The Arts

Outdoor Art
1/2 credit Art Elective

Students explore the world of creating outdoor art using found and natural materials. Some work is individual, some collaborative. Indoor projects when weather demands involve creating work from natural materials and subjects.

Watercolor
1/2 credit Art elective

This course offers students a chance to practice and learn a variety of techniques used in both realistic and abstract watercolor. We start with exploring materials and tools, and experiment with color and study color theory. Next we look at the basics of composition then go on to try out wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, dry-on-dry techniques. We try sponging, splattering, stippling, masking and opaque applications. We challenge ourselves and each other in constructive critiques, make lots of mistakes, hopefully some satisfying/ beautiful work and see how the spirit moves us in the creative process. Students are expected to complete a minimum of six paintings to exhibit at the end of the term.

Fiber Arts
1/2 credit Art Elective

This course provides an opportunity to explore several basic types of fiber arts, including simple cordage, a variety of types of hand-sewing (including mending, embroidery, quilting, drawn thread work) hand spinning, knitting, crocheting and possibly basic weaving. Students learn the basics of wool preparation and have a chance to try spinning on a wheel. Each student is expected to complete class exercises and a minimum of five finished pieces in his or her choice of techniques/materials. Students participate in the constructive critiquing of each other's work. Documentation, including sketches, photos, and descriptions are part of the process. Design and execution are important.

Ceramics
1/2 credit Art elective

This course introduces students to hand building and throwing clay on a wheel. Students also gain experience with glazing and firing their work.

Basic Drawing
1/2 credit Art elective

This course will offer students a chance to learn or improve their drawing skills through a variety of methods and approaches. We will use the techniques developed by Betty Edwards in Drawing on The Right Side of the Brain as well as traditional and expressive exercises, perhaps even some that we design ourselves. We will draw outdoors as weather permits, draw farm-related subjects, still life and the figure. We will also explore how the spirit moves us in the creative process.

Calligraphy
1/2 credit Art elective

This class explores a whole range of ways to make lettering art and fun. Beginning with a basic italic style, we practice relaxing and meditating, while drawing beautiful words, then experiment with other styles and methods, using pens, brushes, sticks, feathers and who knows what else. We try decoration and illumination (fancy, complicated capitols), different kinds of layout and papers, colors, textures, maybe even some carving. Each student creates a minimum of 4 finished pieces.

Masks & Puppets – Arts for Social Change
1/2 credit Art or Social Studies elective

Inspired by Vermont’s Bread & Puppet Theater and other resources, this course combines creative, hands-on mask and puppet making and performance with an exploration of various social change topics, determined by members of the class. Using everything from paper bags and socks to larger-than-life constructions (made mostly of found and free materials), we aim to create simple, short performance pieces that are both fun and provocative.

Each student proposes a minimum of 4 pieces, 2 in the first half of the term, 2 in the second. As a group we choose at least one piece a week to produce and present. Students who choose to take this course for a social studies elective researches and writes at least one 5 page paper on a topic chosen with the teacher, related to one of their 4 pieces. Students taking the course as an art elective take the lead on planning and producing at least two of the pieces presented, one in each term (see details in syllabus). All students in class take the lead on at least one piece and be involved in producing and/or performing at least four.

The goal of this course is to give each student an opportunity to learn ways to combine concern for particular social justice issues and effective ways to express that concern and teach others through performance art, specifically using masks and puppets of their own creation. We perform, critique and fine tune our pieces here in the school community and in the Jaffrey/Rindge broader community as well. We document and promote our work through photos, press releases and possibly videos.