The Arts at P.S. 101

ALL K, 1 & 2 students

2011-05-17T05:41:00.000-07:00

Queens Paideia School

Press Release
May 12, 2011
Contact: Karyn Slutsky, tqps@earthlink.net

**Welcome to Queens! The Queensboro Bridge Art Contest**

The Queensboro Bridge Art Contest is the LIC Art Open's (licartsopen.org) invitation to the students of Queens, ages 5-18, to memorialize the Queensboro Bridge through art. Thanks to the efforts of curator Alyssa Ratkewitch and the Queens Paideia School, art teachers and parents throughout the borough have mobilized young artists to produce more than 1,500 breathtaking submissions. The result is an unprecedented exhibition of color, imagination, poetry, possibility, and joy.

An awards ceremony for winning submissions representing 4 age categories will be held on Saturday, May 21, at 2:30 p.m. at the Street Festival on 22nd St., between 43rd and 44th Avenues.

Council member Jimmy Van Bramer will be on hand to present awards and personally congratulate the winners (who will be notified in advance).
An exhibition of ALL of the works will be held at the LIC Art Center on May 21 & May 22, noon to 6 p.m.

Please stop by to view this marvelous display of youthful creativity as well as a documentary about the bridge produced by Queens Paideia’s students especially for this event.

LIC Art Center / 44-02 23rd St., Long Island City, NY 11101

Children's Art Exhibition: 5th-floor hallway gallery

Queens Paideia School Bridge Docu-Learning: Studio 214

44-02 23rd St., 214
Long Island City, NY 11101
queenspaideiaschool.org
tqps@earthlink.net

UPDATES 2/2011

2011-02-26T06:57:00.000-08:00

Hello P.S.101 Family!

We have been BUSY BUSY BUSY!!!!

Here are some works of art from the past months...

Remember to check your child's ARTSONIA account for their personal artwork.

FIRST GRADE ABORIGINAL ART

SECOND GRADE VASARELY INSPIRED ARTWORK

Fifth graders are still in the midst of their architecture projects---which are coming out WONDERFUL! Since they are mid project, they asked that I didn't photograph the project until the end---

so I am complying with their wishes : )

Sixth graders finished their projects and have now moved on to their art cycle of music, preparing them for the play and their graduation. Their project images are upcoming in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for those on their ARTSONIA accounts.

The pajama drive led by the Arts & Special Events Committee was extremely successful! Together with your generosity we were able to collect over 140 pairs of pajamas for the local family shelter!

It's truly comforting to know that our school is such a truly incredible and caring family itself!

UPCOMING UNITS OF STUDY

Pre K, K & 1 will continue focusing on aligning the arts with the classroom curriculum.

They will be focusing in on shapes and how they are utilized in the arts.

Topics addressed will consist of fine and gross motor skills, sculptural approaches, design, drawing and many other facets of the arts.

They will also be continuing the alignment with curriculum by focusing on Earth Day in upcoming months.

2nd grade & 5th grade will be continuing their focus on architecture.

I am currently involved in a federal grant partnership with the Guggenheim Museum in NYC.

I am one of ten art teachers in NYC, re-evaluating the way the arts are taught in NYC schools. As a group, we are re-designing their summer teacher institutes so that NYC art teachers can utilize what we discover as best practices in teaching methods. This incredible collaboration and time I have with the Guggenheim is being directly fed into the 2nd and 5th grade classrooms, as I am currently focusing on architecture with the grant.

Look out for some incredible work the students are accomplishing!

Two 3rd grade classes will be starting a visual arts cycle the week we get back from

vacation (Feb. 28).

In addition to beginning with some basic techniques, they will be starting their art cycle with design.

Building on their knowledge from previous years in the arts, they will be discussing what constitutes good design and creating their own logos for themselves.

MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov.

See you all at parent teacher conferences!

~~Melissa Sawicki-Mallien~~

UPDATES

2011-01-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

Hi All!
Here's what going on in the arts at PS101:

Kindergarten is working closely with Science this month, combing our knowledge of art materials with what we are learning about texture. We will also be carrying the friendship character theme through into our artwork as well.

First grade is finishing up their small studies on Andy Warhol and are working on their Aboriginal artwork. Look out for their gorgeous work on Artsonia!

Second graders are flip flopping---some are finishing up their work inspired by artist Victor Vasarely and others are working on sculpture. Either way, all second graders will be completing both works. For the sculpture project, the children were asked to bring in recyclables to create a building from NYC. They are using their social studies knowledge and their knowledge of sculpture and design to do this.

Fifth graders are working on group project based learning. The theme is architecture and students have been learning about different styles of it. They will be responsible for becoming experts on the specific style they choose and then create a model of a structure in that style.

Sixth graders are also involved in group project based learning. Mr Westerlund's class is working on projects to enhance their social studies Template Island projects, while Mrs. Geier and Ms. Goldberg's class are working on Egyptian based projects. Projects across the grade span from clothing design, to models, to painting.

