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Saturday, November 23, 2013

Mr. Slay's 5th Graders Tour Artrain's Infinite Mirror

 Mr. Slay's 5th Grade students visited the University of Michigan North Campus and went to the James Duderstat Center to see Artrain's presentation of Infinite Mirror.


Infinite Mirror: Images of American Identity, is a rich, reflective exhibition of works by 39 artists representing the vast cultural blend of modern American society.


American artists of African, Arab, European, Asian, Latino and Native American descent explore their heritage in this vivid and diverse exhibition using a wide variety of media. Infinite Mirror examines issues and themes of race, gender, religion, history, politics and family. Included are such internationally renowned artists as Tomie Arai, Elizabeth Catlett, Luis Jimenez, Indira Freitas Johnson and Faith Ringgold. The artists examine patriotism, communication, the struggle for acceptance, what it truly means to be an American in the 21st century and more. Humor, heartache, anger, apprehension—all emotions are evoked by these works, raising questions about race, class, gender and age.

Four main themes run through Infinite Mirror: Self-Selection, Pride, Assimilation and Protest, providing audiences with the opportunity to re-examine both the story and storytellers of the quintessential “American dream.” 

Self-Selection reflects how we choose to present and project ourselves to the world. Largely based in portraiture, the variety of techniques and twists on this age-old art form convey a multitude of values, desires and anxieties.
Michelle Marilo, Unfolding the Dream, 2006.
Paul Keene, Generations, 1996.
Jennifer Greene's Photographs.

In Pride, artists explore an appreciation of one’s origins, character, values and personal accomplishments. Some works convey confidence and defiance in the face of inequality or degradation, while many others warmly exude joy, love and strength. These artists celebrate their lives as U.S. citizens while acknowledging the histories and traditions of their familial roots. Leamon Green Jr. renders this balance in his mixed media work Big Man Advisor, depicting a seated man flanked with a Benin sculpture to his left and a Roman or Greek statue to his right, paying tribute to both his African and European heritage.

Leamon Green Jr., Big Man Advisor, 2006.
 
Leamon Green Jr., Little Big Girl, 2006.



Many artists in Infinite Mirror weigh in on the two-way transaction of Assimilation, the third theme, by investigating the degree to which new cultural contributions are accepted, mined, or rejected by society. Conversely, several of the artists examine the degree to which they have retained their original cultures and the ways in which they have evolved and emerged in their changing environments. 


Indira Frietas Johnson, Challenge of Karma VI.
Indira Frietas Johnson's Sculpture.
Elizabeth Catlett, Blues.  
Luis Jiminez, Self Portrait, 1996.




Protest, the final theme, explores the American tradition of questioning the ideals of U.S. politics and social culture. In Richard Ray Whitman’s Do Indians Go to Santa Fe When They Die? the artist's work is questioning the treatment of Native Americans in the past and present. 


Richard Ray, Do Indians Go to Santa Fe When They Die?.


The diverse group assembled for Infinite Mirror illuminates some of America’s shadowy corners while remaining in the spirit of idealism.




Thank you to our tour guides- Alexa and Mary Clare. And to Allison and Rachel. We had a great time and thank you for the added bonus of the walking tour of U of M's North Campus Public Art.

1st Grade Weather Tour at UMMA

Mrs. Brower's and Ms. Maciag's 1st Grade classes went to the University of Michigan's Museum of Art on Tuesday November 19, 2014. While at the UMMA students toured the museum through the lens of weather. Weather is a 1st Grade Science Unit.


Students were engaged in Mr. Ed's iPad display of weather that included a song "What's The Weather Today."

Ms. Maciag students finding the desert painting interesting.

Max Ernst, At the Crossroads, 1955.

Ms. Maciag's students making clouds.

Watching the Interactive Table from above.
Wooden statue from Africa.
Ms. Maciag;s students long for the summer days in the Hammock Reader by Milton Avery.

Mrs. Brower's student happy at the end of the tour.


Ms. Maciag students taking a rest in the European Gallery.

The Interactive Table.


Mrs. Brower's class getting ready to strike a pose.

Helen Frankenthaler, Sunset Corner, 1969.


Ganesh, Unknown.




Thank you to the UMMA docents, Ms. Maciag, Mrs. Brower and all the parents who helped. Carpenter 1st Grader were awesome. I am so proud of their behavior.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Possible iPad Grant


I want to thank everyone who voted for Carpenter Elementary for the Bank of Ann Arbor JumpstArts contest. We look forward to receiving $3000 for the Visual and Performing Arts programs.

I see the money used for purchasing mini iPads to share between the Art room and the Library. I think that it would be a great addition to our students knowledge as well as give them new creative outlets.

I am posting this blog and pictures via my son's iPad. I am using Blogsy to post carpenterartroom.blogspot.com via Blogger and the first 2 photos were directly downloaded from his iPad. The other 2 photos are from Instagram.





Instagram images.