Calling all homeschool families to join us as we explore…
Ephemeral Art!
with Mrs. C, Art Educator
Monday, November 23, 2020 10 – 11:30am
FEAST Homeschool Resource Center
7735 Mockingbird Lane, San Antonio, 78229
$5 per participant with a $15 family cap
EPHEMERAL – e·phem·er·al, /əˈfem(ə)rəl/, adjective: lasting for a very short time.
Join us as we create nature sculptures inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy a British artist known for working as both sculptor and photographer. Goldsworthy crafts his art out of rocks, ice, leaves, or branches, and then carefully documents the art through photography. “It’s not about art,” he has explained. “It’s just about life and the need to understand that a lot of things in life do not last.” We will also create colorful mosaics using sidewalk chalk. We will celebrate with a gallery walk to photograph and document everyone’s creations and end with a picnic in the park! Bring your own lunch and fellowship with other homeschool families! The cost is $5 per participant with a $15 family cap. We can’t wait to create with you!
What do critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and perseverance all have in common? Research has shown that all three of these skills are developed when children engage in visual art making! For the past 9 years as an arts educator, I have seen firsthand in the lives of my past and current students.
The Arts Education Partnership has published a myriad of research findings on the benefits of an arts education. Here are three that I have seen throughout the years:
- Critical thinking. “Arts education develops students’ critical thinking skills—including skills for comparing, hypothesizing, critiquing, and exploring multiple and alternative viewpoints.” In the art room, we not only make art, we talk about, think about, and analyze works of art. Students develop their critical thinking skills by making inferences about the artist’s intent while also drawing on personal experiences to analyze works of art.
- Creativity. “Arts education develops creativity, one of the top five skills employers prize…” Art students are taught to problem-solve in creative ways and to generate multiple solutions. I often challenge my students to work past their first ideas and explore a variety of ways they could interpret a drawing prompt, a sculpture assignment, or a watercolor composition.
- Perseverance. “ Arts education develops students’ capacity to persist in the face of a challenge.” I have seen the benefits of allowing students to struggle and work out their frustrations with their current project. In the art room, trials, tribulations, and sometimes failures are not a negative outcome but a wonderful teacher. When students learn to persevere through these obstacles, grit is developed in a their character along with a boost in self-confidence!
SOURCE: Preparing Students for the Next America: The Benefits of an Art Education by The Arts Education Partnership.
https://www.giarts.org/sites/default/files/Preparing-Students-for-the-Next-America.pdf
If you’re looking for an opportunity to help develop all these skills and more with your young artist, please consider joining us for Fine Arts Family Day on Monday, November 23!