On Saturday, September 9th, the IC Imagine Fine Arts Department hosted the 8th Annual Fine Arts 5k and Fun Run! It was a beautiful morning with 152 runners joining us. There was a tie-dye booth, where runners could tie-dye their race shirts, face painting, and more! Congratulations to all our runners!
In the Music World….
Lower School Music:
Hello, Families! I am Ms. Cummings, the LS music teacher. As a new year begins, I would like to tell you about the LS music program which is centered on the Orff-Schulwerk approach to music and movement education. Orff-Schulwerk is a style of music and movement education developed by composer Carl Orff. The Orff approach begins with what is natural: the body, the voice, and the child’s world of play. A musical experience may start with moving the body, saying a rhyme, or playing a singing game. These playful explorations spark curiosity. Then, through imitation, we build musical skills. A chant may become a rhythm on a percussion instrument. A song may expand into an instrumental ensemble with different rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic parts. Children expand on the musical ideas we explore by composing, improvising, and choreographing their own music and movement. The emphasis on student-created music and movement distinguishes an Orff music classroom. The simplicity of the media used (the body, the voice, and developmentally appropriate instruments), allows children to create and perform music that is rich in complexity and artistic integrity. The special xylophones which can be played in various pentatonic and diatonic keys offer a beautiful sound immediately and are easily accessible. The Orff approach helps children build musicianship while fostering creativity and collaboration.
Band:
We are able to foster 6 full functioning ensembles this year including two jazz bands. We are very excited about what this year will bring. The focus for our 3 ensembles the past few weeks has been preparing for the Fine Arts 5k and for our first fall concert on Sept. 21st! In beginning band, students are learning the fundamental steps for achieving a good sound, playing notes and simple rhythms, and building good fundamental habits of band! With the addition of a middle school jazz band this year, we have the opportunity to introduce the forms of jazz, swing, and rock earlier than usual with the students. They have enjoyed learning new rhythms, scales and music that this genre encircles. Overall we are off to a great start!
Chorus:
The IC Imagine Choral Department kicked off their performance season by performing “The National Anthem” at the Fine Arts 5k. 72 students came together to lift their voices in three part harmony. On Thursday, September 14th, the choruses presented their first concert of the year on the new stage. The concert featured a theme of Night versus Day music, each song featuring either a nighttime theme or daytime theme.
In the Visual Arts World….
We’re excited to welcome Hudson Georges to our Fine Arts Faculty this school year! Hudson has over 20 years of experience in education, coaching track and field, and teaching art. He recently moved to Asheville from NY and is excited to join our school community.
We started off the year exploring the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Students are working on developing their creative and artistic skills while getting more comfortable expressing themselves through their works of art. They have begun to create their artistic identity through designing their name, completing an Eye Self Portrait, learning about 1-point perspective, and following their artistic intuition. The students are working hard and their works of art are inspirational and impressive. Enjoy just a few samples from our class time together. I look forward to working with my students throughout the year and watching them grow as artists.
Digital Photography 1: Classes had their first photo shoot of the school year! We worked on looking for directional lines. Check out some of the work!
They are finishing up their first studio shoot based on the photography of Edward Weston. So you will see some of those beautiful photos in the future.
Digital Art: is learning how to use Boxy svg and how to recreate an apple as a vector drawing. Look for some of those results in future newsletters.
Ceramics: Busy finishing their tea bowls and preparing them for the first firing!!
Ceramics 2: is working on their wheel skills and getting their ideas ready for the first big project- Themed Teapots with 4 tea cups. A combination of hand building and wheel throwing skills.
While you're at the fair take some time to look at the exhibits! In the Youth Photography groups, we have 3 students who have work on display. Gabriel Maclean, Aubrey White, and Holland Rinalldi.
Meanwhile… in Middle School Art we have just finished our first project where students learned some book binding skills. First, we made matchbook sketchbooks so that we could learn the process and then students were asked to create a piece of art using all of the techniques that we had gained. Below are two of the works that stood out:
Additionally, Independent Study students have begun some public art projects around our campus. Bella Robinson has created a mural which will begin to go up in the green stairwell next week (See below). Emily Gaines has also created an interactive play space design which she and Kennedy Howard have begun to paint on the blacktop by the picnic tables.
Lower School Art
