YOUNG AT ART 2020-2021
Young at Art Projects link
https://www.young-at-art.info/project-information-1
We have some great news about Young at Art this year. Despite being away from the classroom, YAA is able to provide 6 rich art lessons virtually using instructional videos by the artists themselves. This is all accessible through the YAA website. Read on for helpful information on how to do YAA at home.
Timing:
Each project will launch starting on the first of the month; October, November, January, February, March and April and will continue to be accessible for the entire year. It would be great to make it a Family Art Night once a month (or more if you want to repeat the projects). Our first project Ludicrously Odd Fantastical Freeforms is available now!
Structure:
The virtual program is accessible through the YAA website and features: Lesson videos recorded by the presenting artists (who designed the lessons) themselves designed to be utilized independent of parental supervision by students grades 3 & up. Some younger students will be able to work independently as well, if they can pause and resume the lessons themselves. Supplemental materials & info for each lesson, including: Summary lesson info at-a-glance: length of video estimated length of lesson (includes time for pausing) "mess" index (all of this year's projects are relatively low-mess) "supervision" index Supply lists, suggestions for alternative supplies utilizing what is available at home, links for supply purchase Reference materials (printable) to stimulate ideas & practice technique, where appropriate "Tips for Parents and Caregivers" pdf below the videos provide the instruction; the tips help adults facilitate effectively (hint: less involvement is more!) e.g. there are no mistakes in art; it's about the process, not a masterpiece.
Art Supplies:
In a normal year, schools purchase supplies for all students through YAA and distribute them in the classroom. Due to Covid, families will need to source supplies themselves, using one or more of these options: Substitute with suggested alternate materials already on hand at home Creative supply choices are encouraged! Use provided links (on YAA website) to purchase materials online from Amazon, Blick, etc. Purchase supply kits via YAA website (supplies limited)
Art & Social Emotional Learning:
Students' social-emotional wellness is top-of-mind for parents, teachers, and administrators, especially during these trying, isolating times. The good news is, the arts are uniquely positioned to benefit social-emotional well-being. Creativity directly impacts the pre-frontal cortex, resulting in healthier self-expression, better emotional regulation, and increased empathy. Creativity also promotes self-confidence, self-esteem, and exercises and builds problem-solving skills.
In more good news, adults reap these benefits from creativity too. The act of creating is a mindful exercise, is calming, and can be meditative. So treat you and your family to a YAA lesson!
Sharing:
There is an (optional) online art gallery through the YAA website that we would love you to use for posting photos of your child's artwork.
School Chair:
Please contact Shana Kish with any questions. Thank you so much for helping us continue with the YAA program this year.
Young at Art 2020-2021 Distance LearningTIPS FOR PARENTS / CAREGIVERS
Young at Art is based on the belief that art education should promote individual expression by providing the opportunity, the materials, and the process from which children can create their own unique conclusions and solutions. The art experience for children should exercise their powers of observation and imagination. It should stimulate their motivation to learn, to make choices, to be flexible and to adapt, to be able to go from an unknown to a known and to make new experiences meaningful to each child’s own way of thinking and creating.
SETTING UP:
Don’t stress! You got this.These projects are meant to be easy for parents / caregivers to facilitate, and fun for the students. You can set up anywhere where art is appropriate (driveway, back yard, floor, kitchen table).
●Want to protect your workspace? Use a vinyl (reusable) or plastic tablecloth, newspaper, old towel, etc.
●Use what you’ve got -creative supply choices are encouraged!
●You can do the projects at home, at any time.
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD:
While the project video will do the teaching, here are some helpful tips to keepin mind
1. There are no mistakes in art! Only happy accidents.
●Remember that nothing is a mistake.
●Encourage your child to look at what they consider a mistake from a different perspective.
○Doing something you didn’t mean to do can lead you somewhere more interesting. Enjoy the journey!
2. Try to avoid being hands-onwith your child’s artwork
●By doing the project themselves, they will experience more of the benefits of creating.
●If you feel you need to demonstrate something, do it on your own paper.
3. Allow for involvement and experimentation with materials.
●Materials often provide sufficient motivation.
●Experimentation leads to discovery.
4. Embrace (a bit of) mess.
●If a child is worried or distracted by thoughts of keeping things neat orclean, they are unable to fully engage in the process of creation & discovery.
●While it is important to respect the materials (e.g. we don’t intentionally paint our hands, faces or furniture with artist’s paint -it is made for the paper), a bit of mess is to be expected (and even encouraged).
