Last Day... Officially

The students' projects turned out very well overall. I was pleased. I will miss Oak Hall, Gary, Ponz, and the students... They were my students for a little while.

Going back before school is over to visit and say goodbye.

Spring 2010 Blog - Over and Out, Matt Rogers

Oaxacan April 1

Not too much to write about this week. The students continued with their projects. Most of them were gluing and finishing up by applying Gesso. I had to assist a student who was creating a praying mantis. I cut a hole into the main body section and he hot-glued it inside. It worked great and wee were all pleased. I suggested he reinforce the legs with paper mache layers for stability. The students finished up and took them outside to dry. I really enjoy guiding students to figure out problems and assisting students who need a little extra help or facilitation.

Week 11

This week Gary began the curriculum I prepared for him. He introduced the project by explaining a little about what the students were going to do. A brief history was given to start. Gary mentioned that he likes to give them more information as they go. I thought this was better than unloading all of the info at the beginning. We showed a few examples and the students began brainstorming ideas. Gary brought up the idea of spirit animals. Some of the students went with that, but others chose animals of interest.

The students began binding the newspaper with tape; getting the creature bodies and extremities roughed out. Most of the projects' sizes were similar and could fit within one square foot. I walked around and showed the students a couple of techniques, which I wasn't expecting to do, but they needed my help. Monday the students will finish up and apply the papier mache.

The experience is going well so far, but I have been more involved than originally conceived.

Week 10

Last week Gary introduced a new project. This was a 2D shapes project. The students viewed drawings of three dimensional shapes and had to arrange them in a surrealist fashion. The shapes had a lot of contrasting shadows and showed depth with varying sizes. They were continuing to work on this project until Thursday when my test project outline will start. I am looking forward to observing how the lesson is introduced and what dialogue will take place between the students and teacher. Gary spoke with an importer who is going to allow him to borrow some real Qaxacan sculptures. I hope these don't direct the students too much. This was a hard project to prescribe student connections, so I will see how Gary handles this and the background. I have been really busy on my thesis and have had less time to spend at the school. I will be spending more time though considering my test project this week.


Here are some examples of interesting 3D projects. The one is a high relief diorama-type project using papier mache. Need to look into more.
The next one is the silverware project. It's similar to projects that Craig and I have discussed. How high can they go? Etc. Shows sequencing skills - foundation building, stability, etc.

Week 9

"Building" project and "Scholar Rocks" Mixed Grades

Student Work - 7th Grade Ceramics

Fish Plate (intro to ceramics)- 6th Grade

High School Ceramics - Throwing Wheel

High School Ceramics - Glazing

Glazing

Getting glazing tips form AP Ceramicist

This week Gary and I agreed on a curriculum he wants me to develop for his 7th grade class. We discussed materials and possible projects that he wanted to do. He originally wanted to use cardboard to create a diorama, but he later mentioned that he wanted to use papier mache, which he hasn't used in a while. Oaxacan wood carvings came up in the discussion and we agreed that this would be a fun project. The details aren't worked out, but The big idea of the project will discuss the Zapotec Indian carvers using found materials and subjects from their natural environment. Papier Mache isn't a natural material in our environment, but this material will work. Folklore plays are large part concerning the animals and each one has a specific meaning within their culture, such as the turtle being associated with music. The students will choose an animal that represents their spirit animal and create a papier mache Alebrijes and painting them using colors to describe the nature of the animal. I will include the history of the Oaxacan carvers, how the "animal chooses the wood", and other relevant information. Ideally I would like to go through a similar process as the Zapotec do by finding forms in nature, but this lesson is being designed for someone else and material driven, so I will make the best of it.

Week 8

This week I spoke with Colquit Tanner, who came in to help the students with their clay throwing. He got his Masters in education, which I was unaware of. We were speaking about how students need to relate what they are learning to their lives or it will not fully learn it. He told me a bout a history class he taught to upper level students in the Seventies. The class had to complete a final project that related to their lives. They were learning the typical history information, but had to go out of the classroom to experiment in the public. One student in particular, an African American student, did her report on discrimination in employment. She applied to over ten positions for work, but apparently wasn't able to get any of the jobs due to discrimination. I thought the idea for students to get out into the public and experiment with a topic that resonates with them, something important. We both agreed that the method of relational learning was the best method for teaching and learning.

Gary and I went over and discussed my project resource that Gary will use to teach the 7th graders. I gave him a list of possible projects using cardboard. There were too many possibilities, so Gary wanted me to narrow them down to three projects: Steel sculpture, personal space, and student collaborative piece. The jury is still out on which one Gary will use, so I will know this week. I have been developing these projects over the last couple of weeks and hope that they aren't too in depth, which Gary was afraid of. I will try to keep things simple and to the point.

Week 7

This week I assisted the students with their projects. I was able to help them, at least to my knowledge, with their wheel throwing. There were some new student on the wheel that finished the last project. I am still generating a project that I will supply Gary to see if he is able to use the resource and the instructions. I helped students with their glazes by showing them how to tape off areas to keep straight lines when applying the glaze. This is something I didn't know much about a month ago, but I feel confident demonstrating certain aspects of ceramics.

One of the students in Ponz's class had a gallery show on Thursday, so I attended it that evening to give her support. Her artwork parody's the roles of nuclear family moms and relationships. She uses pen and ink drawings with water color. Her drawing style reminds me of Robert Crumb, but you don't want to say that around her. The originality factor is very heavy with the young artist and not wanting to be compared with other works.

I didn't have a lot going on this week, so it will be a little short.

The survey i posted online is a great success so far with over 70 responses.