A Founding Father Comes Alive at a Science Fair at Don Bosco!

This fall, an arts integration project combining social studies (American history and civics) and art has led to a new large-scale art work* for Don Bosco Technical Academy (DB).  William Paterson University Art Professor-in-Residence (PIR) Triada Samaras directed this collaboration with teachers and students at this first year Geraldine R. Dodge -funded "arts integration" middle school.

This art work, created mainly in Ms. Kaminski's art class with her students, is an image of Thomas Jefferson selected by students in the next-door classroom where Ms. Simmen's social studies students are studying American history and civics elsewhere.  At the moment they are learning about the "Founding Fathers."  The art PIR demonstrated how to use the grid method to achieve the desired ends, helping these teachers envision, plan and actualize this project together, using relatively inexpensive art materials: black and white construction paper, colored pencils, and glue.  First she edited the photo. Next she cut the image into tiny squares. Then, she gave the students 9 x 9 inch square white paper and asked them to reproduce the squares. 

The art teacher worked hard over many days with mainly eighth graders to  produce the needed drawings, eighty squares in total.  She emphasized the need for the students to perceive the correct proportions and color/tonal scheme of each tiny piece of the overall image. The social studies teacher learned about the artistic grid process as it occurred by observing and conversing with the art teacher and Art PIR. For example, she learned that the living artist, Chuck Close, uses the grid extensively in his own work.

Subsequently, she decided her social studies students would create smaller "Founding Father" grid images later this month in her classroom. She will also consult with the art teacher about how to integrate a South American street artist's aesthetic into this project.
Ms. Kaminski (left) hangs the large-scale art work and Ms. Simmen (below) stands in front of the art work.

Both of these teachers are also engaging with the National History Day Theme: "Conflict and Compromise" in their classrooms. Ms. Simmen plans a National History Day project submission with social studies students.  Historically, Paterson students have performed well in this highly regarded competition.

In the coming week, a field trip will be held. Both teachers will take their students to the WPU University Galleries to see a WWI Propaganda Poster Exhibit with Director Kristen Evangelista and some of the students' parents.  After the gallery visit these students will create hands-on art works with WPU Art Professor Juan Robles.
Below, the Thomas Jefferson mural hangs with a sign detailing the process for parents on Report Card night at DB, so that other teachers in the school might learn this method as well.

On Report Card night last week at DB, parents were invited to the media center to see the new Thomas Jefferson arts integration project together with other student art work as well as impressive student science fair projects nearby. Below are a few of these science projects:

*The large-scale grid drawing at Don Bosco of Thomas Jefferson was inspired by another large-scale art mural of Albert Einstein created by art teacher, Ms. Monica Aramayo, who works at New Roberto Clemente School/NRC.  NRC is another site where Professor Samaras is a WPU PIR funded by Dodge. This is NRC's third grant year and DB's first grant year. Thus the Art PIR plans to mirror some of the "best arts-integration practices" from NRC to DB, creating a connection between the teachers and the students at both schools.