Hands On Art

About Hands On Art

All students at Madison School take part in the South Bay Hands On Art program, thanks to the sponsorship of Madison PTA.  The aims of South Bay Hands On Art are:

• To encourage the child's creative and mental growth through meaningful Art experiences in a non-judgmental environment.
• To develop the child's visual perception and awareness.
• To make the community resources in the arts more available to children

Students carry out six art projects throughout the school year.  All projects are linked by a common theme.  Sessions are led by "docents", who are all parent volunteers.  (See below for more information about docent responsibilities.)

The theme for 2007-2008 is Express Yourself.

For more information about this program, please visit the South Bay Hands On Art website.

Projects

The six projects for the 2007-2008 school year are:

PETER TO THE MAX Oct 2007 Inspired by Peter Max's bold colors and design, students use neon tempera paints to create pop art posters or album covers.	RED POPPIES Nov 2007 Students learn the basics of watercolors as they paint red poppies in the style of German expressionist painter, Emil Nolde.	CALDER'S KINETICS Jan/Feb 2008 Using American Sculptor Alexander Calder's artistry between symmetry and balance, mechanics and nature, students will assemble their own mobiles using wire, metal tape and acrylic paint.
THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT Feb/Mar 2008 Based on David Hockney's photo composites, this project combines the use of watercolors and photographs in a unique self-portrait.	WORDS AND IMAGES Apr 2008 In this mixed media exploration of the connection between words and images in art, students use bright paints, colored pencils, newspapers and their imaginations to create their own "visual poems".  Inspired by the art of California commercial artist, Fred Babb.	TINWORK TILES May 2008 Students learn a traditional Mexican folk art style as they create textured designs on tin, add color with permanent markers and finish it off with beads and wire.

The project schedule will be announced soon.

Docents and Assistants

Docents are parent volunteers who attend training workshops for each project and then lead the project in the classroom.  Besides demonstrating the project techniques, they use books, pictures and music to provide background information about the project and enhance the children's art experience.  Assistants are also parent volunteers and they aid the docents in the classroom, helping them to set up and carry out the projects. 

Docents MUST attend the monthly workshops before leading the projects.  The workshops take place at the Knob Hill Community Center and are also attended by several other local schools.  Brunch is provided for the docents.  (Every school takes turns in providing the brunch.)  Each workshop is led by the artist who created the project and the project is presented step-by-step, with lots of tips on how to teach it at particular grade levels.  The workshops are a very lively and social experience and are a chance to learn new techniques, exchange ideas and see some beautiful works of art!

Projects should be completed in class within a month of the workshop, before the next workshop takes place.

You do not have a be a "great artist" to be a Hands On Art docent or assistant - all you need is curiosity and enthusiasm! 
And STUDENTS LOVE HANDS ON ART - one of the most rewarding aspects of being a docent or assistant is the students' appreciation for this program, from the way their faces light up when you wheel the Art Cart into their classroom to their sense of pride when they complete a project! 

If you would like to be involved in Hands On Art in your child's classroom, or would like more information about the program, please contact Joanne Wedhoff at jwedhoff@rbusd.org or Jackie Romano at bondiofab@verizon.net.

Docent Training Workshop Dates

Docent training takes place once a month on a Thursday morning from roughly 9:00am to noon at the Knob Hill Community Center, 320 Knob Hill Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277.  Workshop dates for Madison docents for the 2007-2008 school year will be announced shortly.

PETER TO THE MAX: September 27, 2007
RED POPPIES: November 8, 2007
CALDER'S KINETICS: January 17, 2008
THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT: February 14, 2008
WORDS AND IMAGES: March 27, 2008 (*WE SUPPLY BRUNCH AT TODAY'S WORKSHOP!*)
TINWORK TILES: May 8, 2008