Category: 21st Century Skills

A Qualitative Research Study of Arts Education and its’ Impact on Post-Secondary Success. Written by Jenny Sturchio.

Leave a comment

This past school year I had the opportunity to work with Jenny Sturchio. She is a grad student at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee. Her ideas for her Capstone Final was to research how secondary art education impacts post-secondary success. The Sheboygan North High Art Department was one of her subjects for this research. I found it interesting to read her perspective on secondary art education and her correlations to post-secondary education. It is always neat to read what others think about the arts programming, activities, and relationships that exist within a public high school art program.

Feel free to download this PDF. Courtesy of Jenny Sturchio. 

Here are some excerpts from her research. 

“I find we are presented with material in a very linear way and are expected to understand it in that way as well. By participating in the arts, it has given me the chance to explore ideas and come to the conclusions in a more fluid manner. Having space to work through things abstractly has been beneficial for someone with a right brain way of thinking” (Answer from survey participant, 2016.)

“By being involved in the arts, I was able to find my passion. Being exposed to and given the chance to dabble in artistic curriculum, it opened up doors that would not have been possible otherwise. In a society where math and science are deemed the only suitably successful careers, including arts is a more holistic approach at education. Art has given me more ways to problem solve, and overall another perspective to walk through the world with. I think it is important to keep the arts in secondary education because that is how we keep it in post-secondary, which is important in creating innovators of the world” (Answer from survey participant, 2016.)

“When dealing with a struggling student they refer to creative teaching techniques to create a platform for the student to find success”.

“Not only do they [teachers] consult with the art department for their own classroom integration, but it is observed that arts-active students are more deeply engaged in classroom activities than those who are not”.

“My recommendation would be for high schools to provide professional development for their teachers that covers arts-integrated education”. – Jenny Sturchio

About

J.Sturchio. A Qualitative Research Study of Arts Education and its’ Impact on Post-Secondary Success: This narrative research project was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Arts in Education degree for the College of Adult and Graduate Studies at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI. 50pps.

Feel free to download this PDF. Courtesy of Jenny Sturchio. 

AP Studio Art Portfolios 2016

Leave a comment

This school year, 2015-2016, two NHS art students worked on their AP Studio Art portfolios. Both students communicated their intent through varied media such as collage, markers, paint, and artistic vision. These works are on display in the Lower Level from May 18 – June 1, 2016. 

The students arrive in AP Studio Art with a solid foundation in the arts and with breadth pieces of art completed from which to choose. Since AP students have had substantial experience in direct formal art making instruction, the AP class instruction is structured more like a college-level, independent study course where the student and instructor confer to identify an area of concentration for further development based on the student’s strengths, skills, and interests, for example, portraiture, landscapes, abstractions, illustration, and so forth.

Ashley

I am a senior at North High School. I am currently in AP Studio Art and my studio works consists of photographs I captured in the past few years that have a special meaning to me. My artwork tends to focus on nature, and with each body of work, I strive to communicate a variety of emotions to put together a unique portfolio. I used a method called Zentangle to focus specifically on the movement in each piece. I emphasized this element through the use of vibrant lines and the use of value and contrast. Through the different shades and textures, I wanted to tell a different story of my life through the emotions each piece portrayed. Each artwork is a building block that represents a part of my life and what makes me unique as a person.  

Chicago
Grandma’s House
Lake Bluff
Vacation Destination
Colorado
Blue Harbor
Lake Michigan
Ice Cream

 

Mikayla

The inspiration for most of the pieces comes from fairytales. My intention was to take a happy fairytale and distort it in a way that gives it a different or darker meaning.  The overall feeling of each piece leaves the viewer to feel uneasy and a sense of mystery and also a desire to figure out what each piece means. These pieces all hold a story behind them, creating an even deeper meaning.  I experimented with acrylics and collage and even a combination of the two. I feel as though collage creates a deeper contrast and help the viewer form a more solid idea of the work. I also included one piece that does not fit the fairytale theme, “Even The Mountains Have a Song,” for fun and to display that in the midst of creating one theme, random pieces art can create themselves without any intention of them being there.

Even the Tea Cups Started Talking
He’s a Tramp, But I Love Him
Sleep, Princess, Sleep
Never Grow Up
Dumbo
Lies Kill Your Conscience
What’s the Point?
I Can Show You the World
Even the Mountains Have a Song
The Flowers Were Hers

EXPO recap

Leave a comment

The art department participated in the 2016 EXPO. Once again we offered face painting and a nice collection of student artwork. Such a fab evening to be a Raider!!!

