The Coleman Center for the Arts is pleased to present the work of students from the 21st Century after-school program at York West End Jr. High School and Kinterbish Jr. High School completed in weekly classes in the Fall semester of 2016. Their work will be in display from Thursday, December 15th to Friday, January 13th in the Coleman Center gallery in downtown York, AL.
During the Fall semester students explored the intersection between two dimensional and three dimensional artwork. During the 20th century, art movements like Pop Art, Dada, Cubism, Modernism, and Abstract Expressionism moved easily between painting and sculpture. Student looked at art historical and multicultural works as examples to inspire their own work. While producing both individual and collaborative class projects, students were asked to use their imaginations and creative problem solving skills to make original artwork and learn new skills and techniques.
At the center of the gallery show were three collaborative assemblages (like collage but three dimensional) inspired by language and employing bold colors and designs. Three groups of students chose a verb to inspire their work and create a common theme. Each student then contributed painted cardboard shapes focusing on color, shape, and line to express their theme. These shapes came together as three collaborative works that illustrate the verbs to dance, to skate, and to dab.
Paper based sculptures also featured prominently. Simple coils were used in another collaborative project to create a wall based sculpture. Using multi-cultural patterns as inspiration and their classmates as collaborators, each student decorated a piece of this busy art puzzle. Along the way they also learned concepts relating to two and three dimensional art and how to create sculpture from everyday materials.
In another incarnation of paper work, students constructed paper globes embedded with well wishes. Students were asked to make a wish for someone in their life and include it in their tiny sculpture. This activity allowed students to flex their fine motor and spacial reasoning skills while also considering empathy and community.
As a nod to dimensionality via Cubism students also took time to learn about Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. They discussed his unique and unusual approach to portraiture and then chose a portrait to recreate. By using Picasso’s work as a template, students were able to spend time exploring the work of one of the 20th century’s most important artists while also investigating their own skills and new ways of seeing.
Oh, don’t forget pizza! Pop artist Claus Oldenberg created work inspired by everyday objects, such large fabric sculptures of food like cake, french fries, and hamburgers. After looking at Oldenburg’s work, students were asked to design their own pizza inspired soft sculptures and to think outside the box in relation to materials and concepts. These colorful slices, like most Pop Art, ask the artists and audience to look at ordinary objects in a new way.
Thanks to the 21st Century Afterschool Program, the Sumter County Board of Education, Kinterbish Jr. High School, West End Jr. High School, and all of the teachers, parents and students who made this semester a success!