Students in PreK(3) through Grade 5 were beaming with pride showing off their fine artwork during last week’s Lower School Art Show. Families and friends roamed the Lower School hallways and Lower Snowdon to peruse the various works and enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate visual art with their children, who were expertly guided by Lower School art instructor Sara McDermott.
Each Lower School student had two to three artworks featured, including watercolor and tempera paintings, mixed media, and sculpture. PreK cherry blossoms, JK Georgia O'Keeffe-inspired flowers, as well as Kindergarten self-portraits adorned the Lower School entrance. First grade artworks included a more detailed view of cherry blossom trees using mixed media, as well as an exploration of texture and color inspired by Jim Dine's heart compositions.
Additional highlights included second grade relief sculptures inspired by Hokusai's famous woodblock print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, third graders' mixed media tribute to Faith Ringgold's Tar Beach, as well as fourth and fifth grade dog and cat portraits inspired by contemporary artists Sophie Gamand and Dean Russo. Fifth graders worked directly from photographs of animals currently at the Edison Municipal Animal Shelter, and explored how artists can also be advocates for a cause. These portraits will be on display once again for an upcoming assembly including a representative of the shelter, honoring the Lower School's year-long service learning project in support of the organization.