A huge thanks to our student artists and art teacher, Mrs. Mattern for making this evening special. 

Design it Yourself Gallery Project: A deeper look into the 365 Artists 365 Days Project

Leave a comment

Appleton art teacher, Elyse Lucas collaborated with Kate Mothes of Young Space inspires high school art students to research, collaborate, and design their own gallery. Mr. Juarez’s 365 Artists 365 Days Project provided students with a list of artists whose works were explored for the curation of the exhibitions that were organized within their own galleries. 

It is such a rewarding experience to see this project inspire students to look at the [art] world through a different lens. When this project was released on January 1, 2014 the primary intent was to introduce our readership to contemporary artists, studio cultures, and diversity in media from across the globe. It is neat to see this project implemented within a secondary art curriculum and to see the possibilities unfold. – Mr. Juarez, art educator and founder of 365 Artists 365 Days Project.

________________________________________________________________________________

Ms. Elyse Lucas’s unit: Design it Yourself Gallery Project

Unit and images courtesy of the teacher and used with permission. 

Objective: Design your own art exhibition in your own imaginary gallery. The artwork and gallery space must work together to invoke a common theme. Students may select any contemporary art pieces from the list of contemporary artists on Frank Juarez “365 Artists in 365 days” website. Students may design any space that the artwork will be hung. Student will create 3D models of their gallery space as well as an exhibition guide showcasing their selected artwork and describing their theme. Student will then present their ideas to professional curator Kate Mothes. Student will gain a greater understanding of contemporary art, art appreciation, art criticism, and the value to art in a community.

Requirements:

Research on Artwork –

  • Select 8-12 pieces of contemporary art from Frank Juarez’s website “365 Artists in 365 Days”
  • Artwork must have common theme (aesthetically or message)
  • Describe artist’s intent with artwork (chart)

3D Model of Gallery –

  • Must be made out of cardboard
  • Must be 3D and painted white
  • Must be laid out with where artwork goes and why

Exhibition guide for show –

  • Must include mission statement about the show (intent or what message you want the viewer to observe)
  • Paragraph about each artist and description of their artwork

Presentation –

  • About 20 minutes long
  • Re-state mission statement and intent with the show
  • Explain why you designed the space in a certain shape
  • Explain why you hung artwork in certain spots
  • Explain what you learned through this process

Standards:

  • Art Theory: Visual Thinking : Vocabulary Use (id:9968)
  • Art Theory: Visual Thinking : Interpretation/Evaluation (id:9969)
  • Art Theory: Visual Thinking : Formulates Opinion (id:9971)
  • Art Theory: Visual Thinking : Personal Opinion (id:9974)
  • Communication Arts 9. : Key Ideas and Details 2 (id:10151)
  • Communication Arts 9. : Production and Distribution of Writing 2 (id:10167)
  • Communication Arts 9. : Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas 3 (id:10177)

________________________________________________________________________________

Design it yourself Art Gallery: Research

Directions: Visit Frank Juarez’s website “365artists365days.com.” Click on the “Artist Database” link at the top and then “Download 2014/5 Artist Database” link. You can choose to look up an artist based on their medium (materials they used to make art) or theme/category they fall under. Visit the artist’s website, find images of their work, read about their intent/process. If you like an artist or think it works with a theme, add information to the chart below. Explore all sorts of artists, themes and mediums until you find one you appreciate/find aesthetic connection to. Collect 8-12 pieces for your show and print thumbnail picture of each piece.

Researching Artists-Artwork

Design it yourself Art Gallery: Research

Post-Research Reflection: Respond to the following prompts thoughtfully and thoroughly. Based on your reflection, write your show’s “Mission Statement” below.

  • What is similar about all these artists?
  • What mediums are the works made of? Where are the artists from?
  • What overall theme does the artwork have (aesthetics or meaning)?
  • Why will these works make a unified show?
  • What do you hope the viewer will take away from visiting your show?
  • What did you learn about your own aesthetics/taste in art through this research process?

________________________________________________________________________________

DIY Gallery: Community Engagement Piece

Directions: Design a community engagement piece to accompany your exhibition. What is something that will greet the public and encourage them to have a voice about your art show’s theme? Engagement piece should be something interactive that either remains in the gallery or people can take with them. Be creative and build off of your theme!

