Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program

Tag: Birds

  • Utah Birds and Ecosystems

    This Fall, 2019 the Artsbridge Honors course at Weber State University will design and co-create a new faux-stained glass installation called Utah Birds & Ecosystems. This is a course designed for Weber State University students to work closely with professors and BTSALP Visual Arts Specialist, Brent Rhodes, and his 4th graders at James Madison Elementary. Through this collaboration students design and build a hanging installation that depicts the birds and ecosystems found in Utah. This aligns with the 4th grade Utah State Science Standards. All of the Weber State students and 4th Graders will visit the Ogden Nature Center to gather field research on Utah’s birds and ecosystems. They will work closely with local artists to inform and develop their artistic process. Throughout the semester, students will also engage in pen-pal writing prompts, strengthen their knowledge in the elements of art and explore a variety of art techniques.

    This display will be permanently hung at James Madison Elementary School and is facilitated by Tamara Goldbogen, Erinne Roundy, and Brent Rhodes. This project is a partnership between the Weber State University Arts Learning Collaborative, the Ogden Nature Center, and the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program.

    Mark your calendar: The semester and course will culminate in an unveiling of the Utah Birds & Ecosystems faux-stained glass installation and a short documentary on the creative process on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 from 5:00-6:30pm at James Madison Elementary School in Ogden Utah. This event is open to the public and all are welcome to celebrate the hard work and success of both students and faculty.

  • Out With the Old and In with the New

    Beacon Heights Elementary School in the Salt Lake City School District has a giant open area atrium right in the front foyer. Many years ago the students at Beacon Heights constructed a huge hanging mobile to fill the space and welcome visitors to their school Well that was then . . . and this is now and there’s a new installation in town! Each student at Beacon Heights studied a different type of bird and created pieces of art depicting that bird. These birds became part of the new exhibit in the foyer of Beacon Heights. You might say this art piece is “for the birds!”

    Laurie Shea, BTSALP Visual Art Specialist at Beacon Heights was responsible for the project which included beaded and feathered whimsical birds, robotic birds and realistic looking birds of prey.

  • Update: Birds, Birds, Birds

    Just bringing you an update from one of our BTSALP long term projects! This project is “in the works” so keep checking back to see the progress.

    Laurie Shea, BTSALP Visual Art specialist, is working on a large scale, permanent installation for the open foyer at Beacon Heights Elementary in Salt Lake City.  She started with the sixth grade and the paper mache Birds of Prey.  She is now working with the lower grades. Each grade level is creating a different type of bird that will be hanging as part of the installation.  

    Kindergarten students used Styrofoam balls, pom poms, beads, feathers and glue (Of course they did, it’s SO Kindergarten!) to make whimsical birds that will hang in groups. 

    First graders used air dry clay and feather to create hummingbirds for the installation. 

    Second graders are constructing Common Yard Birds of Utah. They had 6 choices: Magpie, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Stellar Jay, Red-headed Woodpecker or a Western Tanger. These are made with thin craft foam and painted details. When they are assembled they have a 3D appearance. Look closely, that’s Laurie holding an assembled Cardinal.  

    Third grade is also working on Common Yard Birds but their projects are smaller Common Yard Birds such as Finches, Blue Birds and Chickadees.  

    Wild, Wacky, whimsical Wetland Birds are the fourth grade’s contribution.  The birds start with empty water bottles and details and paint are added as the birds develop.  Laurie again, on the left, measuring wing construction from a section of a cardboard box that will be added to the painted body. 

    Sixth grade Bird of Prey just hanging around waiting for his wings!  The fifth grade’s Robot-Doodle-Bot Quails are still in the “incubation stage.” Stay tuned!