The week before Thanksgiving is always a short one, so what better time to do some updates? While Ms. Jorgensen was teaching, I helped Mr. J hang a new display created by Dr. Michels’ and Mr. Johnson’s Social Studies students – these are their “cave paintings”. Even better? The students were able to put their own spin on these drawings, including in the drawings things that are important to them. They even wrote an artist’s statement on the back. What a fantastic way to incorporate art into the curriculum!
Category: SNHS Artist in Residence
Artist in Residence Happenings as of November 21
WOW! What a great couple of weeks in the AIR program! You may remember Mel Kolstad, resident artist, talking about visiting with Mr. Soik’s Honors Humanities class for their first unit – well, he asked her back to consult with the students about their second unit, which deals with ancient Sumerian and Egyptian culture, The Epic of Gilgamesh and the samples of Egyptian literature. What they created was incredible, as you can see!
Mel also met with Mrs. Reinemann’s Chemistry Club, which was SO much fun! The club made Solarfast prints and tie-dyed t-shirts! The students had a great time making these, and the project will be implemented in a future chemistry class. What a fun way to learn about photoreactive dyes!
Artist in Residence Happenings as of November 6
What a great week! Artist in Residence Mel Kolstad was able to hang out with Amy Jarvis, who came to visit before her talk with the Art Foundations kids next week in Mr J’s class, and they were invited back to Dr. Michels’ class for a potlatch, where the students celebrated their successes with food, singing and magic!
Mel also spent some time in the IMC, where Ms. Gloede so generously invited her to take some of the discarded books from the library. She says she had a wonderful time looking through all the books, and took some for future projects! One of the pieces that she created includes some old cellophane tape that had yellowed, and she used that as the foundation for this piece. There is beauty in the mundane!
Mel also used her backpack press to create this 3-color letterpress print. In a true letterpress studio, the printer would use what’s called a lock-up to secure his or her blocks and cuts. It’s amazing what rubber bands can do in a pinch!
Arist in Residence Happenings as of October 30
Another big week of happenings with the AIR program! This week Artist in Residence Mel Kolstad was able to see Dr. Michels’ students’ “Mind Maps” that were created in the African/Asian Studies classes during 1st, 2nd and 4th hours! As you can see, the students put a LOT of work into these pieces, and they turned out wonderfully! Thanks again so much to Dr. Michels for allowing Mel to visit his classes – what an enriching experiece.
Mel also got to meet Sara Willadsen, a painter from Sheboygan, who will be the 3rd quarter Artist in Residence! She gave a talk in Mr. J’s classes, and then she and Mel hung out in the studio for a while. What a great addition to the North High Art Department!
Artist in Residency Happenings as of October 24
AIR Mel Kolstad is happy to say that she met with Dr. Michels’ African/Asian History and Cultural Studies classes last week, and will be advising them on their “mind maps” they’ll be creating for their unit on African Cultural Groups. As she meets with them further, she’ll have some photos of the students’ work to share. She is looking forward to seeing what they create!
Mel is also very honored to be featured in The North Star! Thanks so much to Cassy Wolker for the great interview and article. 🙂 http://www.nhsnorthstar.com/features/2014/10/22/print-master-general/
Rockin’ into a new school year with student art
Here are some snapshots of what they are doing in class. Images are taken from my Art Foundations 1 classes to my advanced classes.
There will be more added to this gallery during the school year.
nhsartdept.com 