Whitney M. Young

 

Students at Whitney M. Young have produced some marvelous artwork this year with Mr. Kuss. Together we have learned about the Art Elements, or the basic ingredients from which Art is made: Line, Shape, Form, Space, Texture, Value, and Color. We have also explored the Principles of Design or the ways in which the Art Elements are organized to create an effective image: Pattern, Rhythm, Balance, Movement, Contrast, Balance, Variety, and Unity.

 

We have been able to experiment with a variety of media thanks to the large order of supplies provided to Whitney M. Young by CMSD. Students have used not only crayons, pencils, markers, scissors, and glue, but also watercolor, tempera, acrylic, and metallic paints. Older students (grades 4 and above) have also been given their own sketchbooks in which to work out ideas and freely draw whatever they like when they finish projects early. At the end of the year, students will be given their sketchbooks to take home.

 

Students in the after-school art program have been working on painting their own ideas on a bookshelf provided for the Middle School by our Assistant Principal, Mr. Marginian. Our older students are frequently given the option to choose which media to use as part of our model of Personalized Learning. As we move into the second half of the school year, students in the after-school program and in some of the regular classes will have their first experiences at Whitney M. Young working with ceramics... or class fired in the kiln.

 

Students in the older classes (again grades 4 and above) begin most lessons learning about the work of famous artists including Van Gogh (whose work is currently featured in an exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art), the African American painter and art teacher, Alma Woodsey Thomas, George Rodrigue, the Japanese-American artist, Yayoi Kasuma (whose work was exhibited at the Cleveland Museum of Art a couple of years ago, and the print artist, Katsushika Hokusai. 8th Grade will begin the new year exploring the art of ancient Egypt with students having the opportunity to experiment with gold leaf.