OUR FINAL 5TH GRADE EXHIBIT

What a  pleasure to watch VLM's most senior students share their artwork and artist's statement at our 4th annual 5th grade final show.

This year Ms. Corradino  and I combined art and music: Students performed charmingly before moving to the library, to share artwork with family and friends. 

Our closing reception was topped off with a howlingly entertaining slideshow of images of these students in the art room as far back as the 2nd grade.

Thank you to all the families and friends who took time to enjoy student work,  help set up or bring food, and especially to my parents, with my father documenting this event in pictures!

Remember, art matters.

STILL LIFE

Every year VLM students K-5 start at least one artwork by looking at Still lifes set around our art room. Over the years, I've collected an assortment of objects---a blue green vase, a Japanese teapot, an assortment of candle holders. I always mix these stables among inexpensive novel objects to create a yearly theme. This year I included glittery gift-boxes and glinting tinsel.

In addition to using different materials, each grade approaches their still life project through the lens of their grade-level theme. For example, second grades looked at Still lifes by Henri Mattisse, and were challenged to include PATTERN in their work. 

My favorite thing about still life is the element of observation: Students often are surprised by how realistic or detailed their drawings can be when they look carefully at real objects before drawing or painting them. Through still life, students come to understand drawing as an act of translation and communication, as well as imagination and  creativity.

What kinds of object would you include in a super cool still life? Would your objects be everyday, or off the wall?  (Remember, the objects must be, well, still :)

(Images from top to bottom: Max 2nd grade, Jackson H. Kinder, Emily 3rd,  Charlotte and Helen 2nd, Natalie 4th, Max again)

SNOW DAY EXTENSION

Our countywide art exhibit at Fashion Square Mall has been extended another full week until Sunday March 23rd. So as soon as your roads are clear, venture out, VLM families, and stroll the mall checking out Impressive Student Work, k-12!  

Check out News Coverage of our 2nd exhibit at CitySpace (Up until March 25th)  on the downtown Pedestrian mall HERE.

My mom and my son checking out the Murray display, near the Hallmark store.

ACPS Visual Arts Festival 2014

Here's a video made by our lovely fine art's coordinator, Cyndi, as we set up this year's
show at Fashion Square Mall!



Have you gone? If so, what did you notice, what did you see?

EXHIBITIONS!

An important part of making art is looking at art. This time of year, Murray's students, staff, and families are invited to look carefully at a sample of artwork from around the county, during our 21st Annual Fine Arts Festival. This sprawling event takes place in the public spaces of Fashion Square Mall, from March 2 through 16th this year. Come stroll and enjoy student creations!

A second, more intimate exhibit will take place at CitySpace, on our downtown pedestrian mall,  featuring 2-4 works from each Albemarle school. This display will be up from March 5 - 25, with an  opening reception on the evening of March 7th. You can find directions and out more about CitySpace here.

In addition, Mrs. Corradino (VLM's music teacher) and I are co-planning a Final 5th grade Art Exhibit & Performance to take place at VLM the evening of Thursday April 24th, at 630 pm. We look forward to hosting Murray families and teachers with a reception and celebration of student art-making!

*Finally, a special congratulations to Trevor D. whose work was chosen to display in Richmond at Representative Landes' office,  hopefully a reminder to our legislators that Art matters in Virginia.

What art exhibits have you seen that you remember?

Images top to bottom: A past Fine Arts Festival, 4th grader Cole L working, My son and I at a past 5th grade final exhibit, and Shell painting by Trevor D.

EXPLORATIONS IN COLOR

Murray Students of all ages are exploring color, this basic element of art---mixing, contrasting, even glazing paints basic in exercises and projects.

Kinders painted without brushes in the tradition of American Artist Jackson Pollack, creating patterns, textures, or pictures with forks, q-tips, and popsicle sticks.

First graders mixed primary colors to make secondary colors in their sketchbooks, then used remaining time to 'free paint' or print their painting palettes.

Fourth Graders painted in pairs and teams to create clever color wheels, making 12 colors from three, and learning about the idea of a Color Sphere!

What is your favorite color, and why?

Work shown top to bottom: by Kinders: Mary, Emily, Claire; First Grader Katerina; 4th graders
Koa & Spencer,  work by Christopher, Will, and Sam, AJ working

LOOK UP: MURRAY'S NEW MURAL!

Special thanks to our preschool teacher (aka resident muralist) Chelsea Morris for painting our small school flanked in the panoramic rolling hills of Albemarle, on our foyer ceiling area!

We hope to highlight this area even more, but in the mean time look up and see if you can spot :

• Our name sake, Virginia L. Murray herself
• Crozet Pizza
• The Paramount Theatre
• Flick on the Field...

What striking details have you noticed in Murray's New Mural?