Make sure you register your child on Artsonia, so you get updates as soon as a piece of their artwork is published! Hope everyone is keeping warm and, as always, if you need anything or would like to stop by, email me at MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov.

LINK TO BERLIN FOR 5TH & 6TH GRADERS

2010-09-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

Here is an amazing link to information about Berlin and the Wall...

Make sure to check it out---It will help when you are formulating your ideas about the piece of wall you are creating for our art project!

www.newseum.org/berlinwall

ART JOURNAL RUBRIC FOR 5th & 6th GRADERS....

2010-09-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

This same rubric will be taped into your child's art journal.

If you click on this image you should see a larger sized version.

WHAT'S IN STORE FOR MY CHILD?

2010-09-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

THIS IS THE PLACE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR CHILD'S CLASSROOM!

Here is what is in store for your grade...

K will be focusing in on the elements of art, including lines, colors, and shapes. They will be utilizing crayons, colored pencils, and markers to start off with. Gradually they will be moving into watercolor paints when they begin their study of autumn leaves.

Grades 1 & 2 are beginning their school year off with a study in lines and color schemes. They will then be utilizing that knowledge to transition into self portraiture.

Grades 5 & 6 have kicked off the year with an in depth study of the Berlin Wall. Through discussion of artistic symbolism and the history of the wall, they will be able to formulate their own ideas and create an end project--- their own pieces of the Berlin Wall. Their theme will be freedom and what it means to them. I am working closely with Mr. Moss our social studies teacher to work hand in hand with his curriculum.

I'm very excited for a new school year and look forward to seeing you all around the neighborhood.
Don't forget to check your child's ARTSONIA account regularly as there will be many updates as we complete art projects. If you need their account name and/or password, let me know and I will foward it to you as soon as possible.

Feel free to contact me if you need anything at MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov

WHAT DO THE ARTS TEACH OUR CHILDREN?

2010-09-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

10 Lessons the Arts Teach

1. The arts teach children to make good judgments about qualitative relationships.
Unlike much of the curriculum in which correct answers and rules prevail, in the arts, it is judgment rather than rules that prevail.

2. The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer.

3. The arts celebrate multiple perspectives.
One of their large lessons is that there are many ways to see and interpret the world.

4. The arts teach children that in complex forms of problem solving purposes are seldom fixed, but change with circumstance and opportunity. Learning in the arts requires the ability and a willingness to surrender to the unanticipated possibilities of the work as it unfolds.

5. The arts make vivid the fact that neither words in their literal form nor numbers, exhaust what we can know. The limits of our language do not define the limits of our cognition.

6. The arts teach students that small differences can have large effects. The arts traffic in subtleties.

7. The arts teach students to think through and within a material. All art forms employ some means through which images become real.

8. The arts help children learn to say what cannot be said. When children are invited to disclose what a work of art helps them feel, they must reach into their poetic capacities to find the words that will do the job.

9. The arts enable us to have experiences we can have from no other source
and through such experience, discover the range and variety of what we are capable of feeling.

10. The arts' position in the school curriculum symbolizes to the young what adults believe is important.

WELCOME BACK!

2010-09-09T04:51:00.000-07:00

Hey All!!!

Hope your summer was fantastic!

I've already heard about some of the incredible worldly travels and

exciting adventures all of the children have had.

I'm really excited to start the new school year!

This year grades pre-k through 2 and grades 5 & 6 will be having visual arts instruction.

Keep an eye on this blog for upcoming units of study, updates on student work, exciting art based events and much more!

Don't forget about Artsonia,

where each child has their own personal,

online digital portfolio of the artwork they create during the school year!

If you have any questions, suggestions or just want to talk, feel free the email me at MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov

See you soon.....

Melissa Sawicki-Mallien

KIDSART FAIR WEDNESDAY APRIL 21, 2010

2010-04-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

Make sure you are attending our

KIDSART FAIR

this coming

Wednesday,

APRIL 21, 2010 !!!!!

It will be held in the school gymnamsium

from 3:30pm -7:00pm.

All proceeds will be donated directly to the Visual Arts Department

here at P.S. 101Q.

There will be music and light refreshments.

If you have not sent in your R.S.V.P. form yet,

please email me at MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov

to do so.

All children with an RSVP sent in will have their artwork up and framed professionally.

Thanks so much and hope to see you all there!!!!

Sring is in the Air!

2010-03-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

This past Friday we marked the beginning of Spring

by taking our art outside.

We decided to create artwork for the KIDSART FAIR coming up on April 21, 2010.

Fourth graders were able to use the knowledge they gained in their drawing unit, to create the beginnings of a drawing while sitting in the beautiful weather outside.

They each picked a spot and drew what they saw.

They were able to either use a specific technique or combine ones they already knew with ones they learned.

Some first graders used oil pastels to

draw the area around the school.

They drew with an outline style only.

Next class we will be using watercolors to paint the same pictures.

We are all very excited for the upcoming

KIDSART FAIR!

R.S.V.P. letters went out this past Friday...

