Un-Masking Many Cultures

Students discovered many things about masks in many societies, both old and new.
Here are the types of masks they listed:
Breathe:
Job:
Pretend:
Entertain:
Disguise:
Protection:
Ceremony

Actor
Air Breathing
Auto Mechanic
Asian Guard
Astronaut
Basketball player
Batman
Bee Keeper
Carpenter
Catcher , baseball
Clown
Construction Workers
Dentist
Doctor
Electrician
Field Hockey Goalie
Fire Fighter
Football Player
Halloween Hygienist
Housekeeper
Power Rangers
Firefighter
Winter People
Football
Ice Hockey
Jason
Jockey
Kidnapper
Lawn Cutter
Mean Dog
Mechanic Monkey
Motor Cycle Driver
Nurse
Orthodontist
Pantomime Artist
Pet Caretaker
Pilots
Race Car Driver
Raccoon
Road Workers
Robber
Scuba Diver
Spiderman
Sky Diving
Swimmer
Tree Cutter
Umpire
Welder

I bet you can think of at least 5 more!
We had tons of fun inventing our own and we hope you like them.

Kindergarten Aboriginal Dot Painting

Adding Our Own Ideas

"Now can we take them home?"

Grade 1, Native American Masks

Color!!!

One of the second grades studied Mexico

Mexican masks have some natural objects

Some are simple

Some have more detail

Thired graders made "Comedy and Tragedy" masks after seeing classical Greek mosaics

It's a Tragedy!

It's a Greek Comedy!

Come back to look for the 4th grader’s African Masks, soon.

Making a Grey Day Colorful

One way to brighten your day is to look at a lot of color. That is what 56 third graders did with their amazing and knowledgeable classroom teachers and some creative minded parent chaperones!

All the way to Richmond, our state capitol to see the one, the only, PICASSO!

Check out the Picasso link below to view the on line exhibition that all third grade will be talking about for a long time.

We were so lucky to fit in two different tours in one trip.

The VMFA has the best docents and two of the best brought Greece and Rome to life for our students, showing us more than 25 ancient and antique art and artifacts from those cultures. We saw four seasons of mosaics from Pompeii, Greek urns with a wedding story turned bad, heroes and villians and of course the columns!

With weather threatening we ate slowly and hungrily back to Jackson-Via with a brain full of new images and ideas and hungry to learn even more!

We have so much to be thankful for here in Virginia and especially at Jackson-Via. Wonderful, creative children whose enthusiasm is igniting my energy with plans for a return to the new Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for more “real, live” learning.

Keep your eye on the arts!

Out on The Town

ArtInPlace is the place to be this chilly February!

Friday night was the biggest art opening I think The McGuffey Art Center in downtown C’Ville has seen. “Local Food” is the theme of this years two-dimensional art show and it brought out many amazing works of art making this art teacher hungry for more.

Seven Jackson-Via artists works are on display. They drew foods they have seen growing near their home, from strawberries to grapes and ripe peaches.The bright oil pastels are stand-outs!

If you get a chance, visit the exhibit. it might make you hungry to go home and paint!

Go to http://www.artinplace.org for more details.

Competitions and Exhibits

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The Triarco company is thinking like we are with their theme for this pastel drawing contest. First grade students are entering the “Keep Your Eye on the Arts!” contest next week with some of these winners! Congratulations to all the artists who painted their pastel eyes from the mirror and close scientific investigation.

Great Connections

A very lucky group of Thursday Third Graders has been exploring the great outdoors on our newly cleared trail system in the back yard of our school property.

The 20 acres have been our frigid classroom for the past six weeks. Students have found many important facts in the gathering of samples.

Jackson-Via Nature Trails Now Complete

One clear fact is that we have a vibrant and varied habitat to learn from.

Our chief explorer, Mr. Devin Floyd of the Blue Ridge Discovery Center here in Charlottesville, has led students and yours truly, through a lot of questions to discover our forests and search for evidence of animal life.

As we discover facts we follow up with discussion and drawing time back in the studio.

And then, the students always come up with more questions!!

Don’t wait till the weather warms up to get on our nature trail, go soon, and often. make your own discoveries and find the sunshine and peace out there!

Here is a link to Devin’s findings here on Harris Road.

http://www.piedmontdiscovery.blogspot.com

Sebastien's sidewalk animal was spotted entering school one cold morning. Can you tell what kind of tree it comes from?

READING INCENTIVES IN ARTISTIC CONTAINERS

Students and teachers are always trying to find great incentives for doing better at everything. This year’s Leadership Team came together to find a great way to help children want to read. Free Books! Yes, and you can take them home!

Art students wanted to decorate boxes with themes to use to keep the prizes in. Children and teachers enjoy the colorful, creative book incentive boxes and can’t wait to read another book. These are some of them made from re-purposed paper boxes.

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Well, Happy New Year Everyone!

I really feel like it already is a very happy new time for everybody. We had a restful break and it seems as though every child has a great story about being home and with their families.
Before the break the second graders completed an imaginary animal made from recycled items from home. Thanks to all who saved the landfill by sending in bottles, paper tubes, caps and boxes. We painted, printed and attached all sorts of materials to get these animals to roar, gnash and tweet. You have seen them gracing the front entry and students chose their faves to photograph themselves to show off here!
Look for more at ART Connections 2011 which is just around the corner in March.

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Through My Eyes!

“Through My Eyes” is another way to recognize a body of art done by very motivated students ON THEIR OWN!
We are proud of all our artists here at Jackson-Via especially when they come up with their own ideas. Many students ask for materials to take home, bring in two or three paintings or drawings or sculptures which are original and very thoughtful and they come up with by themselves. This year, to recognize them, we are exhibiting these creations in the art commons area on the bulletin board and naming them “ARTIST OF THE MONTH”!
For the month of Novemeber we are highlighting Iori, a 2nd grade artist who says, “I look at stuff, they give me ideas, then I write about it in my journal. Then it gives me ideas to draw or paint.” His favorite color is blue, “light blue is better”, he says.
His art is always fresh and colorful. He loves nature.

Pattern and designs with paint crayon.

Red and Green attract our eye.

Meet our Mascot

Last year we were blessed with our own little guy to draw. He is a hermit crab named, well, “DRAW”!
He teaches us to overcome our fears of the unknown by reaching out to let him tickle us, teaches us to be gentle souls and to be patient. Though Draw is too big for his shell, he still will not move into the bigger condo we have had built for him. We are all waiting for that day.

ART OUTSIDE THE BRICKS

Jackson-Via Elementary School has adopted our Moore’s Creek in our backyard.
That means that we are now the stewards of our water.
Twice a year we are in charge of cleaning it up with the help of the City of Charlottesville.

This fall the cleanup will take many steps to complete. This picture shows our first official clean-up crew.

We would like you to help with the fun! Drop us a note if you want to join the fun. Cleanup II is coming soon.
Look for our official “Adopt-A-Stream” sign. It will be posted outside our school soon.

The City of Charlottesville Department of Parks and Trails is hard at work with hundreds of volunteers to help make our trails clear and usable. Soon we will have a map to post and markers out in the forest to help you use the beautiful back yard here at J-Via.

Here are some photos from our first clean up!

The rest of the first team after 2 1/2 hours of hard work and fun!