Art Programs

Art Docent Program

PTA Art Docent Website Update
The 2009-2010 school year begins the 7th year of the PTA Art Docent Program!
This fantastic program engages students in discussion and learning about design elements, artists, and art history, through experimentation with different artistic styles and mediums.

Last year the Docents focused on Art Through the Ages.  Students learned how art and function merged in different times of history, from ancient cylinder seals to modern abstract art.

This year the Docents will be focusing in on the time period that began with the Industrial Age in the late 19th century, and ushered in the Modern Art of the first half of the 20th century.  Each project will focus on a different aspect of Modern Art, breaking it down into "Isms." 

We are starting with Impressionism, which was notable for moving away from faithful, photograph like paintings, and moving towards depictions of the painters' impressions.

Next we are going to look at Fauvism which took all the sedate calmness of the Impressionists and turned it on it's head with wild, emotional images. (Well, wild for 1905).  From there we move on to the gateway of true modernism, the Bauhaus, which was a group of artists living in this "Build-House," who were beginning to question whether art was just pictures or if it included all the things we make and live with - and thus the seeds for IKEA, Crate & Barrel and all "decorator stores" were planted. Fourth we are moving on to Minimalism - yes, the "Ism" that gave rise to the phrase, "Less is More."  Finally we end the year with the splash and enthusiasm of Pop-Art, especially fun, since it was partially devised as an "anti-ism," and well, much of it was just fun!

If you would like to be a part of this dynamic Art Docent Team please contact Heidi Coffee at coffeeland@comcast.net  or Greta Hardin at greta@hilander.com.  No art experience necessary!

We look forward another exciting year in art!

The Art Docents are: Joi Defoe, Lisa Koontz, Greta Hardin, Krista Fisher, Peter Mattson, Trudy Taylor, Heidi Coffee and Anita Bradner.