Lower School Faculty - Lesley Keeble

LOWER SCHOOL ART AT CDS

by Lesley Keeble, the art teacher

Mission and Goals:

Lower School Art is taught in a spacious double size classroom located in the hallway near the lunchroom.  Older students might remember this space when it housed two, smaller Middle School Science labs. With a wall of windows facing the playing fields and newly installed full spectrum lighting, the art room is a delightful place for children to create special works of art. Giant Philodendrons hang in the windows, lime green and turquoise wall paint brighten the old walls and paper lanterns in every color of the rainbow hang from the ceiling. The sounds of music from cultures around the world on the CD player entice students in this comfortable, cozy atmosphere. My mission is to make each child feel welcome, successful and to experience the joy in creating art. I believe that all children are naturally capable of expressing themselves with art materials. While most will not go on to become professional artists, childhood is a precious time when each one can experience the joy of working in an art studio. My goal is to plant a seed in each child that will mature into an adult who understands, enjoys and supports the arts as a valuable part of human life on this planet.

Instruction time:

Art classes are offered once a week beginning in Kindergarten for thirty minutes. Classes are progressively longer with fifth grade meeting for nearly one hour. Instruction and question time begin every class in the rug area of the room. A hands-on demonstration is always done at eye level so that all may clearly see my hands. Younger children often practice specific hand or finger manipulations in the air so that they fully understand how to use their hands as tools. This learning time, separate from the art tables loaded with the actual art materials allows full concentration for the children without distraction.  Not a precious moment of art time is wasted when the children are ready to go to the tables to work. Classroom seating is arranged by tables of four and changed throughout the school year. Children who finish early are free to move back to the rug area for unstructured free drawing time. Extra large drawing clip boards, pencils, markers and paper are always eagerly sought out by the younger grades. Fourth and fifth graders have additional access to creative building toys, puzzles and some specialized drawing tools appropriate for older students.

Media used in the art room:

Art study in every grade explores a variety of media and skill building with art tools. Drawing from direct observation and imagination, painting, wire sculpture, weaving, puppet making, mobiles, paper mache and clay work are introduced at every level.  In every grade much time is devoted to clay work. We are very fortunate in Asheville to have Highwater Clays, a major distributor as our local supplier of clays and glazes. I purchase deeply discounted clay in twenty five pound bags and transport them back to school in my van. We use over six hundred pounds of clay by January every year! Clay work is valuable for children because it builds sequential and three dimensional thinking skills. Basic hand building skills are taught in Kindergarten progressing to hollow form slab construction in the older grades. Clay skills are taught in the context of specific projects. An example is the Kachina Dolls made in third grade which is constructed with a pinch pot and a hollow tube joined with a slurry of clay at the neck. Free choice clay days are offered during the year as well and are more valuable because of the skills learned in previous structured situations.

Art history and integration into the classroom curriculum:

Art history is a vibrant part of our school year and is touched upon in every grade. European art history as well as Folk art from around the world is treated with equal reverence. Children are keenly interested in what artists think about, why they create and why only some become famous! I have a wonderful collection of books written specifically for children on a variety of artists past and present. Usually a book is read to the class followed by an opportunity to emulate the technique of the artist. The children really enjoy this hands-on approach to art history. Usually in first or second grade a painting book is created. Jackson Pollock, Henri Matisse, Mary Cassatt and Georgia O’Keefe are a few of our past favorites for this project. In every grade some projects are related to the core knowledge being studied in social studies. The Renaissance is studied in fifth grade which leads to our study of Leonardo Divinci and perspective drawing. The smallest proportion of time is given to seasonal art work but Halloween has a special place of honor for children in the art room. We have replicas of skeletons to draw from at each table, glow in the dark paper to collage with and clay candle holders in the shape of ghosts and pumpkins to make! Fourth graders even make miniature wrapped mummy sculptures with a full wire armature underneath the wrapping!