with free flowing multicolored inks on watercolor paper continues...
The Admiring Hands project is on exhibit...they hang beautifully on a large bulletin board near the entrance of the school and the always action-filled cafeteria...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
March 3, 2009
More ink free fall, burlap, and tracing completed on the Profile/Shoes project. Sheets of watercolor paper, quickly covered by precarious lines of violet, black, and orange ink filled Mr. Fontinha's drying rack. More paper is needed...
Mr. Brewster's film crew came and went, documenting the intense days that are few in number...the Admiring Hands projects are finally displayed on the bulletin board near the main entrance. Thank you, Mr. Brewster!
Mr. Brewster's film crew came and went, documenting the intense days that are few in number...the Admiring Hands projects are finally displayed on the bulletin board near the main entrance. Thank you, Mr. Brewster!
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