NAEA Advocacy Resources

The VISUAL ARTS:

So much MORE than what you SEE!

National Art Education Week is September 12 - 18, 2010.  Check out the new ADVOCACY Resources on the NAEA (National Art Education Association) website for resources to help you CELEBRATE Art Education!

Americans for the Arts News

Americans for the Arts News

On Monday, July 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring the week following the second Sunday in September (September 12-18, this year) as Arts in Education Week. This is the first congressional resolution to recognize all the disciplines: music, theater, visual arts, and dance.

Sponsored by Congresswoman, Rep. Jackie Speiers (D-California), the resolution states many important advocacy messages that the arts education field has been touting for years including:

“Whereas arts education, comprising a rich array of disciplines including dance, music, theater, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students…

Whereas arts education enables students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, imagination and creativity, discipline, alternative ways to communicate, and express feelings and ideas, and cross-cultural understanding, which supports academic success across the curriculum as well as personal growth outside the classroom;

Whereas the nonprofit arts sector is an economic engine and plays a significant role in the economic health of communities large and small with direct expenditures of wages and benefits as well as goods and services;

Whereas attracting and retaining the best teachers is vital and can be achieved by ensuring that schools embrace the arts, becoming havens for creativity and innovation…”

Charter Day & NJPAC in Review

Art Exhibit at Charter Day - Saturday, May 15, 2010 - Let's Go!

 

Saturday May 15, 2010 is the 16th Annual Charter Day - a celebration of the day that Basking Ridge received its charter! This year we are celebrating 250 years!!!  The day runs from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm - a variety of community groups and businesses have booths and there are activities throughout the day. Most of the activities take place right in the center of Basking Ridge.

 

One tradition is an Art Exhibit, from the Art classes in the Bernards Township School District, at the church. Mount Prospect School will have over 70 pieces of artwork on display. Enjoy!!! Any child who has artwork on display has already received a certificate from Mrs. Bivona or Mr. Stewart!

For more detailed information about Charter Day, check out the Historical Society of Somerset Hills website! Hope to see you there!

pARTicipate in the ARTS

This past Friday night I attended the first ever - pARTicipate in the ARTS at the Somerset Art Association in Bedminster, NJ.  There were artists sharing their talents and some great music to enjoy!  The highlight of the night for me was my 15 minute portrait, painted by David Ohlerking.  Yes!  It's true, he has masonite boards ready to go and he paints your portrait, in oil paint, while you stand there in front of him (in 15 minutes).  I had never seen such a thing ~ AMAZING!  I was fortunate to arrive early so I hardly had to wait ~ but you can imagine by the end of the night there was a line.  Now, this in NOT something new for Mr. Ohlerking, apparently you can find him in a variety of places round NJ...Chester being one place and I just read that he will be in New Hope, PA next weekend!  Check out his website HERE and if you are in the area, stop by to see him work or maybe have our portrait painted! Enjoy!

Spring Art Exhibit at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center

 

One of my goals, each year, is to display as much artwork as possible outside of our school. This month and throughout the Spring, 4 pieces of artwork will be on display in the lobby of the Victoria Theater at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ. This is a juried exhibit sponsored by the Art Educators of New Jersey, 30 pieces will be exhibited in all. All the artwork is framed under glass and lit in true gallery style. It is quite an honor to have work exhibited in this exhibit, art educators from around the state of New Jersey submit work! The Artist's Reception will be Sunday, May 16, 2010 from 11:00 - 12:00 pm. Congratulations to Jasmine (K) Robyn (1st grade),  Liam & Aaron (4th grade)! If you are going to NJPAC soon please make sure to stop by and enjoy the exhibit! All the artwork from this exhibit can been viewed in the AENJ Artsonia Gallery.

Crayola: DreamMakers Visual Voices ~ Speak Up for Creativity

 Mrs. Bivona with Eric's artwork, the Everyday Jungle at the NAEA Convention, Baltimore, MD 4/2010

A quote from the Crayola Website

"As educators, you teach children the importance of thinking and speaking up for what they believe in. At Crayola, we believe that creative experiences are worth speaking up for and support your efforts. We hope you and your students enjoy seeing their work exhibited here, for all to see and share."

