Art Beyond Sight

Ever wonder how blind kids make and share art?  4th grade students at Alimacani had an unusual experience - creating art while blindfolded to experience how it might feel to make and share their art with no or low vision. 

My objective was for students to learn about how people with low/no vision create a portrait using materials that blind art students might use. Using their background knowledge from observing their own image in a reflection, they created that image using these unusual or unconventional art supplies. They were actively engaged in the process of creating, interpreting and responding to art.

My secondary objective was for my students to learn about and to honor others in worlds in which we live, this time in a world of darkness experienced by people who are blind. As an unexpected outcome, students acquired empathy and experienced a sensitivity to the ideas of others. 

Here's a video that gives my students background knowledge to create art while blindfolded.

Origami Collage: Japanese Culture, Math & Art Come Together

Origami (折り紙, Japanese pronunciation: [oɾiɡami] or [oɾiꜜɡami], from ori meaning "folding", and kami meaning "paper" (kami changes to gami due to rendaku)) is the art of paper folding, which is often associated with Japanese culture.

4th grade students at Alimacani practice math and learn about Japanese culture by creating origami then creating a radial balance collage.  

Art & Math: Alimacani Students Make Art Out Of Fractions

Alimacani art students learn about math in art class as they create a radial symmetrical collages using fractions of two geometric shapes. They were instructed to use whole, halves, and quarters of circles and squares.  

Watch this instructional video to see how they did it!

Thanks to Donors Choose: Hooray! A BIG New Screen!

Much thanks to the many wonderful donors who supported the Alimacani art program by contributing to the purchase of our new, big screen.  Now students who sit in the back of the room can see all my demonstrations and instructional presentations with ease.  Now, "My Students Dont Need Binoculars to See the Screen!"