Artistic Film

Last weekend, I was privileged to see the new movie, "The Bee Movie". I understand that most of you would not consider this an "artistic film", but I am a great fan of animation. The new computer animation that has become the most recent version is amazing! The colors are so bold and intense. There are many views that are so 3-D that you almost believe that you are there. The point of view-wow. When the "pollen jocks" fly from the comb in order to collect pollen, it is as if you are right on their shoulders. You fly in and out, up and down, past people, under signs, trees, cars until you finally reach a flower in which you collect the pollen, which each piece is almost half the size of the bee. I love animation, for my whole life it has impressed me. To be able to draw enough pictures to sense the movement is a feat. The computer animation brings a whole new life to the old art.

Ohillco Art Show

The Ohillco Art Show takes place during the Coal Festival in Wellston. It was held at the old train depot in the middle of town. The show was small, but mighty. Most of the people who submitted art were from that area, so it is great to see your neighbor's talent!! The show included paintings--oil, watercolor, and pastel-sketches-pencil and ink, photographs-both color and black and white, crafts, woodworking, and individual dioramas (cool!!) . The Best of Show went to a vibrant Picasso-ish painting--not really my style. I am more of a realist-but to each his own. My son enjoyed the pig painting--I will post a picture. I myself enjoyed the sketches and photographs. My son is a big fan of anything military--the diorama was his absolute fave! I was surprised to see the 9 year olds entries---Pictures on the blog---What do you think?

Tecumseh

I experienced the live drama Tecumseh! during its 35th anniversary year. It is performed at the Sugarloaf Mountain ampitheatre near Chillicothe, Ohio. The playwright, Allan W. Eckert, is a 7 time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Emmy Award winner.My initial reaction was overwhelming. The 3 hour drama does an amazing job at holding your attention. There were wyoundg children in the audience who were just as enthrawled as I was, including my son! Act one begins with Tecumseh's first battle as his older brother ambushes Simon Kenton's party. Although many people on both side were killed, after Kenton's retreat, Tecumseh demonstrates his valor by refusing to torture the leftover "white man". As the play moves on, it very well explains the positions of both the Indian and the white man. The different sevtions go back and forth between the Kenton's group and the various Indian tribes as Tecumseh attempts to unite them against the colonists. This provides the audience with foreshadowing into the future scenes.The setting of the outdoor ampitheatre at Sugarloaf Mountain really adds to the drama. The amitheatre is surrounded gy a forest, which provides adequate coverage and realistic scenes. There is also part of the Scioto River which depicts their use and travel on the river. As for characters, the actors and actresses were very convincing. Tecumseh and Simon Kenton play the protagonist and the antagonist with great repect for one another. Everything that occurs in the drama is extremely close to life. The horses that were used by the Indians were well trained, considering the gunfire and cannon fire being used during the battle scenes. The forest that runs alonside the seats conceals movement, so when it was the colonists turn to ambush the Indians--BAM! with no warning, cannons right beside of you were shooting!Thes lighting played an important role in the emotions provoked in the drama. It directed the audienc's focal point, sometimes drawing them away from one area to prepare for the next scene. The plot of the story left me feelling unsettled about American history. Knowing America's unclean history only reiterated throughout this drama. I felt guilty about the actions of our ancestors. In conclusion, I was completely floored by the performance and the atmosphere of this theatre production. I will be attending next season's performance as well as researching other outdoor dramas. I was taken in by the reality and the raw emotion displayed by this drama.
Labels: last section of semester
draft

Art Game

I would take postcards with several different examples of art, including sculpture, architecture, visual art, and literature. I would create a game board with different vocabulary from each area such as elements of fine arts listed in the quick list handout for paintings: line, color shape, space, texture, perspective, focal point, content, and dynamic. Sculpture: line, color shape, space, texture,and size.Architecture: Line, space, scale, rhythm, funtion, structure. Literature: language, structure, setting, characters, plot, imagery, poetry, prose, and theme. The postcard images would be of visual art, while there will be written examples of the literature vocabulary. The students will be divided into groups of 4. The cards all mixed together and drawn from a stack. Some cards will require drawing, some will require identification, and some will require the reading of a specific passage from literature. The students must identify which vocabulary word on the game board matches the drawn card. The cards that will require drawing may include a clue such as specific elements such as a curved line. If the team correctly matches the corresponding card to the word on the board their team receives a point. Music, film and theater could also be added as the students understand the game and be asked to identify certain aspects of each.

Experience with theatre

My experience with theatre has been mostly movies. I have seen few live performances, mostly with the school. I tend to lean toward true stories or based on true stories. I feel that these give me insight into different people's lives. I find myself stepping into someone else's shoes. I always take more away from these movies than entertainment. I feel that I have been lucky enough to have a peek into another life, and this gives me the perspective and empathy that I need to work with student's from different backgrounds. It reminds me that everyone comes from somplace different.!!

Quiz week 7

1. The Columbus CHildren's THeatre visited our school and did a play about the Wright Brothers. There were only 2 actors and 2 actresses, but they did a great job. They had a portable background that suited every scene. They had many props with which to portray the brothers, sister and mother. It was actually very interesting and got K-5 interested in the Wright Brothers as people, not just history. I believe that this is a very important way to get children involved in their education.
2. THe Lion King is one Broadway show I would love to see!!
3. The functions of theatre are not only entertainment. THey also can be informative, persuasive and inspirational.
4. Any art form can produce a change in politics or society. Theater holds an advantage because it is so accessable to the public. "Pay It Forward" was a movie that really made me have a new perspective on life. There are several recent releases that are based on true stories, such as the Gridiron Gang, these stories are truely based on what people are made of and how they can change.

Favorite monologue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFof9AD2YlE
Good Will Hunting is one of my favorite movies. I really enjoy this monologue from Robin Williams to Matt Damon--it sums up life. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.