Professor Rees comes back to GOPA and SOIT

Above:  Tyler Zeleny, Michael Rees, Geoff Flash, and Brian Sandilands visit GOPA/SOIT

On Tuesday May 27, Professor Michael Rees and his current and former graduate students:
Brian Sandilands, Tyler Zeleny, and Geoff Flash came back to GOPA and SOIT to visit the STEAM students who went on the field trip to the WPU Power Arts Building last week LINK.

They brought three D portraits of the students machine cut out of styrofoam as well as a few printed with the three D printer in black and orange plastic, to GOPA Art Teacher, Mr. Jones' STEAM class.  (The remainder of the smaller plastic portraits are still being fabricated at the Power Arts building by the graduate students in the 3-D sculpture shop there.)

Also in attendance in the art classroom were SOIT art teacher, Marilyn Simon with her STEAM students, WPU Art Professor in Residence Triada Samaras, and WPU Math and Science PIR and Dodge Grant Manager, Dina Scacchetti.  Later several members of the Paterson Alliance and school principals, Principal Vivian Gaines (SOIT) and Dr. Karen Johnson (GOPA).

 
Above:  Michael Rees with Principal Vivian Gaines and mebers of the Paterson Alliance.
Below right: Michael Rees with Principal Karen Johnson
 











Professor Rees spoke to the students about the 3 D printing process first, explaining that "failures" with the three D technology are always opportunities to learn.  "Failures," Rees explained, "in fact create later successes."  He also talked about the geometry inherent in the 3 D printing process and explained how 3 D printers use hexagonal patterns to create objects. 

Next Professor Rees and his graduate students handed out works to the students.
Each student received his/her own styrofoam self portrait.  He then demonstrated working with both joint compound and with wood glue and newspaper to collage, and encouraged the students to begin working on the portraits with hands-on materials.  Students discussed the differences between sculpture and painting and contemplated their options for changing the surface of their portraits.

Art Teachers Mr. Jones and Mrs. Simon will have the the STEAM students continue working on these art projects in the days to come.

Above:  SOIT Art Teacher Marilyn Simon reflects on a student portrait

GOPA and SOIT STEAM Students visit WPU Power Arts Building

                 Above:  GOPA and SOIT STEAM students observe the 3 D printers with Dina Scacchetti

On Monday May 19, GOPA and SOIT the STEAM students who attended Professor Rees's presentation last week at Eastside High School LINK took a field trip to the Power Arts Building.  Also in attendance were Art Teachers, Marilyn Simon and Darryl Jones, WPU ART PIR Triada Samaras and Math and Science PIR Dina Scacchetti.  

 

Above:  Triada Samaras, Dina Scacchetti, and Marilyn Simon 

At the WPU Power Arts Building, the students were met by Professor Rees and two current WPU graduate art students, Brian Sandilands and Tyler Zeleny, as well as former graduate art student Geoff Flash who is also a New Jersey Public High School Art Teacher.

Above:  Geoff Flash, Marilyn Simon and Darryl Jones

Students first were introduced to a scanner technology that the graduate students used to scan the heads of each student into the computer.  This process was very interesting and students could track the progress of their scan visually on the computer monitor.

Above/Below:  Tyler Zeleny scans a STEAM student's head

 
Students then engaged with the MAC computers in the lab where Sculptris and other software are available to the WPU student users.  GOPA and SOIT students experimented with Sculptris, a three D digital sculpting software that produces striking results in a short time.




 

Above:  STEAM students experience Sculptris

After lunch Professor Rees took the students on a tour of the wall relief projects hanging in the halls outside of the computer lab done in Professor Rees' university art class. WPU graduate art student, Kelly Boguscz, shared several of her works with the students. This group of relief sculptures and their accompanying QR codes  provoked a thoughtful and critical dialogue by the STEAM students with Professor Rees.

 Above: Michael Rees, Marilyn Simon, and STEAM Students

Then the students returned to the computer lab where they found that the scans of their heads done earlier were available to them digitally for them to manipulate using three D modeling software.  Professor Rees demonstrated some possibilities using the software on a large screen in front of the students.

