Stained Glass Class

Here are a few visual samples of my sculpture class and their up and coming work! Stained Glass is the simplest process to bring to beginning high school students because its cold connection. The next simplest would be warm glass which is fusing and slumping in a kiln.

I hope to bring warm glass to my school in the next few years. I'm afraid teaching any kind of hot glass is still too far in the future since it requires quite a few costly facilities. But this is a great start! In fact, stained glass is often called the gateway drug into working with glass as an art material.

Beginning star light fixture by Jen Beginning of a glass soccer ball-inspired light fixture by Matt Beginning Rocketship light fixture by Rammy Beginning of a boat by Wally

-Ciao Amarettogirl

New Music Find & A Day in My Life

Water and Weed Wednesday was a washout today because of our cold front, gray clouds and perpetual rain.

I've finally determined the perfect spot to build the coop on and can't wait to show the space, but I'll do that on a clear day.

While over at my friend Sal's blog LOVE QUIRKY I discovered some new music. I have picky music tastes so when I find music I like its always love a good thing, but to top it off, the video that acccompanies the song is visually stunning! It was done in a cool bluish palette with dark somber and simple forms that are just beautiful. There are some art historical references in it too, like a Dutch master-inspired still life.

Though the video is a bit conceptual, I still think it's really sequential and fascinating all the while. My favorite visuals are the german shepherd and the floating house slowly eroding and decomposing. I hope you all enjoy it as much as Sal and I did!

The song is called "What else is there?" by Royksopp featuring Karin Dreijer Andersson of 'The Knife' an electro pop duo from Sweden (thanks Sal!)

Oh BTW, click off that ad on the bottom right as soon as the video starts so that it doesn't distract your experience!

A Day in My Life

On my long, traffic-filled drive home from work today, I realized my days may seem average and 'normal' to me, but really are a bit out of the oridinary to others.

And since I have yet to start tweeting, I thought I might share a 5 point bullet synopsis of my day with you all.

a soldering gun

• met with my personal advisees and discussed their concerns which at this moment are prom and dj related

• downloaded the murder mystery game materials for the senior student workshop/selective I'm teaching/hosting next week- got the sign up sheet and began assigning character roles to each student

• Taught sculpture class and assisted my students to cut glass, wrap copper tape and solder with smokin'hot soldering guns. I did this all while keeping them excited despite the lack-of-instant-gratification they're experiencing (unlike the rest of their lives). They're making three-dimensional cold-connection, Stained glass sculptures.

• have a one hour lunch meeting (not usual) with a prospective new administrative leader asking pertinent and viable questions about arts and, in and with education

• teach a graphic design course in which I introduce the interior design catalog project and motivate students to finish their business card assignment

Sunday Musings- Project Ourway was an Arts Success!!

Today I went to the Azucarera gallery to retrieve my artwork. Now I have to photograph it, then I will parcel the sold pieces out to their respective buyers. So sad to see the loved ones go...
However, I maintain copyright so I'll have digital reproductions of the original art available in smaller and more affordable scale here on the website!

Last night my students exhibited a wonderful artstravaganza, a phenomenal Project Ourway!

project Ourway banner by Isabella Whitney & Hadar Naftalovich The What is Art wall with Balloon collage by artist Hanna Lefcourt

The event was such a wonderful mix of all forms of art; music, animation, performance, design, fashion and expression it was exhilarating! One of my favorite parts was the interactive 'what is art' wall at the entrance of the event. I really like the balloon by my design student Hanna also!

To think this is a student driven,designed, created event is just so impressive there are no words for it!

I've included some pen drawings by artist James Griffiths - click this thumbnail to see the full image.

I read a poem from the Nuyorican Poets cafe and my hub performed in one of the short one-act plays along with the students.

Here are some more pics of the night and a video of the show's finale - a fashion show

wall of student artwall of student art 2 students singing at Project Ourway 2010 Isabella Whitney doing a poetry reading

young UP and Coming Fashion Designer, AK Debuted her line click play to see

I'm still working on the mystery project here is a sneak peek.

Sneek Peek to mystery project by me!

So far only one reader has guessed the correct answer! I think I'll be done by tonight;))

-Ciao Amarettogirl

Project Ourway

The mystery project from the last post is still in the works so check back soon to find out what it is!!
Everybody's guesses were so much fun to read:)

Project Ourway Poster

I happen to be the faculty advisor to a fantastic student club - formally known as Poster Club - as of last year we are now - The Promotional Arts Society and our fearless student leader, Isabella Whitney, was one of last years founders of a new yearly event - Project Ourway.

This year, Project Ourway is this Saturday-tomorrow! Students will:

Do a collaboration of the visual and performing arts, with student artwork on exhibit, stop-motion animation, videos, student-written and student-directed performances, spoken word, and a wearable art show.

I was so blessed to develop the original stop-motion animation curriculum that inspired last years amazing round-up of animations. This year they're still coming strong despite me! Here is a sneek peek to a stop -motion created by one of my hub's art students for this year's Project Ourway- Libby Ward:

So if you're around come enjoy the artstravaganza!

-Ciao Amarettogirl

Emerging Artists who Caught My Eye Part I

Seeing as I haven't been feeling well these days (looks like what I thought was a cold or developing allergies may be turning into my chronic bronchitis again- but I'm still fighting it), the hub thought it would be nice to take a drive up to Connecticut to see the last hour of the senior thesis art exhibit of one of my former students, Lorena Estrella. Lorena is currently a double major (Latin American Studies and Printmaking) and is now the second of my students who took printmaking with me in high school and went on to major in it in college. If that's not good medicine, I don't know what is!

Lorena is about to graduate Wesleyan University. While there I got to see another former student of both my hubs and I, Nikki Long (psych major) and we got to see other artists in the senior thesis show. The two others (along with Lorena's that really caught my eye) are Nicolina Baxter and Eric Bissell. There were others exhibiting, but had I walked into that space in any New York City gallery these three are the ones I would have photographed for you anyway. So here is part I of three post- each is very different so stay tuned.

Lorena Estrella with her senior thesis prints entitled 'ataduras' Lorena's ataduras print photo by m.diazLorena's ataduras print photo by m.diaz Lorena in the printmaking studio displaying her drawerLorena's matrix from one of her prints

Yes, the Giveaway is still going strong (i'm amazed!) and April 4th is almost here!

-ciao Amarettogirl

The National Assoc. of Indep. Schools People of Color Conference

This was my 7th year attending the People of Color Conference and the fifth time I have presented at the conference. Every year the conference is at a different city, I've been to Miami, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans with the conference. Last year we exceeded 3,000 participants since the conference also runs along side of the Student Diversity Leadership conference for highschool students. This year the conference was in Denver Colorado. My presentation was enttled: From Hottentot to Barbie: Dismantling the beauty Standard for Girls of Color. Powerpoint Title Screen by M.Diaz>

The presentation was on the following:

In an attempt to teach wholeness, inner strength, and fortitude, we must ask: How do young women of color internalize the beauty standard of our society? This presentation will demystify the roots and contradictions that affect the self-esteem of young women of color. Partcipants will look at the historical roots and transforming standards of body image, cosmetics, and beauty via power point. They will also see a short movie of young women of coor dissecting the role of self-esteem at their schools and in their lives. This presentation is meant to encourage educators to use new forms of teaching that include character development and interdisciplinary activities. We will seek to empower educators to broaden, the very standards by which we instruct and dissemniate knowledge in and outside the classroom.