2020 - 2021:
In an effort to align with the district’s goal of implementing Social Emotional Learning instructional techniques for both students and staff, the Visual Art Staff of WPS focused on wellness in their artistic practice for the 2020-21 school year. Artists created work with an emphasis on self care and continued experimentation with art making. Each class focused on critiques, open dialogue about diverse techniques, approaches, and methods that connect and convey a shared theme.
Emma Ballachino
My work this year focused on expressing much of the inner struggle and stress brought on by a pandemic year through expressive sculptures and drawing. I experimented with a range of media from ceramic sculptures, collage, papier mache, and graphite drawing with photo transfer. Art Share has served as motivation to keep up with my personal art practice in a year where safety logistics and health concerns overwhelmed much of life.
Carolyn McGrath
Although not a cohesive body of work, the art I made this year is a collection of both 2D and 3D pieces created from the struggles within as a result of life’s upheaval and uncertainty during the pandemic. I explored new 2D techniques such as combining and layering hand written song lyrics with printed images, and experimented with 3D found object assemblages. The processes brought me much needed solace.
Dawn Kahle Shoneman
In a year without any sense of control, I explored various methods of abstract acrylic paint pouring and learned how to release control in my artwork as well. It was freeing and frustrating, as well as, therapeutic. In the end, this collection revealed a multitude of surprise moments of beauty, just because I simply allowed things to happen.
“Be fluid. Be like water. Flow around obstacles.” - Master Choa Kok Sui
“Be fluid. Be like water. Flow around obstacles.” - Master Choa Kok Sui
Jackie O'Rourke
This year I focused on adapting wellness into my artwork by incorporating a a new art technique called nuerographics. My colleague Dawn Shoneman, discovered this form of art and shared the concept with me. I was instantly attracted by the unique organic lines and vivid blending of colors. Nuerographics were developed and formalized by Russian psychologist Pavel Piskarev in 2014. Neurographic art is a way to allow a person to transform one's stress into something calm by drawing freeform lines and then later using a specific algorithm to transform the stress into a beautiful work of art. I focused on abstract images and of course integrating neurographics into my animal paintings.
Ellie Mannherz
For this year's art share, I decided to work with the subjects and mediums that truly make me happy. These works helped to take my mind off the uncertainty of such a unique school year. I enjoyed experimenting with bleeding tissue paper, watercolor, tempera paint, and clay. Although there is no connection between the works, each one brought me joy and a moment to be mindful.
Peter Glenn
For Art Share 2020/2021, I wanted to create a body of work inspired by early art memories. I wanted to re-explore childhood mediums, and create a body of work strictly for art's sake, enjoyment, and exploration. I chose to work in crayon and large sticks of graphite on oversized paper- later using collage elements and pop-up style book art. The challenge turned into: "How far can I push simple mediums and materials?" The familiar smell of the wax and the texture of the oversized newsprint created a really pleasant, nostalgic experience. I also may or may not have had a surplus of old crayons...
Becky BurgoyneFor the 2020-2021 school year, I continued my focus on textiles. I have found that I am better able to focus if I my hands are busy. Knitting needles are my fidget tools. It has been incredibly helpful during this challenging year to have somewhere to focus the anxious energy that came with every new change and challenge that we were faced with over the year.
For this Art Share my concentration has been found object sculpture. The sculptures for this body of work are comprised of found items from my personal collection that I have amassed throughout my lifetime. Each piece has a story. I chose items that I felt I could use to recreate the human form. As I created and assembled these found object sculptures, the figures have taken on the role of portraits with distinct personalities.
Amy CrossinEven though I was only able to join for 2 sessions, I am so thankful to have been a very small part of Art Share this year! During a year when I was not able to be with some of the people that mean the most to me, I wanted my art to connect us when we could not be together. Each piece was given as gifts, to show how much I love and value our relationships.
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