Requirements:

  • Piece should relate to the theme of your art show
  • Piece should be interactive
  • Prompt people to participate (see/feel the impact)
  • Remain in space or people take with them (memory)
  • Quick activity (less than five minutes)
  • Minimal supplies/mess

Ideas to build off of and adapt to your show:

  • Writing prompt (Kate’s show)
  • Collaborative drawing (Tedx talk)
  • Collaborative sticky notes mural (Tedx talk)
  • Take away card/gift/message (Felix Gonzalez Torres)
  • Be Creative!!! Think of your own!!!

Describe your community engagement piece below:

  • Describe the activity in 5-7 sentences (include a sketch as necessary)
  • What do you want people to take away from the activity?
  • What materials are necessary to the activity?
  • How does the activity relate to your theme?

Describe your community engagement piece below:

  • Describe the activity in 5-7 sentences (include a sketch as necessary)
  • What do you want people to take away from the activity?
  • What materials are necessary to the activity?
  • How does the activity relate to your theme?

________________________________________________________________________________

Design it yourself Gallery: Exhibition Guide

Directions: Create your own exhibition guide for your art show. Exhibition guide should walk your viewers through your art show and provide them with necessary information so they understand your theme/message of the show and layout of your gallery. Students may use Indesign or Publisher to create their 2-3 page guidebook.

IMG_20160421_0003

IMG_20160421_0002

Requirements:

Exhibition guide with likely be a trifold or booklet and must include the following:

Title/Cover Page:

  • Title of your gallery
  • Title of your art show
  • Picture (one attractive piece of artwork that represents the show)

Information about the show:

  • Location (imaginary location-city, state)
  • Run time (imaginary dates-2 weeks, 2 months, other)   
  • Mission statement of show
  • Map of the gallery/digital Homestyler.com model

Information about the art:

  • Artist, Title, Date, Medium of every piece of art in show
  • Small paragraph/blurb about each artist and their piece
  • Selective photos of work (not for every piece but range of work)

Information about your gallery:

  • Who are the curators (that’s you!)
  • Why did you choose to design your gallery the way you did?
  • What future shows would you like to hold in your gallery?

Note: Please use an attractive layout, font, colors and visuals that all work with your art show’s theme and is inviting to the public.

IMG_20160421_0003

IMG_20160421_0002

________________________________________________________________________________

DIY Gallery: Model

IMG_7709Objective: Design a model of your gallery space that help articulates your gallery’s mission statement and showcases the selected artwork. One model should be completed digitally with http://www.homestyler.com. You will need to create an account with your school email for this site. One model should be 3D and made out of cardboard. Students should paint cardboard white and include a key for the model explaining where artwork will go. Research other art galleries and museums and consider their layout when designing your own. Consider traditional elements of a gallery including blank slate layout (white walls, wood floors, artwork as focal point). Consider sizing of artwork when planning what pieces go where (an instillation piece should have adequate space for viewer to walk around piece, 6ft painting will need larger wall so work has space, etc.)

Requirements:

  • 1 Model should be made digitally with homestyler.com
  • 1 Model should be constructed 3D
    • Made out of cardboard and hot glue
    • Painted white walls
  • Clear simple layout (complements the art)
  • Considerate arrangement of work (pieces thematically tell story)
  • Artwork sizing considered
  • Key/chart:
    • indication where artwork is hung
    • compass/label for bearings
    • title of the gallery
    • mission statement of gallery
    • thumbnail picture of art pieces (8-12)
    • statement explaining gallery design and layout (why pieces go where)

DIY Gallery: Model statement

Explain your thought process is designing the gallery space. Why did you choose this layout? How does the layout relate to your gallery’s mission statement and theme of the art show? What other art galleries/museums did you look at for inspiration for your gallery? What pieces needed extra consideration for placement? (7-9 sentences at least)

________________________________________________________________________________

Design it yourself Gallery: Presentation

Directions: Pitch your gallery idea to Kate Mothes and Ms. Lucas! Presentation should be 15 mins in length and both partners should be actively participating equally. Discuss all components to your gallery including the following: information about the show, art pieces/research process, exhibition guide, layout (digital and scale model), community engagement piece.

Information on show: (3 mins)

  • Title of gallery and exhibition
  • Mission statement
  • Theme of the exhibition
  • Describe artists and their pieces (artist, title, date, medium, meaning)

Research process: (3 mins)

  • Why did you pick the pieces you did?
  • What were some hardships with finding your artists?
  • Why were you drawn to the pieces?
  • What did you learn about your own taste in art through this process?

