​Quarter 1 is done and behind us! The Architecture students did a wonderful job exploring and creating. Students started out the year with explorations and design challenges.

Students answered the question " What is Architecture" 

Anthony wrote:
   "I guess to me, architecture is more than just the design of a building, or structure in an urban or specific area. To me, architecture is more about the freedom to express oneself through design, skill, technique, and the passion for it. Art has no set definition, rules, or purpose, and architecture is just another form of that in my opinion. One should not be locked with a set of rules and regulations pertaining to design and creativity. Architecture may have a purpose specifically towards designing structures, but in our world around us, there is even architecture in nature. Architecture is not always accepted in our society though, as not all designs actually get used. Architecture is also very professional, and sometimes even more restrictive than art such as a sculpture, or drawing. In the end however, architecture is really how one looks at it as there is no set definition of what architecture really is."

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The first design challenge of the year was to create a sculpture using just white paper and scissors and not adhesives.

Another intro assignment for the students was to use craypas to explore color and shapes in abstract ways. This was a great warm up drawing assignment.

When the weather was nice and warm we went outside and created Andy Goldsworthy style Art Installations.

We also spent time outside drawing the school and studying perspective. The students worked intensely on these drawings!

The last design challenge was to create a Cardboard Relief Sculpture. Students studied architectural styles and took elements from different styles and combined them with Principles of Art to create these abstract works. 

Web Design is off to a great start this year. The students are active and engaged learners in the art and design process of learning about Web Design.

The goal at the beginning of the year is to give them a foundation of art elements, principles and vocabulary and to get all students comfortable with working on the computer and understand the internet and history of the internet.

Here are a few of the projects that the students worked on:

Students studied the Elements and Principles of Design and created these drawings. Even though it is a computer class the students enjoyed working on paper and learning art terms. The many of the students have not taken an art course before and this was a great way to introduce art terms to them and practice design and layout.

Students created their own blogs and started blogging. They also started a portfolio section which will grow through out the year. Check out Emelie's Blog 

In small groups students worked collaboratively to create presentations on the History of the Internet and how the internet works. The students taught each other the content and information. Students have also researched web design as a career path and the salary and job prospectus.

Students used Adobe Photoshop to create caricatures of themselves. It was a fun project to get them using some new tools and techniques. 

Each student has an Adobe Creative Cloud account. This allows students to be able to create art in school and at home on their own devices and school ipads. 
As part of the subscription students had access to the Adobe Max Conference. Students got to attend virtually and watch presentations on technique as well as creativity and featured artists.

Here is a quote from Luke who learned about artist Tom Hegen
"Tom Hegen wants his photographs to encourage people to think about a sustainable future and to value the resources we take for granted. What I learned from this is how different types of sustainable agriculture work, and that if you make a hard topic more presentable than more people will be drawn to that issue and talk about it."

The Students for Asian Cultural Awareness hosted a virtual author book talk with guest Maggie Chang. 

Maggie is the author of the children's book Geraldine Pu. Geraldine is a spunky Asian American girl who encounters a bully. The story unfolds and shows how Geraldine handles bias. 

The students loved Maggie's book and learned about her writing and art making process. Maggie shared about her personal life and journey and how she published her book.

The students asked Maggie questions about her inspiration for her book and if the character was based on her life. She shared about her life and upbringing and was a great role model for the students.

Special thanks to BHS Librarian Callie Graham for funding this great author talk. 

This year as my professional practice goal with my art department we have set this as our mission statement. I have created a new section of my website devoted to building resources and revising my lessons you can find under the DEI section.

Art Program Mission Regarding Diversity, Equity, and Race
In alignment with Burlington High School’s core values and learning expectations for students, the BHS (BPS) Art Program will 

• Examine and revise the BHS curriculum to include equitable and authentic representation and highlight the indispensable contributions that people of color have made to the world; 
• Identify our practices and programming that maintain systemic inequity and take the steps necessary to enact change;
• Engage administration, faculty, and staff in ongoing professional development that ensures educators understand and implement equitable classroom practices that promote justice for all;
• Create actively antiracist educational spaces that prioritize student voice;
• Develop and communicate a clear protocol for addressing race-related issues that impact BHS community members;
• Empower ourselves and our students to communicate and collaborate in ways that work toward solutions to the continued problems of inequity in the world; 
• Model respect, empathy, and responsibility in our classrooms and develop meaningful opportunities for students to learn the power of these values

First Steps:

• Commit to explore/read many of the resources in this document; take notes; gather ideas.
• Develop a limited (well-curated, not overwhelming) list of references and resources to share with art students at each grade level.
• Full-hour department meetings in new school year, with first portion devoted to equity issues