Integrated Arts?

The Integrated Arts is a model designed to offer support, extension, and supplementary experiences in content areas through interdisciplinary arts activities. The Common Core Standards' emphasis on developing depth and rigor in thought and the ability to communicate relevant information with increasing skill provides the necessary impetus for this model. Content will be viewed through many lenses, allowing the entirety of relevant ideas to be processed and applied broadly and with added depth. Work with visual arts, music, drama, literature, writing, technology, and design will be incorporated and collaboration with classroom teachers will be ongoing. As Yeats wrote, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire". The Integrated Arts is an opportunity to light a very purposeful, very directed fire.

Friday, January 9, 2015

ArtPartners: Mark Sherman



ArtPartners at Del Mar Heights School: A program to connect students to artists and their work


Students at Del Mar Heights Elementary School will have the opportunity to learn about the work of professional artists through a new program at their school. ArtPartners is an initiative created and coordinated by art teacher Andrew Smith. ArtPartners brings local artists into the school classrooms to share about their life, work, motivation, and process of creation. “I want to demonstrate to our students that creativity and art in practice is not limited to the classroom or to the world of the art show.” reflects Mr. Smith, “I want students to understand that art is a living, active part of the lives and livelihoods of adults and artists in our community.” Artists scheduled to visit Del Mar Heights as participants in the ArtPartners program include local painters, sculptors, textile designers, photographers, surfboard designers, and performers.


The first artist to participate in ArtPartners during this school year was local watercolorist Mark Sherman. He spent an afternoon with fifth-grade students sharing about his work and helping them explore their own creativity in his chosen medium. The fifth grade students responded with interest as they learned from Mr. Sherman and engaged in a simple proportion activity. Later, Mr. Sherman will be back to work on watercolor technique with the students. 

The fifth grade is just in mid-stream on two other large projects, a collaborative mural and a "Ghost ship" printing. However, it's easy to press pause on such things when an opportunity to visit with an practicing artist arises. Please enjoy one of his paintings below and see more of his work in the Del Mar Art Center.

Thank you, Mr. Sherman!

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