Exhibition Guide: (3 mins)

  • Why did you design your guide this way?
  • What hardships did you have when creating your guide?

IMG_20160421_0002

IMG_20160421_0003

IMG_20160421_0004

IMG_20160421_0005

Layout of gallery (models): (3 mins)

  • Why did you arrange your model/gallery layout this way?
  • What hardships did you overcome in planning out the location of your pieces or what special considerations did your artwork require?

IMG_7649

Community Engagement: (3 mins)

  • What activity did you provide the public?
  • What are you hoping people take away from participating in activity?
  • How does your activity relate to your theme?
  • Why is it important to have a community engagement piece?

*** Note: This is a formal presentation. Please introduce yourself and conduct yourself professionally in front of our community members. Please rehearse your presentation with your partner in advanced so you meet time and response expectations. Please hold up/display model and guide when describing these pieces. Can provide powerpoint of enlarged images when describing art pieces if desired.

Presentation Feedback (see front of this sheet also):

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Project Feedback (see individual sheets also):

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Unit and images courtesy of the teacher and used with permission. 

Below is the article that was published on April 11, 2016 by The Post Crescent. 

IMG_20160421_0004

IMG_20160421_0003

IMG_20160421_0002

What does a mask say about you?

Leave a comment

What does a mask say about you?  Or about the person wearing it?

Last quarter 3D Design students designed and created their very own Identity Masks to illustrate whatever they wanted to communicate with the public. Materials used were cardboard, paper mache, gesso, and acrylic paints. Some students’ work were based on their interests while others took a personal approach and took this opportunity to say something about him/herself. 

KAT

K. Luther

My name is Kat, at least that’s what a lot of people know me by. I am a junior and have been to 3 different high schools, I have never really fit in where ever I’ve gone and always kind of felt left out of things. I came to North for a fresh start and I got it. People always wonder what’s behind my mask I put on.

I interpreted what’s behind my facade with this mask. I added some random details that may be weird to some but have meaning to me, like the spikes. The top spikes represent my confusion, mainly done by placement. The color theme is for my over active brain. Purple is my fear. Black is my anger, which on the surface is very hidden, but inside I fight violent urges all the time in my quest to achieve peace.

The black inside of the mouth is how it feels when I try to speak, like I say nothing. I guess my mask represents my hidden pain that I hide.

_________________________________________________________________________________

MARCOS

M.Santillan

 

My mask doesn’t represent anything all that much. I made it look like a bear, but colored it blue with white markings. The blue color is supposed to represent the calmness of bears, but the white markings represents innocence . I made the mask so I could wear it only on my face, the mask is held in place and fits perfectly which also covers the entire head. There could be be a deeper meaning about the mask and colors used but couldn’t think of a deeper meaning.

_________________________________________________________________________________

KEVIN

IMG_3950

My Character’s  name is Void. He trained with the Spartans and killed his master Raz Al’ Ghul so that he could become the most powerful warrior. He has a brother named Slade. His brother is an Australian soldier that was injected with a cyrum called mirakuru. It gave him strength and power to kill with a single punch. Void was also injected with the same cyrum and had the potential to regenerate quickly. Void is a legit immortal. The brothers had a duel and Void had his brother killed with his own sword right through the eye. Slade was no match for void and his sword.

Another enemy has entered this world of Void and threatened to hunt Void down because rumor has it that he has everlasting life. Rattlehead is the master death. He is capable of taking a mortal’s life and eating its soul by piercing them with his sword through the heart. They began to battle and clashing swords. Void managed to cut his left hand off causing him to lose some of his souls he has taken. At the end we both clashed swords and we both were turned into stones.

To be continued……………

_________________________________________________________________________________

LOGAN

IMG_3946

The mask goes by many names. But all know its true name: Darkness. The mask was once worn by Rattlehead, The master of Death. After thousands of years, the mask became the symbol of destruction and destruction. All that proves that it once truly was real is the replica of it that was found, and of his sword, Soul Reaper.

In the age before machines, all feared dying. Rattlehead enjoyed killing all,, even if they are not to die yet. After thousands of years, he sensed a power of another immortal. He crossed over dimensions to find and slay the power to take as his own. The being was known as Void. A strange being who became immortal. As the two clashed, an explosion erupted and the two vanished from the realm, never to be seen again.

