Toys, Sculptures and Other Wonderful Creations

We are still working in the studio as we wrap up another busy school year at Muddy Brook!  Last week we finished up some loose ends in a few groups and I read a student favorite, Too Much Glue , by Jason Lefebver, illustrated by Zac Retz, to most classes. Kids used up our scrap papers creating collages and sculptures.  This week I read Have Fun, Molly Lou Melon, by Patty Lovell, illustrated by David Catrow to the youngest classes.  They made toys like Molly Lou, and did a community weaving too.  I read The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires, and kids did a little challenge by using bits and pieces to create a toy, character, or machine (but many other items were created!  I need to have a camera set up to catch all the clever work!).  Putting the bags together took time, but it was worth it!  We have a school filled with creative artists and problem solvers!

               Students share their artwork with each other after clean up.

                                              Weaving "like the big kids' fancy coat".

                                                Making toys was so much fun!

                                               The tiniest sculpture of the year I think!

                                                        The World Trade Center

                                      Non-traditional attachments on this little character.

                                       This first grader used his items to make a collage.

Kindergarten Self-Portraits

Kindergarten students created class coloring books recently.  I am holding onto the crayon-colored originals to potentially display in a few years to see how much our artists grow over the years! 

Busy Bees at MBE!

Wow!  So much has been happening at Muddy Brook the past few weeks...  I need to be better at documenting and sharing!  The art shows and concerts were wonderful this year.  Here is the excerpt from our concert program about the art shows:

The art show has multiple themes this year connecting to the musical selections when possible.  The first floor classes of pre-k, early k, and kindergarten created ceramic flowers that are on display through the window in the hosta garden (2^nd floor hall).  The children designed their flowers, made them out of earth clay, and then glazed the ceramic.    In the first floor hallway students created a co-operative garden mural.  Kindergarten artists painted replicas of their flowers.  Mrs. Hagen’s class made butterflies for the mural.  Mrs. Scarbro’s artists created colorful insects.  Mrs. Topham’s class made caterpillars crawling in the grass.  It was fun to bring science, art and music together for these projects! 

First graders’ have been working on their terrific box town for many months.  Students connected to their classroom study of community by designing and building dream houses, stores, public buildings and other businesses.  Our box town has antiques, book stores, art galleries, a movie theater and a pizza shop!  Artists sculpted figures to populate their town out of ceramic.  It was a challenge to make sturdy, standing figures and paint all the tiny details.  You may spot animal families, self-portraits, a mailman, and even a couple ninjas.  The perseverance, diligence, problem solving and artistic fun that each child brought to this work was fantastic.  These pieces were made with play in mind and can go home after the concert.

Second graders were commissioned to create an artwork loosely reflecting the baseball concert theme.  They started with a pentagon home plate and discussed the importance of home base in baseball.  Students thought deeply about their personal home base, their interests and their passions.  All of their artwork shows the artists best thought, skill, and care.  Please take some time to read their thoughtful artist statements and learn about the artists through their work.

Third graders share their illustrations and stories from the Norman Rockwell Museum for our Muddy Brook Community.  The students worked diligently to share their personal best work through a moment in time from their fables in their drawings.  The third graders’ coil pottery is also on display, and can go home with families after the concert.

Fourth graders share personal works of their choice with you in their neighborhood.  Students made art showing their best skill, thought and effort.  Their art and artist statement show their ability to solve problems and share ideas as artists.  Any 3 dimensional work can go home after the concert.

4^th and 3^rd grade students worked together to create the coat Mr. Hassmer wears in their choral performance.  The artists wove the fabric for the coat from many colors and textures.  For many weeks you could find students taking turns weaving the fabric in the art studio.  Once the weavings were complete students worked together to sew and quilt the coat.  It truly is a work of art that shows what this creative community of learners can do.

Art works are coming home, along with process work that was stored on the studio shelves.  Next time you are in the building check out the photo stories of the primary work and the 3rd and 4th grade weaving!