43
CUMP students shine at art show
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.The Canfield United Methodist Preschool pre-K class art project was a group weaving project and exercise in fine motor skills, which was a part of their clothing and textiles unit from the Creative Curriculum.
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.The Canfield United Methodist Preschool transformed the fellowship hall of the church into an art gallery filled with pieces created by the students of the school for its seventh annual Art Show on May 12.
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.Canfield United Methodist Preschool 4-year-old class student Jonathan Ruark looked for his “Crayon Creation,” which he made at school during the school’s annual Art Show on May 12.
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Ava Votaw, a Canfield United Methodist Preschool pre-K student, checked out the display of her shape creation piece at the school’s annual Art Show on May 12.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield United Methodist Preschool filled the church’s fellowship hall with dozens works of art created by the students of the school for its seventh annual art show on May 12. Each student displayed four flat pieces, one 3-D piece and a class project.
The pieces were created throughout the school year with inspiration from subjects the students were learning about at the time through the school’s curriculum. Each of the classes used a variety of techniques for their artwork.
The school has three classes: a 3-year-old class with lead teacher Ellen VanDussen and assistant teacher Shirley Merritt, a 4-year-old class with lead teacher Ellen Bennett and assistant teachers Lisa Helmick and Merritt and a pre-kindergarten class with lead teacher VanDussen and assistant teacher Brenda Williams.
During “W” week, the 3-year-old class talked about worms, how they move, how they dig and eat and how they help the dirt and plants. To create their piece of art, students moved string across the paper like a worm moves to make unique patterns, shapes and textures on the papers.
The 3-year-old class also created colorful trees while learning about the changing colors of leaves last fall. This was an example of directional and multi-media art. Instructions were provided that the brown foam was for the trunk of the tree and the buttons were for the leaves. The children then decorated and decided placement.
As part of the class’ creative curriculum, the 3-year-olds investigated balls, circles and things which roll. The students paint-stamped with bubble wrap to create circle patterns on the paper. They then took turns stamping their circles on the Edison Machine. The children could place the circles anywhere and any way they wanted on their paper. Fine motor to large gross motor skills were used to both paint and press.
The last 3-year-old class flat piece was titled “Reaching for the Stars.”
“The first year of preschool provides that important first step on the ladder of their education. We hope that everyone continues to ‘reach for the stars’ as they continue their school experiences,” said VanDussen.
For the piece, the students painted the sky with multiple water colors. The ladder was made by the children snapping popsicle sticks and gluing them together, and the stars were counted and could be placed however the children decided.
For their 3-D art project, the students each made a wind sock. The class art project was titled “Q is for Q-tip and Quilt,” which was done during their “Q” week. The students talked about quilts and made their own class quilt by each child painting their own square with Q-tips.
The 4-year-old class displayed their “Crayon Creations” on a light table for the art show. Using a small pencil sharpener the students twisted crayons to make small shavings. Bennett then used a hot iron to melt it together making their melted masterpieces.
The 4-year-old class also created “Fabulous Flowers.” They chose two of the three primary colors and started in the middle of the paper and brushed out to create the flowers. The student added the center using cupcake papers and dyed tiny pasta.
The 4-year-old class students used a ruler and crayon to create lines and shapes for “Sidewalk Chalk Creations.” They dipped the chalk in water to make it soft so it would stick to the paper to create a celebration of pastel colors.
The 4-year-old class’ final flat art show piece was titled “Autumn Tree Wonder.” The students tore painters tape to create parts of a tree, and then dabbed autumn colors to film their paper. The tape was then peeled off to create each student’s masterpiece.
For their 3-D piece, students in the 4-year-old class made “Recycled Wind Chimes.” Using recycled materials, the students laced, stuffed, threaded, glued, punched and made music. The class art show project was titled “Bumpy Tube Art.”
The pre-K class also created four flat pieces, including “My Pet Fish.” The class investigated all types of pets as part of their creative curriculum. After reading “What Type of Pet Would You Get?” they talked about fish as pets. The students made their own pet fish out of CD’s, sequins, triangles and even gave them some bubbles by paint stamping wooden spools.
The class also created a piece titled “Color in Winter.” The students traced, cut out and colorfully water painted and constructed birds to put with their winter tree scenes.
“In the darker and sometimes dreary winter months, we often look for splashes of color and brightness in our days,” VanDussen said.
This class’ next piece was shape creations - an expression of free art project and was inspired by the book “Windblown” by Sarah Quinn, where colorful and oddly shaped scraps of paper blow in the wind. One by one they take shape, transforming into animals, people, etc., each one with its own story to tell.
The last pre-K art project focused on teaching the children to draw by a step-by-step process.
“Teaching children to draw by a step-by-step process has several purposes, such as to increase children’s confidence, to teach children to follow directions, to increase directional, spatial and other vocabulary and to have fun drawing,” VanDussen said.
For their 3-D art piece, the pre-K class created a Kindergarten Community. Each child made their own house and a stretch of road and then decided on the name for their village.
The pre-K class project was a group weaving project and exercise in fine motor skills. As part of their clothing and textiles unit from the Creative Curriculum, the children had an opportunity to make their own weaving project.
“Their enthusiasm led us to this group project. Children can learn so much when taking part in a weaving activity. Weaving provides wonderful opportunities for children to discover patterns and textures and encourages growth in fine motor shills and hand-eye coordination,” VanDussen said.
As with any high-profile art exhibit, hors d’oeuvres were served to the patrons. Each family brought a snack or dessert to share and the school provided punch.