Please keep an eye out for these, as they will serve as a list for the artwork that will be framed before the big gallery show in the gym.

I look foward to seeing you all around the school and at the
KIDSART FAIR!!

UPDATES UPDATES UPDATES!!!!!!

2010-03-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

HELLO ALL!!!

Welcome back to the art blog!

We have lots of exciting things going on here, so let's get started!

I'd like to start off with some of our submissions to the Artsonia sponsored contest called

"ALL KIDS CAN CREATE".

Below you can see a few of the beautiful images that were created by our students.

The theme was "What makes your neighborhood so special?"

Students from Pre-K through 2nd grade celebrated

Chinese New Year by creating a variety of

Chinese Inspired artwork.

Some 2nd graders work:

Here are some examples of Pre-K work:

Some of these dragons below were printed on

THE COVER OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S NEWSLETTER!!!

Congratulations!!

Children in Kindergarten, First and Second grade have also completed their Dr. Seuss inspired cats that are on display outside of the art room/media center.

Here are a few examples of their beautiful work:

Kindergarten is working very hard on creating their very own

MAGICAL MONSTER ABC's

book.

They have been creating and recreating different magical monsters with pencil, colored pencil and markers.

Paying close attention to detail they kept in mind their letter given to them. Each monster has been given a name based on a letter of the alphabet. Each child has also included a written words about their monster.

We hope to have that book put together and published by the end of April/beginning of May.

Those books will also be available for purchase, with all profits going to the Visual Arts Department here at PS 101 Q.

Third graders are working diligently on their ABC books.

Two classes are creating the "ABC's of the Forest Hills Gardens"

while the other is creating the "ABC's of P.S. 101".

After each student received a letter, they researched either

the Forest Hills Gardens Community or our P.S. 101 community.

They came up with images and ideas that represented their letters and are now in the process of finishing those images as well as finishing up some writing about what they found.

I will be scanning the images created and will be making a book that we will be selling.

All money made will be donated to our Visual Arts Department for the purchase of art supplies and materials.

Fourth graders are still amidst their drawing unit, which will be wrapping up in the next couple of weeks.

A few parents contacted me regarding grades received on in-class drawing assignments. I am posting the rubric here so that you are all aware of the origins and reasons for the grades.

Please understand that all children receive a rubric and discuss that with me in great detail before they are asked to complete a task for a grade. Also please realize that in-class projects as well as art journals, behavior, effort and the ability to follow directions all have a part in determining their report card grade in art.

With that being said, here is a copy of the rubric for the

"Shape Sketch" method of drawing:

Here are a few examples of drawings created utilizing a variety of techniques. Remember that the end product is not so much the focus, rather the process of how the child drew and whether or not they understood and followed the task at hand.

Pre K was working on shapes and identifying them in the world around us. They created images using shapes.

Here are a few of them:

Ms.Steincke's class is wrapping up a unit on photography by creating photographic images by "Drawing with Light".

These will not be uploaded on Artsonia (or here) because of the fact that their faces can be seen in some of them.

They will, however, be on display on the wall outside of the

art room/media center in the circular staircase area for all to see, as of tomorrow.

Come check them out this Tuesday at Parent/Teacher Conferences!!!!!

......................................................................

All students in grades PreK through 4th

will be beginning their projects for the

Kids Art Fair

that is coming up on

April 21, 2010

3:30pm - 7:00pm

in the gym here at PS 101Q.

Some students will be beginning their art fair work before vacation, others afterwards. Please make sure to read all information that comes home regarding the art fair.

It will be very informative and will ask for you

to return certain tear off sheets.

If you have any questions regarding the art fair, artsonia or anything else at all, please feel free to contact me at MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov.

We are going to need some volunteers to help set up and break down the Kids Art Fair, so if you are up for helping out a little bit, that would be great!

Contact me at the above email to let me know.

Thanks again and I will see you all around!

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY SHOW

2010-01-29T04:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we held our bi-annual

Digital Photography Afterschool Gallery Show.

Students had a chance to exhibit their beautiful images they worked so incredibly hard on creating for the past 4 months.

Below you can see the displays as they were laid out for friends and family to see.

Our next gallery show will be when the upcoming spring session of afterschool is finished.

These photos, in addition to the next show's, will all be on display during the International Dinner in June.

Enjoy!

UPDATES, PICTURES AND UPCOMING

2010-01-23T07:31:00.000-08:00

Hi All!

Hope this new post finds you Happy and Healthy in the New Year!

Here are some updates on what's going on in your child's art world....

Enjoy!

The 4th grade finished their Joseph Cornell boxes and their artwork can be found on their personal online portfolio at the site www.artsonia.com. Make sure you are checking their online portfolios regularly, as there are usually updates every other week with their new and exciting projects!

Here are just a few of the box art projects that were created:

4Th grade is now embarking on a drawing unit which will last for about 3 months. They will be exposed to different styles of drawing, including contour, blind contour, shape sketching along with different mediums such as charcoal, pastels and graphite pencils. As they create images, they will be uploaded to their artsonia accounts. Some blind contour images are up already!

