Arts & Activities articles from February 2008

Arts & Activities archives from February 2008

Editor's note.
February 1, 2008... In this issue, we share with you some of the endless possibilities of clay. This malleable art medium has so much to offer, whether earthen, air-dry, self-hardening or salt-dough. Clay is a natural choice when teaching students about the...

Leaders Institute for arts ed.(arts update)(National Endowment for the Arts' development of arts-education policies and programs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The first National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Education Leaders Institute on art education convenes March 2008 in Chicago. Five multi-disciplinary state teams will discuss a shared arts-education challenge and jointly develop strategies to...

Start with the arts.(arts update)(art education program for disabled children)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Start with the Arts is an instructional program created by VSA arts for preschool and early elementary school learners that uses the arts to assist young children, including those with disabilities, in exploring themes commonly taught in early...

Get Stuck at the Prom.(arts update)(Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest for high school students by the makers of Duck brand duct tape)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... In its eighth year, the 2008 Duck[R] brand duct tape Stuck at Prom[R] Scholarship Contest challenges high schoolers to create and accessorize their prom formal wear with a favorite fix-all--duct tape. And, it's up to the public as to who has...

Howling Coyotes and Frolicking Fish: Making Cross-Cultural Connections Through Folk Art.(educational cd-rom)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... HOWLING COYOTES AND FROLICKING FISH: Making Cross-Cultural Connections Through Folk Art. PowerPoint presentation, assorted materials on CD-ROM/$29.95. Level: Grades 3-12. Crizmac Art and Cultural Education Materials. Fortunately for us,...

Gender Matters in Art Education.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2008... GENDER MATTERS IN ART EDUCATION (2007; $24.95), by Martin Rosenberg and Frances Thurber. Davis Publications. The Introduction for this book poses a simple (and profound) question: "Why a book about gender and art education? What does...

Art Across the Ages: Ancient Mexico.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2008... ART ACROSS THE AGES: Ancient Mexico (2007; $14.95), by Kelly Campbell Hinshaw. Chronicle Books. This is a book designed for young children and teachers with little or no background in art. There are excellent illustrations of the art of...

Making Dinosaurs Out of Clay.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2008... MAKING DINOSAURS OUT OF CLAY. DVD or VHS/34 min./$29.95. Level: Elementary and Above. Crystal Productions. Mark Abildgaard presents a straightforward approach to creating cartoon-like clay dinosaurs through these three easy-to-follow...

Crayola.(shop talk)(Crayola's Air-Dry Clay)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crayola's 25-lb. Value Pack of Air-Dry Clay offers a large amount of the natural white bake-free clay and plenty of options. This Air-Dry clay provides a quick, simple alternative to the traditional ceramic firing...

Dixon Ticonderoga.(shop talk)(Dixon Ticonderoga Co.'s new pencil)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Dixon Ticonderoga Co. has introduced its latest innovation in pencil design, the chic Ticonderoga[R] Noir. This retro-looking pencil sports a unique, luxurious holograph design that appears crystal on the...

A.W.T. World Trade.(shop talk)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A.W.T. World Trade Inc. has expanded its comprehensive line of Rack-It[TM] series drying and storage racks by adding several affordable and space-saving units. The line should be of particular interest to school art...

Crystal productions.(shop talk)(Ruth Duckworth: A Life in Clay)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ruth Duckworth: A Life in Clay is an intimate documentary on this 83-year-old working ceramist. Duckworth is a survivor who, having fled Hitler's Germany, studied at the Liverpool School of Art in England and taught...

Chronicle Books.(shop talk)(Louvre Up Close)(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The large-format book, Louvre Up Close, sends children on a search for the tiny details hidden in art found in the Louvre's collections. Full-color reproductions feature more than 20 works--among them an ancient...

Staedtler.(shop talk)(Eberhard Faber EFAPLAST modeling clay)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eberhard Faber EFAPLAST[R], new from Staedtler, is modeling clay that hardens in the microwave. The clay is soft and pliable and hardens after about 10 minutes (at 600 watts) in a microwave oven. Objects can be...

Culture through clay: integrating traditions into American curriculum.(Cover Story)(Cover story)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] MATERIALS * White clay * Clay boards * Clay tools * Underglazes in a wide variety of pre-mixed colors * Clear overglaze * Brushes * Typing erasers (to correct errors in underglazes)...

Stories of the past.
February 1, 2008... LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upper-elementary students will... * use clay manipulation techniques to create a three-dimensional form * use a variety of materials to create a sculpture. * create an authentic-looking pueblo using...

Just desserts at Art's Diner.(clay modeling)
February 1, 2008... LEARNING OBJECTIVES High-school students will... * learn to work with clay. * understand the stages day goes through. * learn clay terminology. * learn to create textures. * mix colors to create lifelike effects. ...

Jun Kaneko.(LEARNING from EXHIBITIONS)(Biography)
February 1, 2008... Jun Kaneko must be regarded as one of the most exciting clay artists working in the world today. Quite a statement; yet, when one considers the sheer volume of his production, the unprecedented scale of his work, the magnitude of his technical...

Clip & save art notes.
February 1, 2008... ABOUT THE ARTIST The great American artist Andrew Wyeth once described lithographer Stow Wengenroth, one of the 20th century's preeminent printmakers, as "America's greatest living artist working in black and white." Born in 1906 in...

Classroom use of the art print.
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stow Wengenroth (American; 1906-1978). Brooklyn Bridge in Winter, 1959. Lithograph on paper; 10.5" x 15.875". Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. Bequest of Frank McClure. THINGS TO KNOW * In...

Young artist.(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... My name is Jake Furnas, I am 14 years old and in the eighth grade at Summit Middle School. I have one sister, Ally, who is in the sixth grade. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While in middle school, I was a member of the swim team and ran on...

Vessels, Peruvian style.
February 1, 2008... LEARNING OBJECTIVES Middle-school students will... * learn something about the Moche people and their pottery. * improve their ability to use clay techniques, including slab, coil, scoring and slipping, and use of glaze to bring...

Clay for the kiln-less: African amulets.
February 1, 2008... LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upper-elementary and middle-schoolers will... * experience on economical, kiln-less version of day. * create an important symbol in African art---the mask as ah amulet. * identify the cultural and...

President day or bust! Artful inclusion.
February 1, 2008... LEARNING OBJECTIVES Mainstream and learning-disabled students and adults will... * learn about the creation of busts throughout art history. * gain a greater understanding of the head and its proportions. * work with clay and...

"Let me out!" Pots.
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LEARNING OBJECTIVES Middle-school students will... * exhibit on understanding of the source of the clay body. * use clay terminology and become reacquainted with the tools, equipment and various...

Inventor artists.(Children's art diary)
February 1, 2008... A runny nose and a persistent dash for tissues prompted Ana's invention. Her newly invented allergy wear featured a pink tissue box hanging from her mom's gold necklace and the bathroom trash can, wired to my tool belt. When everything is at...

Beautiful boomerangs!(eARth ... it's got ART)
February 1, 2008... LEARNING OBJECTIVES Elementary students will... * learn about the art of the Aborigine artists, as well as modern-day Australian art. * sculpt clay boomerang-shaped objects and add texture and color. * barn the vocabulary...

Our way with clay ... tried & true tips for art teachers.
February 1, 2008... Working with clay is so tactile! It's so much fun to actually feel a connection to the medium in which you're working. It's exciting too, but as art teachers, we know it's important to approach working with clay in an organized, prepared way,...