Robert Rauschenberg

 

 1925–2008. U.S. painter and sculptor Robert Rauschenberg is considered one of the major artists of the latter half of the 20th century. During his early career he devised new techniques of three-dimensional collage and assemblage. Within his artwork Rauschenberg used subject matter drawn from the popular culture, history, and mass media of the United States. 

His works are called COMBINES.

Today we used recycled items to make prints and took images from magazines and wrappers to create our own combines in the style of Rauschenberg.

Retroactive by Robert Rauschenberg

calder mobiles

Here are some pictures of our mobiles as we are getting ready to put them together.

Smart with Art, K-2 - Calder Mobiles

 On Monday, students learned about Alexander Calder and started creating their own mobiles using model magic.    Mobile pieces are drying and will be put together next Monday so you can see their floating creations.

Alexander Calder  (July 22, 1898 – November 11, 1976) was an American sculptor and artist most famous for inventing mobile sculptures. Because of Calder, babies all over the world are lulled to sleep by colorful dangling shapes!  In addition to moving and stable sculptures, he created paintings, toys, and household objects.  Calder also created an entire miniature circus which could be packed into briefcases and carried back and forth between America and Europe. He was certainly a unique artist.

Born in Pennsylvania in 1898, his parents were both artists. His father was a sculptor and his mother painted portraits. They knew it was difficult to earn money as an artist so, though they encouraged Calder to create art, they did not want him to choose to art as a job.

Alexander Calder’s talent could be seen even in his first sculpture, which he created when he was four years old. As he continued to sculpt, Calder became interested in sculpture that moved. He created a duck that rocked when tapped and a train that ran down a track.  He followed his parents’ advice and studied engineering in college. However, Calder wasn’t happy in any of the jobs he worked after college and decided to become an artist after all.  Many babies are very thankful he did!

3rd Grade Leaf Bowls and O'Keeffe-inspired Giant Abstract Leaves

3rd Graders collected leaves and pressed them into clay slabs to create leaf bowls.  Here are two drying.  We will paint them after they are fired.

 3rd Graders also studied the work of Georgia O'Keeffe and created giant abstract drawings of leaves.
Mrs. Nelson's Class:

Mrs. Yamamoto's Class:

Mrs. Davies Class:

Thank you so much to the parent volunteers who assisted with the clay, Mrs. Adad, Mrs. Koch, and Mrs. Atlee.   The clay project would not have been possible without your help.

Jumping in the Leaves

All 2nd graders learned about the artist Henri Rousseau and how he painted many jungle scenes.  His art work is full of leaves.

Here are the leaf collages from Mrs. Guest and Mrs. Fornia's class.  Instead of a tiger hiding  in the leaves, you can find a 2nd grader playing in the leaves.

Smart with Art 3-6

Here are some wonderful collages in the style of Romare Bearden.  You can read about him and our first lesson here.

k-2 Smart with Art

 

Quilts made in the style of Faith Ringold's Flag Story Quilt

Today we learned about Faith Ringgold. Faith is an African American Artist.   She is most recognized for her painted story quilts. 

Many of her quilts depict realistic scenes.

Her story quilts were more that works of art, they tell a story.

One of her famous quilts is also now a book, called Tar Beach.

We looked at her quilt of the American Flag and created our own collage based on Ringgold’s collage style.

2nd Grade is Jumping in the Leaves!

Inspired by the artwork of Henri Rousseau, 2nd graders created a leaf collage of themselves playing in the leaves.

Rousseau's jungle scene

Ms. Via's class:

Mrs. Goodleaf's Class:

Mrs. Guest/Mrs. Fornia's class coming soon!