Mount Prospect is speaking up!!!  In the Fall of 2009 students from Mount Prospect School submitted artwork to the CRAYOLA:  DreamMakers Exhibit.  Work selected for this exhibit was on display at the National Art Education Association (NAEA) Convention, in Baltimore, MD on Wednesday, April 14, 2010.  Fortunately I attended this convention and was able to see Eric's artwork (5th grade), "The Everyday Jungle" framed and ready to go to the State Department of Education to be on permanent display.  Along with the artwork each student had to write a Dream Statement.  Here is what Eric wrote, "Creativity is what a person wants from the heart and the pencil! My creativity just pours out of me onto the paper. I think of an image in my head and try to make it as close as I can when I create the image on the paper."  Congratulations to Eric once again!!!

Art on the Move gets a MAKEOVER

 Yes, you really are at "Art on the Move" - we got

a makeover today!

Hope you enjoy Art on the Move's NEW LOOK! Since the beginning I have been using a standard BLOGGER template for this blog. Although it certainly did the job, I don't think it ever really captured the spirit of this blog! I have been searching around for a new template but could not find one I loved! Earlier today, I was reading another art teacher blog, One Crayola Short and I was attracted to her template! I searched around her blog and found the link to her template - Deluxe Templates.  So a BIG thank you to Deluxe Templates for the FRESH, NEW LOOK!  The template is called  Little United Nations and it is designed by Ezwpthemes.com.  Thanks for stopping by ~ ENJOY!

The importance of ART EDUCATION!

March is Youth Art Month - Celebrate!

March is Youth Art Month 2010

Planet eARTh

Endorsed by the National Art Education Association, Youth Art Month (YAM) is a national annual observance - each March, to emphasize the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs. To recognize Youth Art Month, the Somerset Art Association (SAA) partners with the Art Educators of New Jersey to host a two-part exhibit of Somerset County student work on both floors of the Johnson Gallery.

The Somerset County Youth Art Month Exhibit is held at the Somerset Art Associaton in Bedminister, NJ. Part I of this exhibit will run from March 1 - 14, 2010 and it highlights the talents of children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Part II, March 18 - March 28, 2010 highlights work created in 6th through 12th grade. Mount Prospect will have 12 pieces on display for Part I of this exhibit, 2 pieces from each grade K - 5.

Above you see a slideshow of the work to be exhibited at the  Somerset Art Association.

The exhibit has been at SAA for the past years and a BIG thank you goes out to Robyn Tromeur, Director of SAA and all the volunteers from SAA who helped hang this exhibit.

All the work can be viewed at our Artsonia On-line Gallery @ www.artsonia.com/somerset1

Crayola DreamMakers Online Exhibition - We Have a WINNER!

The video above includes all the artwork submitted from
Mount Prospect School

This year 19 students (K - 5th grade), from Mount Prospect School, participate in the Crayola DreamMakers Online Exhibition ~ Visual Voices Speak Up for Creativity.  In addition to the artwork, each student had to write a dream statement.  You can see ALL the entries, from the United States and Canada, here in the Crayola Gallery. 

The artwork submitted to this online exhibition was juried and 39 pieces were selected to be exhibited at the U.S Department of Education in Washington, D.C and it's offices around the country.

CONGRATULATIONS

to

Eric, 5th grade

his artwork, The Everyday Jungle was selected to be included in this exhibit!

Mount Prospect Students Exhibit at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Mid-Winter Exhibit at NJPAC

One of my goals, each year, is to display as much artwork as possible outside of our school. This month and throughout the mid-winter and early Spring, 4 pieces of artwork will be on display in the lobby of the Victoria Theater at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ. This is a juried exhibit sponsored by the Art Educators of New Jersey, 30 pieces will be exhibited in all. All the artwork is framed under glass and lit in true gallery style. The Artist's Reception will be Sunday, February 28, 2010 from 11:00 - 12:00 pm. Congratulations to Thomas (1st grade), Juliette-Craig (3rd grade), Jennifer & Avani (4th grade)! If you are going to NJPAC soon please make sure to stop by and enjoy the exhibit! All the artwork from this exhibit can been viewed in the AENJ Artsonia Gallery.

Photos from "Nature Through a Child's Eyes" Art Exhibit at the Somerset Environmental Center

"Nature Through a Child's Eyes" Exhibit at the Somerset Environmental Center

Scarecrow Landscape, Anneliese3 (2nd grade)

For the 18th year the Somerset Environmental Center will sponsored the exhibit, "Nature through a Child's Eyes". This exhibit is open to all K-6th grade schools in Somerset County and it is the 9th year Mount Prospect School will participate.  Over 40 pieces of artwork from Mount Prospect, all inspired by nature, will be on exhibit. The children are asked to write, "What nature means to them..." the children's responses are included in the exhibit program. On Sunday - January 3, 2010 there will be an Artist's Reception. It is always so exciting to see the students with their family and friends, they are all so proud!!! 