3rd grade just completed their Chinese landscape drawings. They came out magnificent! They had a chance to look at some Chinese Masters and then create their own. Here are a few examples:

The younger grades have been working on colors & color theory. They began with cool colors. They used the cool colors to create forests. Here are some of those:

Kindergarten is currently working on Chinese New Year and have begun learning about Andy Warhol.

Here are some of their images:

...UPCOMING...

4th grade will be focusing on drawing...

3rd grade will also be touching on drawing along with painting...

2nd and 1st grade will be finishing their entries into the Artsonia contest and then venture into a small study on Georgia O'Keefe, as well as delve into contemporary artists (inspired by the Whitney Biennial)...

Kindergarten will continue to study Andy Warhol and volunteer their artistic talents to create cards for Citymeals On Wheels, as well as their continued study into color and fine tuning their fine adn gross motor skills.

Also, please note that for every project that is graded (upper grades), there should be a rubric attached as well.

If there are any questions, please feel free to contact me.

*****Don't forget to check your child's onnline porfolios and remember that for every purchase you make through that site, we get a percentage that goes directly towards purchasing art supplies for the children.

Again, if you have suggestions for the arts here at PS101, would like to come in and guest teach about anything at all or maybe even have a fantastic program you think we should apply for, please let me know.

I can be reached at MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov

JOSEPH CORNELL BOX ART PROJECT

2009-12-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

Below you will find the rubric for the Joseph Cornell Box Art project, created by the children (with a little facilitating by me). YOu can click on the image to see it larger:

CITYMEALS-ON-WHEELS Holiday cards

2009-11-30T08:36:00.000-08:00

We have been working diligantly on creating Citymeals-On-Wheels cards for the holiday season. They are focusing on winter so that we can touch the lives of all people, who celebrate many different holidays. Here are a few that the children have created so far:

Also, don't forget to keep checking your child's artsonia link for updated work. They make Fantastic gifts for the holidays and there is a sale going on right now!

A BIG THANK YOU!

2009-11-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who stopped by during Parent Teacher Conferences this past Tuesday!
It was great getting to know new faces and getting to see the familiar ones too!

Don't forget to check this blog frequently to see what your child is doing, as well as what is coming up in the future.

Also, please make sure you register your child through the ARTSONIA link (the paper slip you received on Tuesday. You can see their personal, online portfolio of the artwork they will be creating this year. I will let them know when new works are published so you can check it out. There are people who have already purchased gifts from the site a....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

As most of you know, funding for the arts is always the first to go. By purchasing gifts through the Artsonia website, with your child's artwork on them, we receive the much needed funding for our visual arts program (15% of total cost).

Once again, thank you to all of you who have come in and touched base and I'll be seeing you around the building. If you need your child's artsonia screenname and key code or just want to talk, you can always contact me at MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov.

GRADE UPDATES

2009-10-22T10:24:00.001-07:00

Hello All!
Just wanted to keep you up to date with what is going on in your child's grade and what will be going on over the next few months.
If you would like to contribute, send in material, be a part of a class, or do some extra research with your child, please by all means...go ahead!
I welcome any extra info and help : )!

PRE-K is working on their colors and identifying them, as well as developing their fine and gross motor skills. They will be using a variety of materials over the next few months, including crayons, oil pastels and paints, to create masterpieces of their own!

KINDERGARTEN is also working on developing their fine and gross motor skills utilizing many different materials. We have discussed Jasper Johns and have created images using the alphabet. In the coming months we will be focusing on the elements of design such as line, shape and color.

FIRST GRADE has also been working on Jasper Johns inspired artwork, as well as volunteering. They have and will continue to work on cards for the organization Citymeals-On-Wheels. You can see some examples of cards below, in the last post on this blog. First grade will also be focusing on a deeper understanding of the elements of art.

SECOND GRADE has also been working on creating Japer Johns inspired work. In addition to that, they have been working on word art, where they created an image of a word, using only that word. You can see examples of that below in older posts. Some classes have been focusing on artists such as Man Ray as well. For the future months, they will be working on collage and color theory.

THIRD GRADE has finished their work on their word art and has also been involved in the creation of volunteer cards for Citymeals-On-Wheels. Their next unit will be focusing on collage, using a mixed media of materials coupled with more elements of art study.

FOURTH GRADE also finished their word art unit and is now beginning a project entitled THE JOSEPH CORNELL PROJECT. They are researching Cornell and his style of artwork, focusing in on his "box art" and assemblage work. They will be creating their own box art based on a theme they choose. Each child is responsible for bringing in their own objects that deal with their theme. They each have a formal project sheet, which is in their art journal, where the specifics of the project can be found. They should also have notes taken from classroom discussions.

If you have any questions or comments about anything, please feel free to contact me at MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov.

MRS. KLEIN'S 2ND GRADE CLASS

2009-10-16T11:09:00.001-07:00

Mrs. Klein's class just finished their work on Jasper Johns. We studied the image A Through Z that Johns painted. Here are their works, inspired by Jasper himself...
(click on the image to make it bigger)

ALL GRADES

2009-10-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

Students have been working hard on creating cards for Citymeals on Wheels.

