University of Chicago Lab School Lower School Arts Blog

Monday, October 12, 2015

Ms. Beaulieu goes to Brooklyn!

This past week/weekend, I went to Brooklyn to present curriculum at the Progressive Education Network. It was so amazing because not only did I get to hang out with other great teachers, but I was able to tour a school similar to Lab, go on a subway adventure to see both new and old tile work, and head to the Brooklyn Museum and Botanic Gardens. It was a blast. Here are some pictures I took of the trip!

Brooklyn Museum: Yinka Shonibare

Brooklyn Museum: Kara Walker

Brooklyn Museum: Kenojuak Ashevak

Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens: Rose Garden

The Manhattan Country School: 6th Grade Classroom

The Manhattan Country School: SHOP!

The Manhattan Country School

East Harlem

Subway Adventures

Gallery Stop

High Line

Adults installing their conceptual art!

Carroll Gardens

Adults installing their conceptual art!

Mrs. Bloom and I walking the Brooklyn Bridge!

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Gordon Parks Arts Hall

It is a very exciting time to be a Lab student (and arts teacher!). We just dedicated the new middle and high school arts wing named after the writer, film maker, photographer, and musician Gordon Parks.
Thirteen of his photographs are on display through the winter holiday on the first floor of the new hall, and I took my fourth grade classes to examine and discuss feelings, emotions, and aspects of the photographs. We talked about stereotypes, strong artistic elements, and grazed the surface of social justice issues brought forth from the images.

Conceptual Art 2015

I am blown away by the 67 art installations now up on display in Blaine. The third grade artist statements range from being kind to animals, cutting down on pollution, and the importance of equality. While some art is very fragile and states Please Do Not Touch, many of the pieces are take-away in nature. Viewers are invited to become part of the art by taking it with them.
What an amazing few weeks it has been preparing for this week. Although they are best experienced in person, here are just a few of the many pictures of the installations.