Mount Prospect at NJPAC - Fall 2011

Hailey - to see her gallery CLICK HERE 

 

One of my goals, each year, is to display as much artwork as possible outside of our school. Throughout the Fall, 2 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 was Sunday, September 25, 2011.

Congratulations to Hailey (2nd grade) & Martin (5th 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.

 Martin - to see his gallery CLICK HERE

Check out our Monochromatic Portraits!

Welcome Back!  For the first two weeks of school the students created Monochromatic Portraits.  Monochromatic means containing or using only one color or one group of colors.   I first saw this idea on the blog - smART Class.  It was the perfect way to begin the new school year.  The portraits were drawn on 5X8", unlined index cards.  Students started by drawing in pencil, then they used crayons, markers and colored pencil to add color.  To complete the project - ALL the self portraits (over 500) were displayed in color order - it made for quite the exhibit!  It was hard to walk past without stopping and looking at all the amazing work!  Enjoy the video below!

Who's been Pinning your images? Find out...

Many Art Ed bloggers have been using Pinterest like crazy.  If you don't know what Pinterest is...CLICK HERE!  Like many of you I have been wondering if there is a way to find out what images from our blogs have been "Pinned" well there is...to find out if someone has pinned one of your images on Pinterest, use this URL, replacing

art-on-the-move.blogspot.com with your own domain name: http://pinterest.com/source/art-on-the-move.blogspot.com 

Give it a try!

Pinterest ~ A Linky Party

Well, the reality of school is slowing setting in - we don't start until September 6, 2011 and the kiddos do not return until September 8, 2011 so I still have some time.  In the mean time I discovered PINTEREST this summer (along with lots of other fellow bloggers & art teachers) and I have been loving it!  Pinterest allows you to "pin" images you find online and organize them on different boards.  As artists and art educators we are a visual clan - it's just a perfect way to remember things!  For the most part I have been using it to get ready for school - pinning all sorts of projects that I want to add to my MUST TRY List!  While searching around on Pinterest I found a blogger, Michelle's Math in the Middle who is having a Pinterest Linky Party!  So, if you have not checked out Pinterest go check it out!  If you decide to join in on the FUN, then Follow Me on Pinterest and then go check out Michelle's Math in the Middle Page and add your blog to the list!  Hopefully you will find some interesting "pins" on Pinterest and some new and interesting blogs to follow and maybe even get some new followers!  Welcome Back...more to come!

Index Card - A -Day...a Summer Project

School is not quite over, 9 days left to be exact - finishing up projects, taking down the art show and getting all the artwork back to my students!

One of my favorite things to do each day is read all the blogs that I follow - Tammy over at Yellow Daisy has posted a great challenge!  It's an Index Card - A - Day Summer - draw, doodle or sketch one index card, each day in June, July & August (and you get one day off a day if you need it)!  Just get started before June 16th, today I got my pack of index cards.  I have a few days to get caught up.  So, while things are quite here at Art on the Move over the Summer I think this is a great way to keep things interesting!  Maybe you want to join in on the FUN?!!

Come see the Spring Art Exhibit at the ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Spring Art Exhibit 2011

5th grade student - Finalist in the p.s from AEROPOSTAL T-shirt Contest

This fall the clothing company, p.s. from Aeropostal held their 2nd annual T-shirt contest for students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade.  They asked, "What makes You SMILE?" ~  as usual Mount Prospect had lots of amazing entries from students in all three grades.  It has been a L O N G wait for the results, but last week we found out that 5th grade student Kavya was a finalist - CONGRATULATIONS KAVYA!!!  Click Here to go to the p.s. by Aeropostal contest website.

Big Screen Project - NYC

19 students (K - 5th grade) from Mount Prospect School had their artwork selected to be included in THE BIG SCREEN PROJECT.  The Big Screen Project is an innovative venue for video, film, live and interactive content in New York City.  It consists of a large 30 x 16.5 ft. HD Format LED screen located at the 10,000 sq. ft. public plaza behind a new 54-story multi-use building on Sixth Avenue between 29th and 30th Street in New York City.  Yesterday, I went in to NYC to see the display - it was amazing.  Student artwork from all over the country was included in this display that ran for 30 minutes total.  The slideshow will run again on Wednesday - May 25th & Saturday - May 28th, 2011.

Mount Prospect Students Exhibit at NJPAC!

Lindsey461

 

Liz637

 

Jamie2020

One of my goals, each year, is to display as much artwork as possible outside of our school. This month and throughout the Spring, 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 was Sunday, April 3, 2011.

Congratulations to Lindsey461 (5th grade), Liz637 (2nd grade) and Jamie2020 (Kindergarten)! If you are going to NJPAC this Spring please make sure to stop by and enjoy the exhibit! All the artwork from this exhibit can been viewed in the AENJ Artsonia Gallery.

NJ Wildlife Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest - Somerset County Winners!

Each year 5th grade students from Mount Prospect School enter the NJ Wildlife - Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest. This year we have both the Somerset County WINNER and the Honorable Mention.  

Congratulations goes out to Jennifer2896, her artwork was selected as the

Somerset County Winner!!!

Congratulations to Hitha1, her artwork was selected as the Somerset County Honorable Mention!!!

To read more about the winners CLICK HERE!

To see all the entries from Mount Prospect School check out our Artsonia Gallery.

Celebrating Youth Art Month!

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 Center for Contemporary Art @ Bedminster (CCA) 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 Center for Contemporary Art @ Bedminster .  Part I of this exhibit will run from March 1 - 13, 2011 and it highlights the talents of children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Part II, March 18 - April 3, 2011 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 can enjoy a video of the artwork to be exhibited at the Somerset County Youth Art Month Exhibit!

This exhibit has been hosted by CCA for the past 11 years and a BIG thank you goes out to the Center for Contemporary Art and all the volunteers who helped hang this exhibit.

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

All Kids Can Create - Michael is a NJ Finalist!

Michael's Carousel Horse - 4th grade

Congratulations goes out to Michael in 4th grade, his artwork, shown above, was selected as one of the 2 New Jersey finalists in the VSA - All Kids Can...CREATE Exhibition!  Michael's artwork was sent to Washington, DC for the final judging.  We are sending lots of positive energy down to Washington, DC for the judging in the next few weeks!  This alone is a HUGE accomplishment, Michael is one of just 100 students to have work selected.  Check back to find out if we have more exciting news to share!

Great Work Michael, I am so proud of you! ~ Mrs. Bivona

Celebrating Art!

Meredith - 3rd grade

This Fall we participated in a new contest called Celebrating Art.  Artwork was submitted digitally and artwork selected as finalists will be published in a hardcover book.  We submitted 122 pieces of artwork and had 53 pieces selected as finalist - YAHOO!!! 

 

Friday (2/18/2011) they announced the TOP TEN, this work was selected out of all the submissions as the top pieces - we had two pieces selected for the TOP TEN.  One in the K - 3 Category:  Meredith (3rd grade) and one in the 4 - 6 Category:  Andrea (5th grade). These students will have their work specially featured in the book and receive an additional prize!!! 

 

Congratulations to all 53 Mount Prospect students that will have their artwork included in the Celebrating Art book and 3 cheers for Meredith & Andrea for making the TOP TEN!  Keep up the GREAT work!  There will be another contest this Spring so decide which piece you will enter!  Permission forms will be going out in March!

 

Andrea - 5th grade

Winter Art Exhibit at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Vivian - 5th grade

Prakrit - 2nd grade

Claire - 1st grade

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 was Sunday, February 14, 2011.

Congratulations to Vivian (5th grade) & Prakrit (2nd grade) and Claire (1st grade)! If you are going to NJPAC this 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.

Self-Portrait Maps inspired by Aaron Meshon

Jennifer

Erin

5th grade just completed these amazing Self Portrait Maps - I first saw this lesson HERE on the BLOG Quest Artists and you can see MORE HERE!  Thanks Ruth Lee at Quest Artists, I was introduced to the artist Aaron Meshon! As soon as I saw the lesson & Aaron Meshon's illustrations I just knew it would be a hit for my 5th grade students - and it was!  So, to begin we looked at Aaron Meshon's artwork. Before the students actually started to draw - I had them fill out a form, that I developed, of "Favorite Things", that gave them a starting place.  I also asked the students to develop a name for their "state" that incorporates their name, they really loved this part and came up with some very creative names.   Next, students worked out their designs in their sketchbooks. When the designs were complete students went on to their final copy (11X17 white drawing paper).  Drawings were completed in pencil first and then students traced over with a fine point Sharpie.  Color was added with colored pencil and Crayola Color Sticks.  Here are some samples but if you would like to see ALL of them check out my ARTSONIA GALLERY HERE!   You might also want to pay special attention to the Artist Statements that the students wrote to go with them.  It is so interesting to read what the students think about their creations.  Enjoy!

Vaed

James

Andrea

"Nature through a Child's Eyes" at the Environmental Center

For the 19th year the Somerset Environmental Center will sponsor 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 10th year Mount Prospect School will participate.  Over 40 pieces of artwork from Mount Prospect, all inspired by nature, will be on exhibit. Any student who has artwork included in this exhibit will receive a letter of congratulations at school.  The children are asked to write, "What nature means to them..." the children's responses are included in the exhibit program. On Sunday - January 9, 2011 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 2, 2011 until February 13, 2011 - if you get a chance stop by and see it!  Please check back here in January to see photos of the exhibit!