●To avoid disappointment, have your child wear “grubbies” (clothes you don’t mind getting paint on), an apron, or a smock (an adult’s old shirt or t-shirt).
●Note: Some kids have tactile sensitivities and are uncomfortable with some materials (e.g. pastels, paints). In this case, nitrile gloves can help (latex-free, disposable).
5. Know that anxiety and frustration are often preludes to creativity. If your child gets stuck or wants to start over, try to encourage them to keep going. A great thing about art is there are no mistakes! (See #1.)
6. Understand some children want to be left alonein the process of creating.
7. Hit pause. “Studio time” is a term for a quiet pause in instruction while your student-artist explores and creates. This is where artists get into their “flow.” Don’t feel you need to fill time by talking or teaching.
8. Young at Art’s focus is on the process, not the final product. If your child’s completed work is not a masterpiece -or maybe not even finished -that doesn’t mean the project was not successful! The goal is NOT to make a look-alike of the instructor’s work.
9. Creating art is a very personalexperience. It’s healthy for students to feel confident in their choices and take pride in their own work, rather than feeling the need to please someone else with their art. Rather than over-praising, find something(s) specific to remark about, e.g. “Ireally like how you used this color / made this shape / designed your ________.” If they ask you if you like it, turn the question around, e.g. I want to hear what you -the artist -think about it first.” “Tell me about it.”
10. Honor the child above all.Thank you for sharing in the magic of Young at Art!
Art Patterns |
Leonardo da Vinci |
|
|
Georgia O'Keeffe |
Grandma Moses |
1st Grade's Favorite Art Family!
|
|
|
Try some more! Check out this adorable family YouTube channel : Art for Kids Hub
Only a click away!
@wendymacCheck out NY Times illustrator Wendy Macnaughton's 5-10 minute drawing classes. She's AMAZING.
|
#molunchdoodlesCaldecott winner Mo Willems (of Pigeon/Piggy fame) hosts a live doodle! Worth putting in the calendar for next week.
|
New From Our Young At Art Program Directors
Parents and teachers have been sharing ideas to add art and creativity to each student's day so these will be just one more set of resources for optional activities to supplement learning and creativity.
A few local museums and art galleries we'd love to share:
A few local museums and art galleries we'd love to share:
- LACMA
https://lacma.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=33a7932d711750e006be92b6e&id=233df7c8af&e=722a035fff - The Broad
https://thebroad.cmail20.com/t/d-l-mjydidk-ykhldlujhj-y/ - Getty
https://www.getty.edu/visit/center/ - And the VERY local Resin Gallery
https://rafaelmcmaster.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5208b68a49d719974666f3f23&id=80e1508800&e=ed4ec569f5 - Create CA
https://createca.org/createathome/
Make Art with Us!
We have three veteran Young At Art "docents" (parents) who dedicate countless hours to learn the year's lessons at American Martyrs, prepping supply carts, creating engaging, age-appropriate PowerPoint presentations, and ultimately teaching the art lessons to our lucky kiddos. Docents can only make things happen in the classroom by having a willing and ready group of volunteers in the classroom to help lead the kids through the project. No art skills necessary! We promise that when you donate your time and energy to Young at Art, you’ll get back much more than you give. Please look out for opportunities to help out with Young at Art in your class.
About Young At Art
Thanks to the Robinson PTSA’s generous support, our students will have the opportunity to create six rich and meaningful Young at Art (YAA) projects this year. During each one-hour session in their classroom, the students will learn about various artists, the associated art history and will experiment with a variety of media and techniques.
Kids love the Young at Art (YAA) program and always look forward to the lessons. It is amazing to see kids get inspired by art, and gain confidence in their own abilities by learning there are no mistakes in art – only happy accidents. They gain exposure to different artists, movements, mediums (printing, collage, photography), materials, and techniques.
Young at Art is a non-profit organization celebrating almost 40 years of bringing the magic of art and enrichment to 7,000 students across the South Bay.
Kids love the Young at Art (YAA) program and always look forward to the lessons. It is amazing to see kids get inspired by art, and gain confidence in their own abilities by learning there are no mistakes in art – only happy accidents. They gain exposure to different artists, movements, mediums (printing, collage, photography), materials, and techniques.
Young at Art is a non-profit organization celebrating almost 40 years of bringing the magic of art and enrichment to 7,000 students across the South Bay.