Kindergarten Mosaics

In addition to the early Christian paintings and drawings on the wall of the catacombs, they also created beautiful symbolic mosaics.

Kindergartners created their lovely fish or anchor mosaics out of cut strips of construction paper.

Ms. B's Kindergarten:

 



Christian Symbols

Since the early Christians did not have the complete inspired Word of God like we do today, each class represented Christ and/or the Good News (Gospel) by designing their own symbols and incorporating some of the early Christian symbols as well.

Take a look and see if you can "read" the Gospel message in their art work:

 6th Grade -

5th Grade -

 

 4th Grade -

  Ms. B's - Kindergarten Class

 7th/8th Graders -

 3rd Grade -



 2nd Grade -

 Mrs. Collins - Kindergarten class

 

September's Artist of the Month

Every class has now been introduced to September's "Artist(s) of the Month", the early Christians, who covered the walls of the Roman catacombs they built between the 1st and 2nd century A.D. (anno domini or In the Year of our Lord) with paintings, sculptures and engravings.  Step by step, students have been walked through discussions of how these works relate to us today.  That question is addressed in the response below taken from the Stonebridge Art Guide written by Wendy Giancoli:

Art history is a revelation of Jesus Christ! Throughout the ages, God purposed that the visual arts should serve as a TEACHER of the Bible and its Gospel message. Works of art have always been the people's Bible as artists throughout the centuries have portrayed the Bible in every media.  Beginning with the first century Christian symbols and martyrs' paintings on the catacomb walls through the Middle Ages, the vast majority of the people were unable to read or write, so that the constant depiction of the Bible even upon familiar household objects made the stories almost universally known. 

        
To quote Cynthia Maus in her book, Christ and the Fine Arts, "The artist's brush taught the story of Christianity more convincingly than the pen of the theologian."

The past is our heritage and glory.  God also purposed that the visual arts should serve as a RECORD of Christ, His Story and His relationship with man leaving a visual testimony of God's wondrous workings and mighty Hand!  Christian art is the HERITAGE of all the world!

Psalms 78:4-7 - "We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
    and the wonders that he has done.

⁵ He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
    to teach to their children,
⁶ that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
⁷     so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
    but keep his commandments"

 

 

Definition and Biblical Principle of Art

What is Art? 

This is the first question posed to each student in class.  It is not an easy one to answer.  The definition has evolved through the centuries.  However, since God is immutable, we have His written word, the Bible, we use His Word as the sole source in defining ART.

 

For the follower of Jesus Christ, art is the godly pursuit of skillfully and imaginatively creating a work that reflects and communicates the Gospel.

 

The Biblical Principles of Art:

 

1.  Creation is the masterpiece of all time.  Our Divine Creator spoke into existence all things.  He formed man and in him breathed the breath of life. (Gen.1:3-26, I Tim.4:4, Gen. 2:7)

 

2.  Our Lord's creative nature is revealed to us throughout Scripture and in creation.  We need only gaze about us, observing creation, to see His divine qualities of beauty, balance, variety, detail, unity and order.  Likewise, an artist's creative expression reflects the Lord in the artist and should glorify Him. (Rom. 1:20, Matt.12:35)

 

3.  The elements of design originated with God in creation and are the building blocks with which the artist creates:

 Color, Value, Space, Line and Texture

 

4. God, whose image man bears, has endowed each individual with His inherent creative ability.

(Gen. 1:27)

 

5.  It is man's responsibility to acknowledge, develop and steward the gifts God has so graciously given him.

(Matt. 25:15-29)

6.  In order for an artist to fully develop his creative ability he must become a keen observer.  (Zech. 4:2)

7.  It is imperative for students to learn about individual lives of master artists throughout history.
 It is one way to learn not only varied art techniques, but, more imporantly, of how others have used their God-given talents to proclaim the Gospel.  (Eph. 1:9-10)

 

Wrapping Up the Year in Art!

The Pre-K through 8th Grade classes have finished up the year in art by making their art portfolios.  On each of their portfolios, students were expected to represent all 7 Elements of Art. 

 

Here are some examples of student's work:

5th & 6th Graders - Giacometti Sculptures

5th & 6th graders were introduced to Albert Giacometti, our artist for the month of April.  He was a Swiss sculptor, painter, draftsman and printer. His trademark are the stretched statues that look like they are never ending. 

The following sculpture, "The Walking Man", was sold at auction in 2010 for a whopping $104 million.  A world record for the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction!

Students worked on replicating Giacometti's sculptures by using the following mediums:  wire, aluminum foil, clay/model magic and papier mache paste

The following art concepts/elements of art were reinforced with this project:  form, sculpture, space (positive/negative) and texture

 

Here are some examples of their work in progress:

 

 

Pre-K Clay Pots

The Pre-K classes used air-dry clay to form their pinch pots.  Class discussion focused on 3-dimensional (form) and texture (how it feels when touched).

 

Class time also focused on Jeremiah 18: 5-6 -

"Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁶ “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."

 

Here are some examples of working with our clay: