MEMORY QUILTS

by Joan Waites

My last blog post described an elementary school artist-in-residence program I participated in, working with fourth grade classes. After finishing with the fourth grades, I began working with each of the fifth grades. Our assignment was to make a class art quilt, illustrating the students special memories from their time spent at the school.

We began with a planning session, brainstorming ideas and doing rough sketches. Students were asked to pick one larger element to showcase, so it could be seen from a distance. Smaller details or designs were added to the background. For example, several students chose to draw the musical instrument they played in the band, adding musical notes in the background. Other students drew themselves wearing their patrol badge, chose an element representing the school fair, or drew portraits of themselves and their best friend.

Because a sewn quilt was a bit too complex a task to accomplish during our allotted time, (and beyond my capabilities), we assembled the art quilts using painted fabric squares, using the following supplies:

1.     Precut squares of fabric in a neutral color, approximately 8X8 inches, one per student.

2.     Any liquid type of acrylic paint-inexpensive craft acrylic paint works well.

3.     Large piece of patterned background fabric, measured to accommodate as many squares made per class.

4.     Old broom handle, curtain rod or even a varnished and sealed branch to hang the quilt.

5.     Paintbrushes, paper cups for water, paper plates to mix paint, paper towels and plastic trash bags to protect desks. Fabric glue to assemble all parts. For embellishments: black sharpie paint pens, ribbon, buttons, beads or other elements that can be glued on to fabric.

After the paint fully dried, students outlined their paintings using a black Sharpie paint pen. Beads, buttons or other embellishments were glued on top of painted squares. Squares were then glued in rows to the large patterned background fabric. Each square was then framed using strips of ribbon. Mismatched ribbon pieces add a lot of colorful interest! Most of the supplies were donated by parents as well as contributions from the PTA. We used some colorful sheets for the background fabric, and students brought in beads, ribbon etc., from home, keeping our costs down.

A similar project could also be done as a writing exercise, using squares of colored or patterned paper glued to a larger background piece. Have students write a paragraph or two about their fondest school memories, or challenge them to write these in poetic form.

The completed quilts will be hung and displayed first at the fifth grade graduation, then moved for permanent installation in the new school, sharing their memories with many more students in years to come.

www.joanwaites.com

STORYTELLING IN 3-D

by Joan Waites

This week I will complete a five week artist-in-residence program at an area school. The program has involved working with four fourth grade classes on a large wooden display case with objects inside created from recycled materials. Each class was assigned a different season, with the goal of constructing not just a typical seasonal display, but one that is reflective of their experiences in school during their assigned season. These display boxes will be installed in a new school being constructed over the next two years.

Before the first day, I wasn’t exactly sure how I would be able to work with 25-28 children at one time. Each would have to have something to work on, and the project would need to be completed in about a total of five hours time.

I decided to present the project as a “story” each class would tell, using three dimensional objects. When someone looked at the box years from now, what would they learn about this particular class and what memories they created during spring, summer, winter and fall.

We started the first day with a planning session. Each student was given a folder to write down ideas, make a list of materials to bring in, and paper to do a rough sketch or two of what they thought the display should look like. Next, each student had a chance to present their ideas to the class. About two or three similar themes seemed to emerge with each class such as the Halloween parade, the winter music concert, the last day of school, or the spring carnival. After a vote was taken on what theme the class wanted to work with, we proceeded to break up into five groups of about five children each.

I assigned each group a different portion of the display to work on. We had the “background painting group,” “the nature group,” “the structure group,” “the people group,” and “the hanging elements group.” The children were then responsible for dividing up tasks. I met with each group each week until all the separate parts were completed and the display assembled.

This same project could be applied to any number of 3-D storytelling assignments. An original story, a favorite picture book, an event in history or even a poem could be illustrated using found objects and a little paint. Displays could be worked on individually using shoe boxes, or on a larger scale as a group with a larger display case. After the projects are completed, have individual students or groups observe their classmates work and write about the “story” depicted in the display.

It will be hard to say goodbye to these wonderful fourth graders as we complete our work this week, but nice to know their stories will be shared and enjoyed by many in the coming years.

www.joanwaites.com