In 2010-2011, CCVAP's Studio Art Program operated in 26 schools, reaching over 8,000 students.

Students in PreK through 8th grade attended one art class per week. In addition to making art, they were expected to reflect on their artistic creations—as well as those of their peers—and explain the personal significance of their work. Classroom teachers also attended these weekly sessions and were encouraged to make art alongside their students.

The CCVAP art classes are taught by skilled artist/instructors with advanced degrees in Art Education or Fine Arts. They stimulate “visual thinking” and promote the creative use of art concepts and materials. While hiring decisions are ultimately left up to each school’s principal, the advice of the Creative Classrooms Program Director is important. The CCVAP director is responsible for training the program’s artist/instructors.

Each artist/instructor meets with the school principal at the beginning of the school year to discuss the program's objectives and to arrange for supplies. Throughout the academic year, each school's artist/instructor meets with his artist/instructor peers and the Creative Classrooms Program Director to discuss program challenges, and general art education topics.

The CCVAP curriculum seamlessly integrates literacy and art and requires all students to reflect on their creations through discussion and writing. To see CCVAP’s blog, which is filled with teachers’ lesson plans, examples of student art work and recent postings, click here.

CONNECTING ART AND THE CURRICULUM

As a supplement to the core academic curriculum, the Studio Art Program classes include painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, clay, and collage. The school's teaching artist guides students as they explore various media including watercolor, acrylic and tempera paint, art papers, cloth, clay and wood, in the process discovering their own unique artistic expression.

Studio Art Projects Examples

Sculpture

Students worked on sculpting techniques, mural work and multi- step projects. The art teacher used clay work to teach students about the history of clay: where it comes from, how it is different than mud, and why and how it has been used for thousands of years.

Students studied the Middle Ages and then constructed their own knights. The project emphasized human proportions and movement.

Art in my school is very inspiring. It lets you be free for only one moment with palette and brush. I can express what I feel without speaking. My favorite project was when we made little statues of our friends.

—Sigeles S., Grade 6, Our Lady of Lourdes School

Symmetry

Students learned about symmetry and facial expressions. They each chose a character and decided on an emotion for that character. Then, using two different colors of construction paper, they made a symmetrical face displaying that emotion.

My favorite lesson in Art Class this year was the Mask of Reflection. It really allowed me to express my true feelings without anybody knowing it at all. It was more than art work for me.
—Yasmeen, Grade 8, Immaculate Conception School (151st Street)