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Young artists learn about the masters
(by Kathryn A. Burger - May 13, 2008)
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Staff Photo By Kathryn A. Burger
St. John’s Academy seventh grade students chose Claude Monet as the master artist they would feature in the school’s first annual Fine Arts Festival. This display features the students’ versions of Monet’s noted paintings of the Japanese footbridge over the water lily pond at Giverny. A print of one of the artist’s work is on the easel just right of center.
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Match the artist with the style: 1) Georges Seurat 2) Claude Monet 3) Pablo Picasso, 4) Jackson Pollock. A) Pointillism B) Abstract Impressionism C) Impressionism D) Synthetic Cubism.
Ask students at St. John’s Academy and they can not only match them correctly, but can also explain the disciplines.
Why would kindergartners be familiar with Picasso’s “Three Musicians” and the work of Jackson Pollock? Why can the seventh-graders speak authoritatively about Claude Monet and his paintings of the Japanese footbridge over the water-lily pond at Giverny and the seventh-graders explain pointillism?
The answer is a program called, “Art Smart.” This innovative fine art adjunct to the academy’s curriculum was introduced this year and the “Fine Arts Festival” held last month that exhibited an astonishing range of work by the students was the culmination of the students’ efforts.
While schools across the state search for ways to trim costs and often cut funding for the performing and visual arts, St. John’s has found a way to enhance the curriculum, recognizing the importance of the arts in education. And it’s free. Thanks to a group of dedicated parent volunteers, students in every grade learn about notable artists throughout the school year.
Sue Caltavurturo, one of the volunteers, credits fellow parent Pat Solitto with bringing fine arts into the school. “Pat first developed the program when she and her family lived in Spring Lake, and when they moved her she proposed that St. John’s do the same thing.” The idea was a popular one – with parents, teachers and administrators – and working with Christine Vericker, the school’s art teacher, the program was planned.
Parent volunteers are assigned one grade at the school and once a month they spend 90 minutes with students teaching them about a noted artist – their life, technique, and the era in which they lived. Caltavurturo said she and the other volunteers work with the teachers so that the work of “Art Smart” was infused into other academic areas. Parent volunteers also benefited from the program. They researched the artists, prepared lesson plans and, as one parent put it, never would have taken the time to learn about these artists if it wasn’t for this program. Caltavuturo said, “I learned so much myself. It’s been a great experience.”
Among the other artists represented at the exhibit were Gustov Klimt, O’Keeffe, Edouard Manet and Norman Rockwell. For the festival, each class chose one of the artists they studied and replicated either a work created by that artist or produced their own piece using that artist’s distinctive style.
Sharon Gallagher, the assistant principal at St. John’s, explained how the school was able to fit the program into the academic schedule. “Because the work the students do in the program crosses over into several curriculum areas, we rotate the students out of a different subject each month. This is the first real art appreciation work we’ve ever had here and we make time for it,” she said, clearly pleased with the results as she gazed over the dozens of displays that filled the school gym that had been transformed into an art gallery for the festival.
Interspersed with the work the students created in their “Art Smart” classes, there were displays of clay sculptures, collages, and other crafts the students had made in their classes with Christine Vericker, the art teacher, and some work they produced outside of school.
Another element of the two-day festival was music and an evening concert featuring the school orchestra was presented; a reception followed in the gallery. Music was also a part of the exhibit in the gym. A gleaming black grand piano was positioned in the center of the gallery. Pat Solitto, the originator of the “Art Smart” program had arranged with Yamaha to loan the school the piano for the festival. Not only was there no fee, it was delivered and picked-up at no charge. Students had signed up to perform during festival hours and there had been no shortage of musicians anxious for the opportunity.
On the last afternoon of the exhibit – just a few hours before it would be dismantled – classes continued to visit. A group of seventh-graders headed directly for the piano. One of them had her cello with her and in no time, music filled the gym. Christine Solitto, on piano, and Heili Springsteen on cello, played as Stephanie Galea sang.
“Art Smart” was so well received that there is no doubt that next spring, St. John’s will be holding its, “Second Annual Fine Arts Festival.” And even though the gym is no longer an art gallery, one need only look in the school cafeteria for a reminder. Framed works by noted artists, many of whom were represented at the festival, line the walls.
The correct matches are: 1) – A; 2) – C; 3) – D; 4) –B.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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