Congratulations to all the young artists!

This exhibit will be on display at the Somerset Environmental Center, Basking Ridge, NJ from January 3, 2010 until February 7, 2010 - if you get a chance stop by and see it!  Please check back here in January to see photos of the exhibit!

More good news from the National Zoo Contest...

CONGRATULATIONS JENNIFER!!!

We have ANOTHER honorable mention in the National Zoo Contest!  This year the National Zoo in Washington, DC ran a poster contest and 23 students from Mount Prospect School entered a design.  I just got the news today that Jennifer2896 (4th grade) received an honorable mention in the National Zoo Poster Contest!  Congratulations Jennifer and keep up the excellent work! Her poster will be displayed with the other honorable mentions in the Zoo's Mane Restaurant during their winter celebration ZooLights which beings this Friday, December 4^th (details can be found by visiting http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/ZooLights/default.cfm).

The National Zoo is proud to display such great work

by a talented artist!!! 

Congratulations to Jennifer & Lauren!

To see all of Mount Prospect's entries in the National Zoo Contest - CLICK HERE and visit our Artsonia Gallery

National Zoo Contest Winner ~ Congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS LAUREN!!!

Lauren1311 design for the National Zoo Contest

This year the National Zoo in Washington, DC ran a poster contest and 23 students from Mount Prospect School entered a design.  I just got the news last night that Lauren1311 (4th grade) received an honorable mention in the National Zoo Poster Contest!  Congratulations Lauren and keep up the excellent work! Her poster will be displayed with the other honorable mentions in the Zoo's Mane Restaurant during their winter celebration ZooLights which beings this Friday, December 4^th (details can be found by visiting http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/ZooLights/default.cfm).

The National Zoo is proud to display such great work

by a talented artist!!! 

To see all of Mount Prospect's entries in the National Zoo Contest - CLICK HERE and visit our Artsonia Gallery

The Color Purple at NJPAC

The Color Purple

One of my goals, each year, is to display as much artwork as possible outside of our school. This month and throughout the winter, 3 pieces of artwork will be on display in the lobby of the Victoria Theater at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ. This is a juried exhibit sponsored by the Art Educators of New Jersey, 30 pieces will be exhibited in all. All the artwork is framed under glass and lit in true gallery style.  The Artist's Reception will be Saturday, December 19, 2009 from 11:00 - 12:00 pm.

This exhibit celebrates the musical, The Color Purple, which will be performed at NJPAC from Wednesday - December 16, 2009 - Sunday - December 20, 2009.

There are lots of things to do at NJPAC on Saturday, so make plans...

• Kwanzaa Children's Festival
• Performance of "The Spirit of Kwanzaa" at 2:00pm & 5:00pm
  
• Performances of "The Color Purple" at 2:00pm & 8:00pm
• or take a walk to the Newark Museum
  

Congratulations to Jee Soo (5th grade), Michelle (3rd grade), & Anicia (1st grade)! If you are going to NJPAC this fall/winter please make sure to stop by and enjoy the exhibit! All the artwork from this exhibit can been viewed in the AENJ Artsonia Gallery.

Sofia64 is a finalist the Artsonia's "Artist of the Week"! Vote and help Sofia be a WINNER!

VOTE for Sofia64 

Great News!  Sofia64, from Mount Prospect School, has been selected as a finalist for this week's "Artist of the Week" award for the 4th-6th age group.  The finalist who receives the most online votes between now and Saturday November 14 will be selected as our "Artist of the Week." 
 
To view the finalists and cast your vote, simply click on the link below.  Voting is limited to one vote per computer per day for each age group!

     http://www.artsonia.com/aotw/vote/0/6744008

The "Artist of the Week" will be featured on the Artsonia homepage and will receive a commemorative plaque from Artsonia.  In addition, Blick Art Materials has generously donated $100 gift certificates to the winning teachers and $50 to the winning artists.

We have a National Winner - Nestle Push-Up & Create Contest

CONGRATULATIONS

to Katie

(5th grade),

her design was selected as one of

3 National Grand Prize Winners 

in the

Nestle Push-Up and Create Contest 
 and
CONGRATULATIONS
Elena (6th grade)

her design was selected as one of

50 First Prize Winners 

in the

Nestle Push-Up and Create Contest 
 

Entries for this contest were due to me, at the end of last school year, June 2009.  Students were asked to create a design for Push-Up Ice Cream Tube.  I received over 80 entries - I always tell my students, "You've gotta be in it to win it!"  Thank you to ALL of my students who entered this contest - keep up the GREAT WORK!  We have been waiting patiently for the website to reveal the winners...then last week we my principal received a call - it was so EXCITING, we had a winner!

