Last Updated: October 20, 2011
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Enjoy art? Interested in knowing more about a variety of artists? Want to be in the classroom? How does being a hero to your child sound?

Be an Art Appreciation Parent

It’s easy. All research on the artists and projects is done for you. All presentation and project materials are provided.

It’s low time commitment. For each artist, you need only attend one meeting to learn about the featured artist and coordinate with your child’s teacher to arrange a time, about an hour, for you to present. Often several parents share the job to really lighten the commitment. Recruit your friends.

It’s fun. Watch children’s faces glow as they learn about an artist. Enjoy the enthusiasm as they try their hands at a new art adventure.

If you love art and want your child to love art too, then this is a program for you!

Please click this link to view the Art Appreciation 2011-2012 Calendar. This calendar will display the available dates/times for you to give your in-class presentation. Once you, the classroom teacher and other volunteers determine which date(s) are best for you please email us your first and second choices. We will update the online calendar with your designated date/time as well as post a master copy in the Art Appreciation supply closet.

 
Welcome to Murray Avenue Art Appreciation 2011 - 2012

This year we will explore different cultures & artistic styles - World Art


African Textile Art

West African Textile illustration West Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent and includes 16 countries. Despite the wide variety of cultures, there are general similarities in their art. The art of the various geographical regions were largely dictated by the natural resources within their territories and skills were often passed down from one generation to another. West African textiles are decorated with images of everyday life or patterns often unique to a family.
Batik is a resist and dyeing technique used on fabrics to produce one-of-a-kind designs and works of art. Lower grades will create a design on their fabric block using stamps and a liquid resist, while upper grades may stamp or paint the resist design on with a brush. Then students will choose from a variety of colors and dye their fabric.

Volunteer Presentation: Friday, October 14 (9am)

Lesson Plans and Parent Letter

Additional Images pdf file (4 Mb)


Decorative Arts of the Middle East

Ceramic tiles have been used throughout West Asia for architectural enhancement in Turkish and Persian buildings for thousands of years. Motifs include stylized floral and natural elements used to bring the celebrated gardens of the region to indoor spaces.
Students will each paint a small tile with stencils based on traditional designs with brushes and ceramic paint, which will be glazed and fired by professionals to create a small coaster or frame-ready piece.

Volunteer Presentation: Friday, January 20 (9am)

Lesson Slides
(large file -
loads slowly)


Australian Aboriginal Art

Australian Aboriginal people have created art that shows their spiritual and cultural traditions for thousands of years. Traditionally drawn in the sand to teach their young about their customs, beliefs, animals, and their land, the "language" uses symbols, lines, dots and patterns to tell the stories.
Simple in technique yet so full of detail and story, Dot Painting is used to tell the stories of the Australian Aboriginal people. There can be thousands of dots and many symbols all in one painting. The students will use Q-tips and paint (stencils in the younger grades) to tell their own story on paper.

Volunteer Presentation: Friday, March 30 (9am)

Please contact one of the Art Appreciation Chairs below to sign up!
Chrystal Chambers Suzanne Jacoby Naz Hedayat Munroe
P.S. No experience or talent necessary. Love of learning and sharing are key requirements. Program basics are covered here.