Below you will see images of the artwork included in this exhibit.  Please note:  There may be some work missing as it was not all photographed before the work was dropped off at the Environmental Center.

Weaving on Clay Looms - 4th grade

This is a lesson I have been wanting to try for a few years - last year I got all the supplies to get the kiln up and running - so, here we go!  In 3rd grade students create a weaving, you can see samples CLICK HERE! This year the 4th grade students created a clay loom ~ here are some samples of them starting the weaving.  Students were so excited to create this project that combines a skill they were familiar with and something new.  Interestingly enough, weaving must be the thing to do right now because Phyl over at There's a Dragon in my Art Room just posted 3 - Wonderful, Wacky Weaving Projects!   Here is a link to one of my favorite videos to show students when we start weaving - CLICK HERE!

The Barnes Foundation - have you been?

Via Visit Philly

You may or may not have heard of the Barnes Foundation, located in Marion, PA (just minutes outside of Philadelphia).  The Barnes Foundation has quite an amazing collection of Impressionists, Post-Impressionists and Modern paintings.  In the photo above you can see a mural that Henri Matisse created just for this location, in fact Matisse actually visited the Barnes Foundation.  There are also quite a few Picasso paintings and Van Gogh paintings (a personal favorite). The description from the website states...

"The Barnes Foundation houses one of the finest collections of nineteenth and twentieth-century French painting in the world. An extraordinary number of masterpieces by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse provide a depth of work by these artists unavailable elsewhere. Established as an educational institution the Barnes carries out its mission teaching classes in its galleries and Arboretum. The Barnes welcomes visitors and students throughout the year."

I wanted to go, because soon (2011/2012) the entire collection will be moved from it's current location in a beautiful estate home to a new home in Center City Philadelphia, the new Parkway Building.  I wanted to see it in it's original setting.  It is unusual because the paintings are hung salon style.  The website states, "He chose and arranged the works in 'wall ensembles' in the Gallery to illustrate for the Foundation's students the visual elements and aesthetic traditions he felt were evident in all art forms across periods and cultures."  In addition, there is quite a bit of antique furniture and Pennsylvania-German folk art in the galleries.  

So, when you listen to the audio tour not only do they describe the paintings but they also describe why the paintings (and even some of the furniture) were hung/displayed together.  In one gallery there is a large Matisse painting in the middle of the wall with a Rousseau still life on each side, then further out (on each side) are two small Miro paintings then sitting on the floor below the Miros are 2 antique candle stands - the feet of each candle stand are a bit different but they matche the lines in each of the Miro paintings.  That is the kind of thought that went into placing the artwork. 

To say the least the collection is AMAZING and it was a very inspiring day!  I would be remiss if I did not mention that there is quite a bit of controversy about moving this collection from it's original home.  If you are interested in learning more about this aspect of The Barnes Foundation you could rent the movie, "The Art of the Steal".

If you have now decided that you to must go visit the Barnes Foundation before it moves, please make sure to MAKE RESERVATIONS!!!  In addition, you can purchase a parking pass - this is a very good idea!  The Foundation is located in a neighborhood without much additional parking...so, you decide if it's worth it (I think it is).  I am not sure when this location will be closing - it is difficult to find this exact information. So, if you decide you want to go - make you plans soon!  The new location is slated to open in late 2011.  It's worth the trip!  Enjoy

Mount Prospect Students 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 winter, 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 Saturday, December 18, 2010 from 11:00 - 12:00 pm.

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

• Kwanzaa Children's Festival - A day of free Kwanzaa activities, including hands-on workshops designed for adults and children that include African dance, storytelling, Capoeira, and drumming.
• Kwanzaa Marketplace - NJPAC's annual Kwanzaa Marketplace, free and open to the public, transforms the Prudential Hall Lobby into a holiday shopping stop featuring top vendors from throughout the area.
• Performance of "Step Afrika"  - at 2:00pm & 5:00pm
  
• Performances of "The Rhythm Revue Dance Party" at 2:00pm & 8:00pm
• to take a walk to the Newark Museum
  

Congratulations to Malaika & Anvitha (5th grade), Sean (3rd grade), and Mark (2nd 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.

Let's Celebrate - My 100th Post & Top Blog Award!

Congratulations on being one of our Top Art Teachers, Northeast Region.

Thanks to Teacher Salary Website  for this recognition!

"Your blog was amazing in our eyes, providing your students and their parents with all of the necessary information required to succeed. We know that you will continue to keep up the amazing work you do in educating children. Let your class know that you were recognized as a Top Teacher in your region!" 

To find other Top Teacher Blogs from around the country CLICK HERE!