Above: Michael Rees demonstrates digital sculpting to STEAM students

Students had an inspiring time experimenting with the software options and inventing new possibilities for their 3-D portraits. They created a wide range of interesting and provocative art pieces. (See below.)

At the end of the day one of the scanned portraits from the morning was printed by the three D printer.  The rest of the students will receive their portraits next week when Professor Rees returns to Eastside High School. The STEAM students will continue working on these projects in Mr. Jones' and Mrs. Simon's STEAM classes.


Left:  Michael Rees and a STEAM student with the portrait created by the three D printer.

William Paterson University Art Professor Visits the STEAM program

 
On Tuesday afternoon May 13, William Paterson University Art Professor Michael Rees, who is also the Director for the Center of New Art, visited students in the GOPA and SOIT STEAM program.  Also in attendance were art teachers Marilyn Simon and Darryl Jones, Art PIR Triada Samaras and Math and Science PIR Dina Scacchetti.

 
Above and Left:  Professor Rees presents to Eastside STEAM students

Professor Rees, who spoke to the students in the media center, presented his personal art works first, explaining both the material as well the digital aspects of his sculptures.  Furthermore, he discussed the content of his works explaining the themes that interest him as an artist.  In addition, he introduced the concept of three D technology to the students and its relationship to his processes.  Rees was visibly excited by the possibilities of this technology for a wide variety of uses even beyond artistic ones and helped captivate the students' interest in this new and innovative area.  Students listened carefully and asked many thoughtful and critical questions. 


In addition, Professor Rees presented a video on one of the many potential medical and therapeutic uses of the this amazing technology.  Students learned how new and improved prosthetic fingers and hands are made easily possible with three D printer technology.  Professor Rees stressed that in a short time every household might own a three D printer and use it to make an endless variety of ordinary gadgets and pieces for the house and everyday living.

WPU Graduate Student Brian Sandilands then discussed his sculptures with the students as well as his trip to Italy where he and Rees spent time in Carrara, which is famous for its marble.

Lastly Rees explained to the students that they will travel next week to the WPU Power Art Building to experience three D printing technology for themselves.  Both students and teachers are looking forward to participating in this upcoming field trip.

                                                          Above: 
                                                                        Professor Michael Rees and Math and Science PIR DIna Scacchetti

.

WPU Dodge STEAM grant featured in North Jersey Press

The WPU Dodge STEAM grant was a recent feature in the North Jersey Press. LINK

WPU program help Paterson teachers integrate art with science

May 2, 2014    Last updated: Friday, May 2, 2014, 1:21 AM

By MINJAE PARK

STAFF WRITER

The Record

WAYNE — William Paterson University announced this week that it had received a $130,000 grant to continue collaborating with Paterson Public Schools to promote the connections between the arts and sciences.
The integration includes creating watercolors of cells in middle school biology class or drawing butterflies in elementary school to study the concept of symmetry.
Even if schools offer arts instruction, integrating it with science and math classes is "not only exciting for the students but it has a meaningful punch," said Candace Burns, dean of the university's College of Education. "This was a way to increase the magnitude of the impact of the art on students."
The new grant, from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, based in Morristown, adds to the $200,000 the university has received from the foundation in the past two years.
The previous grants have enabled the university to place three adjunct professors at city schools. Those "professors-in-residence" visit their schools twice a week for a full day to meet with teachers and help them weave arts into the math and science curriculums.
The goal is to offer professional development for teachers in hopes that they can continue the work once the professors leave, said Dina Scacchetti, the university's project coordinator for the grant.
The latest grant will also take art to the Great Falls National Historical Park.
Though the details aren't set yet, the collaboration might involve signs that highlight the historical importance of the park, Scacchetti said.
Some of the students' work can be found at steamempowe rment.blogspot.com.
Email: parkm@northjersey.com

- See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/wpu-paterson-schools-partnership-gets-boost-1.1007635#sthash.qEvDZucb.dpuf

BY MINJAE PARK
STAFF WRITER
The Record

                          "WPU program helps Paterson teachers integrate art with science"

WAYNE — 
"William Paterson University announced this week that it had received a $130,000 grant to continue collaborating with Paterson Public Schools to promote the connections between the arts and sciences. The integration includes creating watercolors of cells in middle school biology class or drawing butterflies in elementary school to study the concept of symmetry."

