Arts

Lower school teaches art appreciation in an imaginative studio environment through hands-on learning experiences. Each student has art once a week. Classes are small - usually consisting of ten to thirteen students at one time. While talent and abilities are recognized and encouraged, achievement is determined by eagerness to participate, diligence in following directions, and creativity in execution of assisted projects.

All students’, kindergarten through fifth grade, explore the elements of art: line, shape, value, color, texture, space and form. The students then create a piece of art illustrating what they have learned using a variety of mediums. Students experience both two and three dimensional projects. Along with exploring each element and medium the student also learns about a new artist and his/her artistic style, history and the significance of their work. All students keep a portfolio and will take artwork home at the end of the school year after the annual art show in the Elementary Hall displaying the work done throughout the year. Art appreciation is explored with a Christian viewpoint in mind and all art work is created in an attempt to glorify God.

Some special projects are done in fourth and fifth grades in conjuntion with the computer lab. Fourth grade is divided into groups. Each group works together to write a story in the classroom, then illustrates through clay animation in art class, and creates a PowerPoint presentation in the computer lab. Fifth grade finds their initials in nature and photographs them and digitally manipulates them in the computer lab. The first six weeks is spent learning different drawing techniques. In an attempt to nurture their drawing skills, each student is required to keep a sketch book consisting of twelve sketches per six weeks.

All students throughout the year have numerous opportunities to get involved in various art competitions on local, state and national levels. Some of our competitions include:

• DAR Poster Contest
• Buckle Up Alabama
• ALFA Farm City Poster Contest
• Ireland Youth Wildlife Art Contest
• National State Fish Contest
• Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Contest
• Alabama Mini Art Works Competition
• ICAF (International Child Art Foundation)
• Junk Art Contest

Other competitions sponsored by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.