2021-2022
Art Share XVIII: Adaptation
In response to an unpredictable school year, the Visual Art Staff of WPS will be focusing on "Adaptation" in their individual artistic practices.
Each class will focus on critiques and open dialogue about diverse techniques, approaches, and methods that connect and convey a shared theme.
In response to an unpredictable school year, the Visual Art Staff of WPS will be focusing on "Adaptation" in their individual artistic practices.
Each class will focus on critiques and open dialogue about diverse techniques, approaches, and methods that connect and convey a shared theme.
Alana Conlin
As I continued an exploration of collage art, my artwork practice this year allowed me to try out new ways of art making. I began working with digital painting and have created many paintings as I have tried out different brush techniques. I have been taking ceramics classes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts as I learn new ways to form and sculpt. I also embarked on two public art pieces. One large scale public art sculpture was commissioned by the city of Framingham, another was a mural on a light post for the City of Pawtucket. I also joined the Board of Directors for an arts nonprofit this year as I looked for new ways to stay connected to artists and art making.
Ellie Burke
With this year's theme of adaptation, I chose to explore a variety of different mediums, to get outside of my comfort zone. My works were created using fabric, patterned paper, vinyl, recycled aluminum cans and much more mixed media items. During the height of the pandemic, making most of my work from home, my access to materials was limited therefore, I was limited in the type of work I could create. I enjoyed the freedom of experimenting with new materials, for this year's art share.
Emma Ballachino
Living through the pandemic drastically shifted my studio practice, and I began spending much more time drawing and collaging over the last two years. This collection of work demonstrates some of the illustration making its way into my ceramic work, as well as some work on paper. I focused on incorporating a lot of layering and reworking into my work, which mirrors how life and teaching has felt in the wake of Covid.
Jackie O'Rourke
This year in honor of adaptation I decided to switch gears and focus on sea animals rather than my usual animals. Last year my art work concentrated on neurographic designs combined with animals. This year I started with a large neurographic octopus with a few watercolor modifications straying away from the techniques I used previously. As the year progressed my paintings became more watercolor oriented, however, I continued to use bright colors with some abstract elements. For my final piece I decided to focus on color and texture creating a clay fish and incorporating some of the painterly elements I included with my watercolor series.
Carolyn McGrath
In life, there is no escaping change. It walks in the door regardless of whether or not it has been invited in. Thus, we must constantly adapt. Seasons, wallpapers, dwellings, materials, waters, and graffiti, all changing around me. This series represents my response to finding peace in all that changes. Come what may.
Amy Crossin
I utilized the transition from "Ms. Amy" (Director of the mobile studio art program, “The Parading Palette”) to "Mrs. Crossin" (a public school visual arts teacher) as the impetus of my first 2 art shares. I created the artwork from a broken wooden pallet, reflecting my adaptation into my new role. The remaining pieces evolved after reading Danny Gregory’s “Art Before Breakfast.” In his book, Gregory talks about creating “art” with a small “a,” which inspired me to adapt my busy schedule to find more time to create and journal.
Dawn Shoneman
In response to the theme, adaptation, I chose to explore portraits through a variety of mediums and techniques. This collection of artwork focuses on how people adapt in the form of camouflage. At times, we want to blend in and try not to be seen. At times, we lose ourselves in what we do or what is happening in the world. At times, we find ourselves being transformed by the important people surrounding us. Adaptation, in all forms, allows us to grow.
Peter Glenn
I chose to utilize this year's Adaptive theme as a way to expand and repurpose materials found around my classroom and home studio. While teaching remotely (and in a hybrid format over the past two years), there were lots of opportunities to work with found objects, up-cycled objects, and materials that could be gathered around the home. Even though we are back in the building, I wanted to continue the idea of reuse and recycling. The miniatures are made from foam core and presentation board cutoffs, and all drawings and paintings were created with "scrap" paper and the tail end of crayons, conte, and charcoal. Over the course of the year, I have shifted to prefer painting on used canvas, allowing the old tones and textures to show through.
Becky Burgoyne
The last two years have brought a lot of change. As I explored fiber arts last year, I found knitting to be a very meditative and relaxing way to still be a maker/creator while constantly adjusting to life's curveballs. This year adapted my practice to include crochet and Tunisian crochet.