We are volunteering our time to put a little joy and happiness into the lives of the elderly and the less fortunate.

Here are some samples of work:

2nd & 3rd GRADE WORK

2009-10-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some examples of our second and third graders work!

They did amazing work with difficult words!

Have your child pick theirs out and show you what they've done.

Enjoy...

Melissa Sawicki-Mallien

4th GRADE WORD ART PROJECTS

2009-10-12T16:10:00.001-07:00

SO, as I promised, here is some of the artwork the 4th graders have been working on for the past 2 or 3 classes...

The word art project is when you pick a word, then create an image of that word, using only that word. They drew out 3 sketches in their art journals for ideas, picked one, drew silhouettes on one paper, filled their words in on another and then traced in appropriate colors. I LOVE the way they came out and so do they!!!

Enjoy....

Melissa Sawicki-Mallien

OFF AND RUNNING!!!!!

2009-09-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

So, here we go...
We have hit that art road running...
Some updates for your child and their art class....

FOR GRADES 2, 3 & 4 STUDENTS:

EVERY CHILD MUST HAVE AN ART JOURNAL
Each child should also have a set of markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks, eraser & regular pencils.
Please check back regularly to see any updated info regarding your child's class and supplies, if any, that are needed.

For grades 1 and 2 we are currently focusing on Jasper Johns and here is a great link you can use to help your child learn more about Jasper Johns and his artwork:

www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/johns_j.html

For those children focusing on cave art and Gottlieb here is an incredible link to the caves at Lascaux:

http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcnat/lascaux/en/

There have been quite a number of questions as far as where the artwork goes once the children complete it. Any artwork created here in school is going to be photographed and uploaded to this site first, then given to the teacher. Sometimes the teacher hangs them up, sometimes they are sent home immediately. Also, over the course of the school year, I collect artwork that is going to be hung up at our year end International Dinner Party that is held in our Gymnasium in June.

Remember, if you have any questions or anything you would like to share, please do not hesitate to email me at MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov

Thanks for all of your help and support!!!

Melissa Sawicki-Mallien

WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!!!!!!

2009-09-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a happy and healthy summer!
I look forward to an awesome new school year !
Keep an eye out for new posts about upcoming art shows and projects in your child's class.

Something new this year----we will be participating in an online, year round fundraiser, benefiting the art department, where you can purchase items with your child's artwork on it. More info on that to come.....

Hope everyone is well and I'll see you all around : )!

Mrs. Sawicki-Mallien

2009-06-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

Well all, we have come to the end of another awesome here at PS101Q!

The arts have enjoyed quite a center stage this year with events such as the KidsARtFair, raising $1600 for the art department!!

We have also been lucky enough to enjoy many wonderful assemblies as well as field trips to museums.

I hope your summer will be a great one and here are some websites to keep those little artists busy...

ENJOY!

See you all in September!

http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter

www.nga.gov/kids

http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/MUS/ED/kids.html

http://www.scholastic.com/play/states.htm

http://www.tuxpaint.org/

CREATE YOUR OWN BOOKS!!!!

http://www.lulu.com/

SOME UPDATES

2009-05-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

Hi All!

Hope you are all doing well and gearing up for summer vacation!

Just wanted to update you with what is going on during art class...

First things first, our Art/Technology Show

has been set for the

evening of Tuesday, June 9th.

As of right now,

the time is 6:30pm- 8:00pm.

Here you will be able to see your children's artwork that will remain hung up from the International Dinner plus some more work from classes as well.

I think they have changed to name of the International Dinner to something else...

I remember something about Cuisines of the World... Either way, hope you can make it there!

It's a FABULOUS mix of artwork, food, fun and dancing!!

A quick update on what we are working on across the grades:

K is going to be starting their final portfolios...

Grade 1 is working on a variety of projects including observational drawing, junk sculpture, bookmaking as well as clay.

**The first grade art field day will be on Monday, June 8th.**

Grade 2 & 4 are focusing on portraiture & aboriginal art

Grade 6 is involved in an artistic/social experiment in which 75 people all need to interpret the same word (chair). Their presentations are due Tuesday May, 12th and final projects will be on display at both the International Dinner as well as the art/technology fair.

Following this project they will be focusing on their final unit, which will be glass artist Chihuly. Unfortunately we do not have facilities to accommodate a glass studio, but we have the next best thing...a creative art teacher's mind : )

Many of you have asked me about your children's artwork and why it hasn't come home. Decorating the gym is a HUGE task and I keep the artwork so that I can do that.

After the art/technology fair, I will be sending home all of the artwork.

They are then all yours! :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful mother's day and I look forward to seeing you all during the rest of the school year!

WOW WHAT A SUCCESS!!!!!!!

