Rochambeau Middle School

Students have art every day for one quarter in 6^th and 7^th grades. Students are asked to think critically about art by responding to examples from art history, considering art within a cultural context, and their understandings of the purposes of art. Students practice media, techniques and processes when creating their own art projects. Students formally critique their work and the work of others looking for aesthetic merit, craftsmanship, and personal meaning. Exemplary work is presented to the community at the Region 15 Annual Art Gallery in April.

 Sixth grade art students work through concepts tied to the creation and use of symbols in art. They practice working through a thoughtful creative process, organizing their ideas and materials while making projects. Students look to art history and global cultural traditions to explore varied purposes for art making while applying concepts to personally meaningful pieces like tin milagros, patterned portraits, printed mandalas, and clay gargoyles.

Seventh grade art students continue to explore the role of process in creativity. Students work through observational drawing techniques, compositional planning, and abstracting in design. They consider formal elements and principles of design and their role in the communication of meaning while creating organic pastel drawings and clay architectural forms. They experience the photorealistic process of Chuck Close when painting self portraits and are asked to decide whether the process or product is the driving force in contemporary painting.

Art Enrichment meets twice a week during a six day rotation. Students are chosen in the spring from a portfolio submission.  Students who are chosen will work on projects that demand them to refine their craftsmanship and originate ideas that are socially relevant, personally meaningful, or culturally sensitive.