_________________________________________________________________________________     

CHRIS

C. Hartley

 

_________________________________________________________________________________

FRANK

F.Canseco

_________________________________________________________________________________ 

ADRIANA

IMG_3943

Mr. Juarez teaches art in Ojai, California

Leave a comment

This spring break Mr. Juarez is participating in a visiting artist program at The Thacher School in Ojai, California. He will be working with Mrs. Mahoney’s art students. He will be introducing students to the Midwest Artist Studios Project (MAS), which highlights artists living in the Midwest. In addition, he will be Skyping the artists into the classroom so that they can have the opportunity to interact with them via a critique and/or Q & A.  

On March 25th, he spent the day getting to know the art students. Mrs. Mahoney’s students are fabulous and talented. He will be facilitating a few projects from the MAS Project and will be documenting his stay. 

To see images of students working on the MAS art lessons click here. 

Below will be a growing gallery of images. 

Midwest artist, Jessica Anderson, visits Sheboygan North High art students

Leave a comment

On March 14, MAS artist, Jessica Anderson, spent the day at Sheboygan North High School connecting with students through her project, Meditation Walking, as the basis for her meditation drawings that she facilitated with Drawing/Painting II, AP Studio Art, and Senior Art 2 students. Jessica is one of our Year 2 MAS artists. 

Jessica’s artist statement states:

Part research, part design, part invention – my work navigates the boundary between mind and body through a re-contextualized lens of science, medicine, and biologic phenomena. Reminiscent of laboratory investigations, my invented scenarios answer questions with questions and provoke participatory explorations of the individual self.  

Taking the position as neither a skeptic nor a promoter, my research examines the role of holistic healing practices in contemporary culture. I am interested in individual relationships within these mechanisms of health and provide viewers with opportunities to test their own boundaries of belief. Reframing practices such as a detoxifying footbath, a chi activation machine, and phenomenological exercises, my re-contextualization of existing treatments heightens the tension of purpose, and provides viewers with neutral environments of investigation. 

Merging factual information with reinvented application allows me to expand the dialogue of cognitive occurrences. For instance, EMDR therapy asks patients to lean their head to the left to access thoughts and to lean their head to the right to access feelings and emotions. Redirecting this information, I then ask: Is there a discernible difference between these two cerebral directions when drawing a line? 

It is a question that can only be answered through experience, observation, and communally applied analytics. 

In my work, invitations for experience occur through demonstrative videos, interactive objects/devices, evocative statements of research, and performative exercises. Together, each of these installation elements create a multi-dimensional environment of investigative viewing, biologic questioning, and experiential answering. By repositioning scientifically grounded phenomena into the context of a gallery, information begins to transcend ratiocination and calls upon a physical conversation between mind, body, and personal experience. 

Katie, drawing/painting II student, writes, “the meditation drawing experience was very different from what I was expecting going into it. My mind works in a very mechanical fashion so I thought that I would not be able to relax and have my hand wander for a period of time. I found myself having completely letting go. Tracking time was impossible. When just sitting and doing nothing, 10 minutes felt like an eternity. Time was called when I thought we were only half way through. After completing the session, I felt more relaxed, more confident in my decisions, and more sensitive to my surroundings. I would gladly doing this again and recommend it to anyone. 

Abrille, drawing/painting II student, writes, “I felt that with this meditation drawing it was weird. At First, it was different because I never done it before. I learned that basically letting your mind take over your hand. You do not exactly create something recognizable. I thought this idea was cool because I never thought you could meditate through art. I was pretty excited with trying something new. In the end Id did get comfortable with doing this. By the time we were finished I was really relaxed, but when I opened my eyes to see what I drew it was unexpected.

Brittany, drawing/painting II student, writes, “Jessica did an amazing job! It was a great experience. I would do it all of the time. I felt refreshed. My mind was at peace. 

Mikayla, AP Studio Art student, writes, my experience during the meditation drawing was calming. I wasn’t thinking about what I was drawing, but more what I was feeling. This process taught me that to create art, I do not need to always necessarily think it through, but express how I’m feeling. I also learned that meditation drawing is the releasing of one’s mind. The thoughts and expressions in our minds flow directly into our hand and create an image on paper. When introduced to this process I was very interested. It seemed very stress free and enjoyable. After it was all done, the meditation drawing session made me feel very relaxed. I was also quite surprised by how my drawing looked. It pretty much was a bunch of scribbles, but nonetheless very enjoyable. 

Running Time: 14:17 with a 6:21 introduction by Jessica. 

Gallery

MAS artist, Jessica Anderson