Mildred L. Day School Visual Arts Program Goals
Mildred L. Day School art students study works by exemplary
artists and create their own works of art. All our children, from
kindergarten through grade 5, gain experience in analyzing and
interpreting works of art. Personal expression and creativity are
fostered as students learn to apply techniques in drawing, painting,
sculpture
and printmaking.
By studying art, students learn about other cultures and historical
periods. Students are exposed to art history, art criticism,
self-evaluation, and art-related careers, all in line with Maine's
Learning Results.
Art helps children to understand themselves and the world around them.
Through skills developed in weekly visual arts classes, children practice close observation, creative
problem solving, and critical thinking. These skills are important
whether one is designing a web site, painting a portrait, or developing
a fuel efficient engine. Instruction builds on concepts such as
patterning and symmetry, which are important in reading and mathematics
as well as the arts.
Art is the language of human expression and understanding. We
deal with the visual arts every day in such things as advertising
and architecture, fashion and media. Through art classes,
children
learn to observe carefully, describe what is seen, and reflect upon the
meaning of the work of art. This process helps students learn to
think independently and to communicate within our visual world.
Art and the Community
In the past few years, over 250 works of art by M. L. Day School
children have been exhibited in the community. Our children learn how
art exists beyond the classroom and see how they can be a
part of our community's art and creative economy. In conjunction with a chapter they
wrote for the award-winning Portland Museum of Art book, Look at Me,
Mrs. Bansmer and Mrs. Grumbling were able to exhibit more than 35 works
of art by our students at the Portland Museum of Art for 6 weeks
in 2006.
As part of a grant awarded by the Ogunquit Museum of Art, 100
student works by Arundel children were exhibited at Kennebunk Savings
Bank in 2006, and 25
student pieces were exhibited in the Ogunquit Museum of Art for six
weeks. Students have also had work selected for exhibit at State
Office Buildings in Augusta, and one of our students won a state art
award.. In addition, more than 20 Arundel student art works
were exhibited in the "Art in the Port" at the Nonantum
Resort in Kennebunkport last June, 2007, several of them winning
excellence awards..
The M. L. Day School art program arranges annual class visits to the
Ogunquit Museum of Art and the Portland Museum of Art,
beginning with first grade.
Art and the World
Our M. L. Day School art teacher Audrey Grumbling was selected for the
nationally competitive 2007 Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program.
Teachers from throughout the U.S. visit schools and cultural
institutions in Japan as guests of the government of Japan. For
three weeks in
October, 2007 Mrs.
Grumbling will serve as our community's cultural ambassador to
Japan. In preparation, our 260 Arundel students have created
"Artist Trading Cards" with
paintings and leaf prints of our native species to present to Japanese
children. During the 2007-08 school year, follow up curriculum
and art projects are planned to guide our children in an examination
of the life and culture of children half-way around the
globe.
Web-based communication between Japan and Maine
have been planned through Mr. Michael Richards and the Computer
Lab. What began as a study of Japan's arts and culture has been
extended by our creative and enthusiastic M. L. Day teachers
to incorporate units of study and curriculum areas across
disciplines. Students will exhibit and share their
learning about Japan's people and culture in a school-wide family
night, planned for early Spring, 2008.