As a National winner Katie wins a monetary prize and her design will be printed on the Push-Up Ice Cream Tubes - coming to a supermarket near you in 2010!  How FUN is that???  In addition, the school receives a donation in recognition of the student that goes to support ART EDUCATION at Mount Prospect School.   

You Can VOTE too!!!

To be part of the FUN, go to the Scholastic Website to VOTE for your favorite and help determine the 5 KIDs' PICK WINNERS!  Make sure to include Elena in your picks!!!  You can pick 5 designs each day and you can vote everyday until January 31, 2010!

BRAVO to Dreyer's, Nestle & Scholastic for

 developing a contest
that supports ART in schools!

Painting of Mount Prospect is on a Billboard!!!

Stephanie Amato’s Painting of
Mount Prospect School
Named Winner in Statewide Competition to

Help Beautify NJ’s Highways

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – August 19, 2009 – Congratulations to Stephanie Amato of Basking Ridge, whose NJ-inspired landscape entitled “Mount Prospect Elementary School” was announced as one of 13 winning pieces in the Palisades Highway Art Gallery competition. Her painting will be displayed on Rt. 202 at Old York Rd. in Somerset County beginning the week of August 17, making passersby smile every time they drive by.

"There are so many talented artists in New Jersey, and this is a wonderful venue to exhibit work," said Amato. "I have received so much support from the Bernards School District, as well as the people of Basking Ridge."

For more than 15 years, Amato has been honing her craft through study and practice. She pursued an education in visual and graphic arts at the Parsons School of Design and at the Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts before earning an associate’s degree from Raritan Valley Community College. Amato’s work has generally been inspired by New Jersey views and landscapes and has been shown at more than 40 juried exhibitions. She is a charter member of the Pastel Society of New Jersey and coordinator for the New Jersey Society of En Plein Air Painters. Most recently, Amato received an honorable mention from New Jersey Center for the Visual Arts for her “John on the Mountain” piece, in addition to having won second place honors at the Tuckerton Paintout and Bayonet Arts Festival. She is represented by Design Domain Gallery, Bernardsville and lives in Basking Ridge with her family.

The Palisades Highway Art Gallery is the state’s first-ever highway art gallery, using prominent billboards to display the work of local artists throughout New Jersey. The initiative was officially launched on July 13 with the unveiling of two billboards by renowned New Jersey artists Tim Daly of Hoboken and Gary Godbee of Westfield. The contest inspired state artists to submit over 940 original paintings, drawings, photography and mixed media interpretations of the state’s beautiful landscapes to the Palisades Drive With a Smile Web site. Visitors to the site viewed the submissions and voted for their favorite pieces over four weeks this summer. In the end, Amato’s “Mount Prospect Elementary School” was one of the public’s top favorites and was selected to be one of the featured works of art of the Palisades Highway Art Gallery. All submissions to the Highway Art Gallery are on display on the Palisades Drive With a Smile Web site.

The Palisades Highway Art Gallery is the first initiative of the Palisades Drive With a Smile campaign, with the goal to remind drivers about the best the Garden State has to offer and create nicer New Jersey driving moments and more smiles all around. For more information about the Drive with a Smile campaign or the Palisades Highway Art Gallery, visit Palisades.com/DriveWithaSmile.

For information about Palisades or any of its more than 300 independent agents across the state, visit Palisades.com.

About Palisades

Palisades is the nice New Jersey car insurance company that gives you more. Drivers and agents get more reasons to smile with more value, friendly New Jersey expertise, and service done right. Palisades sells exclusively through over 300 independent agents and is a leader in the fast settlement of claims. Palisades Safety and Insurance Management Corporation is a Plymouth Rock managed company. The Plymouth Rock Companies write and manage more than $1 billion in personal and commercial auto and homeowner’s insurance across the Northeast. Palisades Safety and Insurance Management Corporation is the Attorney-in-Fact of Palisades Safety and Insurance Association (PSIA). Insurance is written by PSIA and its two wholly-owned insurers, Palisades Insurance Company and Palisades Property and Casualty Insurance Company (collectively “Palisades”).