2009-04-22T02:18:00.001-07:00

Hi All!
All I have to say is WOW!
What an AMAZING turnout last night for the arts fair!!
The children's artwork looked incredible in the frames as well as displayed on the tables.
Boy did all of that hard work pay off!!
I think my most favorite part of the event was watching the children as they came into the gym. They were BEAMING when they saw their work in frames!
And that is what it is all about...them.
They are going to be so excited when I tell them that our estimated revenue is $1400!!!!!!
Thanks again to all of you who came out and made a purchase or just came to check out the artwork. It's so great to know that there is so much support for the arts at our school!!

The next event where you will be able to see the children's artwork hung up and displayed will be at our International Dinner in June. A week or so after that will be our Art/Technology Fair where the artwork will be on display again, with additional works by afterschool students, including digital photography. Keep an eye out for the note that will go home with the information.

On a side note--last night, quite a few parents had asked about my personal artwork and where they can see it. I have shown my photography in galleries across NYC & am in shows often. I promised to post the link to my website on here so here it is: www.uniquelychacha.com
Click around & enjoy....
It doesn't get updated as often as I'd like to, with life and work getting in the way : ), but you can definitely see some of my work on there.

Once more, thanks SO very much to everyone for coming out and especially to all of those people who were involved in the setup and take down of the event. It was a success because of the help and participation of all of you!

Thank You from the bottom of my heart!

2009-04-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

Kids at the Armory Free Arts Workshops

In a Mega Art Installation by Ernesto Neto
May 14 – June 14, 2009

Family Arts Day Saturday, May 16
Arts Workshops 11 am – 1 pm
Ernesto Neto Artist Talk 1 pm – 2 pm
Arts Workshops 2 pm – 4 pm

Saturday Arts Workshops
May 23, May 30, June 6 11 am – 1 pm

Acclaimed contemporary artist Ernesto Neto’s largest and most complex installation to date will
overtake Park Avenue Armory’s vast drill hall with an epic work to be touched and sensed by the viewer. On consecutive Saturdays, NYC’s most sought-after teaching artists will lead elementary school-aged children and their parents in artmaking, storytelling, theater and dance through this immersive installation.

You must register for these workshops.

Space is limited so sign up early to guarantee your spot!

For more information, please visit:
www.armoryonpark.org/education.
643 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10065

Park Avenue Armory is a newly launched organization whose mission is to revitalize
one of America’s historic treasures as a dynamic alternative arts space unlike any
other in New York.

KIDS ARTSFAIR FUNDRAISER AT PS 101!!

2009-04-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY

APRIL 21st, 2009

3:30pm -7:00pm

**in the PS101 gymnasium**

It's going to be so much fun!

We have the guitar afterschool performing 2 sets until 4:30pm, as well as a table for arts and crafts and some food donations from parents.

Of course, our children's artwork will be displayed for viewing and will be for sale as well!!

There has been an overwhelming, incredible response for the "kids artsfair" and we are (especially myself) SOOO very excited!

SUPER SPECIAL thanks to the parents arts committee members for all of their help!

20% of proceeds will go directly to benefit the arts department at our school!!

(A Fantastic thing with budget cuts looming)

Hope you to see you all there!!

~~Mrs. Sawicki-Mallien~~

DOODLE FOR GOOGLE CONTEST

2009-03-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

6th graders!
Remember that your google submission is due to me by Friday March 27th, 2009.

NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED, as they are to be mailed out by

March 28th , 2009.

Only 6 can be submitted from the whole school, so make sure your design is very effective at getting the theme of "WHAT I WISH FOR THIS WORLD " across.

Your submission also needs a statement of about 50 words to accompany it, explaining why you chose the design you did.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!!

I hope we have a winner!!!

MRS. HYMAN'S CLASS...

2009-03-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here are one of the mandala templates I promised to post so that you can study it a little more.

Enjoy!

CITYMEALS ON WHEELS THANKS US ALL!

2009-02-26T13:20:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share the letter of thanks I received from the Citymeals-On-Wheels coordinator today.

All of the children I see for art were a part of and are still a part of creating gorgeous cards for the home bound elderly of NYC. They should be very proud of themselves for their volunteer service!!!

NEW CONTEST!

2009-02-26T10:21:00.000-08:00

For ages 6 - 12....

ARTHUR (the cartoon) is holding a contest to develop a new character for its' cartoon show. You are invited to draw a new character in celebration of Disability Awareness Month.

Go to www.pbskids.org/arthur/allkidscan to download information and entry forms!

The winner will have a guest appearance on the cartoon show, as well as their character on the cartoon!!

Good Luck!
I know we have lots of talented artists out there!!!

GO STINGERS SWEET TIME!

2009-01-24T17:20:00.001-08:00

HERE ARE THE FINAL PRODUCTS OF THE FALL SWEET TIME

"GO STINGERS!"

You can enjoy these in real life if you attend our home games!

NEW CONTEST!

2009-01-24T15:15:00.000-08:00

Students Can Enter Poster Contest from Museum of Natural History:

All students are invited to enter the New York City International Polar Weekend poster contest, run by the American Museum of Natural History.
The theme of the contest is "Climate Change - Why the Poles Matter."
Prizes will be awarded to three winners in these divisions:
K-3rd grade
4th-6th grade
7th-8th grade
and 9th-12th grade.

