African Masks

The latest project in Mr. Benham's Art Class had the students researching tribes from the Congo region of Africa.  Each student had to choose one or two different tribes and design their own masks combining characteristics from the original tribal masks and their own imagination. Colors and shapes weren't the only qualities that had to be taken into consideration when creating their own mask.  The students had to also keep in mind what their mask was created for.

Once the students had completed their masks, they were glazed and fired.

The final component of this project was for the students to stand in front of the class and present their mask to their peers.  The students were required to creatively write a 3-5 paragraph paper describing the following:

• What tribes were used as inspiration?
• What characteristics were 'borrowed' for their mask?
• What is their new original mask going to be used for?
• Who is required to wear the mask?

Below are a few examples of the masks that were presented this week:

Book of Idioms

Mr. Benham's 8th grade art students had an amazing opportunity this trimester to

each add a Picture / Page to a sketchbook called, "It's raining Dogs and Cats."  The students

created pictures of several idioms (the literal meaning) using a photo manipulation program.

Along with thousands of artists around the world, each sketchbook created will be

exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the country.

Every Sketchbook is original and unique.  The Title of our sketchbook was chosen so that

the students could create a piece of art based on a "Term" that was learned in their Language Art's class.

After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of

The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view.

28819 artists from 94 countries around the world are participating in this amazing project.  The book created in Mr. Benham's art class will begin it's tour in February, 2011 and will be going through the following cities: Brooklyn, NY - Austin, TX - San Francisco, CA - Portland, ME -Atlanta, GA (April 8-9) - Chicago, IL (july 14-17)  Washington, DC - Winter Park, FL.

Below are a few examples of the pictures from our sketchbook.  

See if you can guess what idioms were used as inspiration.

     

     

To read more about the "Sketchbook Project" go to: http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

Welcome

Welcome to Mr. B's Art Class Blog Page.  

I (Mr. B) have been teaching art for the past 14 years.  My K - 12 Art Education certification is from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and I have a Masters in Education from Marygrove College.   Currently I am an 8th grade art teacher in the Mason City School District.  Mason City Schools are located 20 miles north of Cincinnati, Ohio.  My School currently has approximately 1800 7th & 8th grade students and I am one of 2 art teachers responsible for the 8th grade art program.

Current 8th grade art projects have included:

Book Binding
2D Drawing Projects

Glass Fusing

Computer Graphics

Batiks

Wire Sculpture

Metals

Relief Watercolor Painting

Ceramic African Masks