"Even if schools offer arts instruction, integrating it with science and math classes is "not only exciting for the students but it has a meaningful punch," said Candace Burns, dean of the university's College of Education. "This was a way to increase the magnitude of the impact of the art on students."
 
"The new grant, from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, based in Morristown, adds to the $200,000 the university has received from the foundation in the past two years."

"The previous grants have enabled the university to place three adjunct professors at city schools. Those "professors-in-residence" visit their schools twice a week for a full day to meet with teachers and help them weave arts into the math and science curriculums."
 
"The goal is to offer professional development for teachers in hopes that they can continue the work once the professors leave, said Dina Scacchetti, the university's project coordinator for the grant."
(edit)

Please see link below for the rest of this story.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/wpu-paterson-schools-partnership-gets-boost-1.1007635

WPU program help Paterson teachers integrate art with science

May 2, 2014    Last updated: Friday, May 2, 2014, 1:21 AM

By MINJAE PARK

STAFF WRITER

The Record

WAYNE — William Paterson University announced this week that it had received a $130,000 grant to continue collaborating with Paterson Public Schools to promote the connections between the arts and sciences.
The integration includes creating watercolors of cells in middle school biology class or drawing butterflies in elementary school to study the concept of symmetry.
Even if schools offer arts instruction, integrating it with science and math classes is "not only exciting for the students but it has a meaningful punch," said Candace Burns, dean of the university's College of Education. "This was a way to increase the magnitude of the impact of the art on students."
The new grant, from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, based in Morristown, adds to the $200,000 the university has received from the foundation in the past two years.
The previous grants have enabled the university to place three adjunct professors at city schools. Those "professors-in-residence" visit their schools twice a week for a full day to meet with teachers and help them weave arts into the math and science curriculums.
The goal is to offer professional development for teachers in hopes that they can continue the work once the professors leave, said Dina Scacchetti, the university's project coordinator for the grant.
The latest grant will also take art to the Great Falls National Historical Park.
Though the details aren't set yet, the collaboration might involve signs that highlight the historical importance of the park, Scacchetti said.
Some of the students' work can be found at steamempowe rment.blogspot.com.
Email: parkm@northjersey.com

- See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/wpu-paterson-schools-partnership-gets-boost-1.1007635#sthash.qEvDZucb.dpuf

Paterson High School Art Teachers Exhibition at Paterson Museum

The works of three talented Paterson high school art teachers are currently on display at the Paterson Museum.  

 Art Work by Marilyn Simon at the Paterson Museum May 2014

Art teachers:  Marilyn Simon, School of Information Technology;  Darryl Jones, School of Government and Public Administration;  and Vivian Reyes, School of Culinary Arts, Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, are featured at the Paterson Museum.  Their works include medium-scale paintings on canvas and oil pastel on paper (Jones); smaller-scale and framed mixed media collages (Reyes); and large-scale painted objects/assemblages (Simon).  

  Art Work by Darryl Jones at the Paterson Museum May 2014

The opening reception was held Saturday April 26 and was extremely well attended by teachers, artists, students, community members, friends and family members.

 Art Work by Vivian Reyes at the Paterson Museum May 2014

Paterson Museum

• Visitor Information

  Location:

  The Paterson Museum is located in the Thomas Rogers Building at 2 Market Street in Paterson , N.J.
  Phone 973-321-1260
  Hours of Operation:

  Tuesday thru Friday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM 
Saturday and Sunday 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM 
Closed on Mondays and Holidays.
  Admission: 
Adults $2.00 
Children are free.
  Access: 
The Museum is accessible to handicapped visitors. For special assistance, please call in advance.
  Guided Tours: 
School and community groups by appointment. Please call for more information.
  http://patersonmuseum.com/