Winning posters will be displayed at the American Museum of Natural History February 6-7.

For the entry form and more information, visit
http://schools.nycenet.edu/offices/teachlearn/science/Poster_Contest_Why_the_Poles_Matter.pdf

The entry deadline is January 30.

Please email me at MSawicki@schools.nyc.gov if you would like to enter.

Mrs. Lipow's Class

2009-01-24T14:18:00.000-08:00

We are celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year by creating traditional Chinese Landscapes of our own. We looked at many different images of Chinese landscapes and used charcoal and Sharpie's to create our own versions. If you look closely you will notice the tradtional Chinese architecture as well as the Chinese landscape inspired trees and water. Enjoy!

Mrs. Harris's Class

2009-01-13T06:13:00.000-08:00

We integrated art with the literacy program in Mrs. Harris's first grade class.

They first designed their realistic fiction chracters in class, then brought them to art class.

In art class, they reproduced their character using a variety of materials, including fabric swatches, yarn, jewels, foam shapes, pom poms, wiggly eyes, tissue paper, markers, crayons and colored pencils.

They look absolutely fantastic!

Can you pick yours out in the pictures below?

Hey All!

2009-01-12T18:29:00.001-08:00

Welcome back everyone!
Happy New Year!
Hope yours was a fabulous one!

Back to business... : )
I'm experimenting with gadgets that can be added onto a blog, and you'll see my first attempt at the top right of this page---There is (well should be) a slide show of some of Mrs. Steincke's children's artwork that was inspired by Alexander Calder. If you click on an image in the slideshow, it should appear larger in a new window and the you can see the images a little bit better.
The class worked together with myself, parents, Mrs. Steincke and an educator from the Whitney Museum. We discussed Calder with them and created a circus of their own. Ms. Steincke has the pictures of the children preforming their own version of a circus in the classroom, as I do not put images of the children onto the web. If you ask her for the pictures, she will be more than happy to send them to you.

In the next few days I will be uploading pictures of some of the work we have been doing with realistic fiction characters in Mrs. Harris's class & facial proportions in the 2nd and 6th grade. Be on the lookout for those images soon.

In the next couple of weeks, we will be creating artwork based around the Chinese New Year holiday, including detailed lanterns, dragons/lions and some traditional Chinese charcoal landscape drawings.

I'm sure I will see most of you around school---Keep Warm!!

SOME FUN SITES FOR THOSE LONG DAYS OF VACATION!!!!

2008-12-24T09:04:00.001-08:00

ENJOY!!!

Tour the Louvre Museum in Paris!
"http://www.louvre.fr/llv/musee/visite_virtuelle.jsp?bmLocale=en"

Dive into sealife at the Sydney Aquarium! http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/AquaTour/TOU010.asp"

Attention Animal Lovers! Go Around the World with Jeff Corbin.
http://animal.discovery.com/ads/ad_interstitial_fill2.htmldest=http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/jeffcorwin/games/around_03/around_03.html

Check out President Elect Obama's new digs with a Historical Tour of theWhite House http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/whtour/

Tour a different country with Global Trek: Virtual Travel Around the World. http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/globaltrek/index.htm

Walk one of the seven wonders of the world! The Great Wall of China "http://www.thebeijingguide.com/great_wall_of_china/index.html"

STAY TUNED...

2008-12-24T08:56:00.000-08:00

...next year for some of the fabulous Egypt projects the children created...

THE SNOW IS HERE!!!!

2008-12-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

Inspired by both the falling snow and this wonderful book,:

Children in all grades were learning how to create snowflakes.

Here are just a few of the amazing designs they created:

Hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy, Healthy new year!!!

MRS. GORHAM'S CLASS

2008-12-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

As part of an in-class project, the children were asked to design and illustrate their favorite holiday. During art class, utilizing their sketches, they translated their artwork onto heavyweight paper and then used sharpies and watercolors to create a dramatic filling effect.

NEW CONTEST FOR 4th-6th GRADERS

2008-12-03T13:15:00.001-08:00

Here is an interesting contest somse of you might like to participate in:

http://www.space-explorers.com/internal/common/announce/2008_Patch_Contest.pdf

If you decide to submit something, let me know so I can fill out the appropriate paperwork for you.

CITYMEALS ON WHEELS

2008-12-03T12:55:00.000-08:00

Our school has been hard at work creating season's greetings cards for the

citymeals-on-wheels organization.
Below you can see some of work:

Our school also chipped in by donating lots and lots of food for our food drive!

Thanks to the generous families of PS101 and the artistic talents of their children, many people will be happy and full!

Ms. Gaspari & Mrs. Klein's Classes

2008-11-25T13:40:00.000-08:00

The children of Ms. Gapari & Mrs. Klein's classes had their Thanksgiving themed artwork submitted into a contest run by the 112th Police Precinct.
As you know, from a previous blog, we had a first place winner! The other gorgeous pieces of artwork submitted, will be on display at the 112th Precinct Christmas Party. I promised to post the date and exact location as soon as I knew it.

It will be on:

Wednesday, December 17th at 7:00pm

Russell Sage Junior High School 190

68-17 Austin Street

(across the street from the precinct)

There will be free refreshments, food, music & fun.

Even if your child is not in those classes, please feel free to join us!

It is for everyone in the neighborhood!

You never know who can show up to these events---at the ceremony for the winners last week, Anthony Weiner showed up to congratulate the winners personally!

Hope everyone can make it!

6th Grade EGYPT

2008-11-24T07:09:00.000-08:00

We are into our 6th Grade Egypt projects.

As promised, I am posting the groups arranged with their classroom teachers and themselves, in addition to due dates.

The project is due mid December, before the holidays, and will be included as part of their art grade for this semester's report card.

Mrs. Bodenstein's Class:

Gods/Goddesses:

Kelly M.

Christina

Roxanne

Weaponry:

Brian

Yakubmier

Leon

Eugene

Economics/Clothing:

Diana

Leah

Claribel
Yasmina

Taylor

Art of War:

Max

Aaron

Nicholas

Invention:

Daniel

Yoni

Michal

Mythology:

Derek

Taro

Sebastian

Shawn

Farming/Food:

Carolyn

Savannah

Nile River:

Hatago

Godfrey

Louis

Alice
Kelly F.

Afterlife:

Nathalia

Mrs. Geier's Class:

Architecture:

Grant

Max F.

Adelqui

Sasha

Vitoria

War & Armies:

Bohdi

Josh

Harun

Waylon

David

Max H.

Mummification:

Sophia

Azi

Rafal

Adela

Alijandro

Art:

Emily

Mai

Alexa

Daisey

Adriano

Home Life:

Lydia

Anne

Luis

Gaby

Eileen

Religion:

Justin

Patrick

Charlie

Ian

Daniel

Neil

I encourage the children to either comment on here, email me, leave me a note on my desk or in my mailbox for any support they need in this project. We had a chance to speak today during class to give them artistic direction. There is also a little monetary reserve from a generous parent who has given us some money to work with. I don't want the children to feel limited with what they can do. With that being said, it isn't a million dollar reserve, but please reiterate to your child that we can definitely figure out the proper material and I will go and buy what they need.

A LITTLE BIT OF HOLIDAY THANKS

2008-11-23T16:41:00.000-08:00

Hey All!

Hope your weekend went warm & well.

In keeping with our school year long trend of creating cards for the

Citymeals-On-Wheels organization,

I'd like you to see a website that is doing something great.

Last year we created a whole bunch of holiday well-wishing cards for wounded soldiers. Unfortunately they came back because the hospital would not accept packages of anything, for fear of something bad happening.

Needless to say, the children were pretty upset upon hearing of the return of their hard work.

This year, I found that XEROX is doing something wonderful.

You can all participate right from your own home and it takes no longer than a few minutes.

Go to this link and fill out an ECARD, which XEROX will then print and send out to our troops overseas.

I think that no matter what your position on the war is,

it would really be great to make someone who is far away from home and their family,

that much happier.

http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

Have a great Thanksgiving!!!

Eat lots, Hug lots, Take lots of pictures,

Create art

See ya after the holiday!

GO STINGERS!!!!

2008-11-20T10:20:00.000-08:00

S.W.E.E.T. TIME!!

Our GO STINGERS! S.W.E.E.T. group has been working hard on their artwork for the Stingers basketball team.

They have finished their first assignment of creating posters for the pep rally today.

Here they are:

WELCOME!

2008-11-19T17:59:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the PS101 art blog!

I'm relatively new at this, so bear with me if my blogging isn't up to par.

I'm beginning this as sort of an experiment in being able to reach out to all ages. I figure that since we are in the digital age and most of my students are online, some of the older ones are on social networks and most parents are able to go online, that this would be a really great platform for all of us to discuss together, our concerns, comments, etc...

Please feel free to comment back on anything that is on here--the more commentary and discussion we have, the better. I do have to say, though, that since undertaking the start-up of my own photo business, I can only promise to definitely read the blog every other day (even though it will probably be read at least once a day and I'm really just covering myself ;) )

I hope that this becomes a platform for us to discuss art programs, what is going on in the classroom during art and really any other arts related concerns you may have at PS101Q.

With that said, I'd LOVE to start this blog off with a supersonic piece of incredibly happy news...

CONGRATULATIONS to Jacqueline M in second grade!

She won First Place

in the 112th precinct's art contest about Thanksgiving!

Here is a picture of the winning piece of art:

Here are the others that were on display at the 112th precinct tonight. They consist of both Kindergarten and second grade artworks. All of these artworks will be on display at the Christmas Party given by the 112th precinct at Russell Sage Junior High School (in the cafeteria) on Wednesday, December 17th...
Starting time was still up in the air when I left the meeting this evening...