We’re excited that Spike 150, the Governor’s Commission for the Transcontinental Railroad 150th Celebration, has chosen the BTSALP to collaborate on a Graphic Novel project.
Spike 150 is sponsoring a state-wide arts integration event in which seven BTS teams (4th grade teachers, BTS specialist) and with the help and guidance of a professional cartoonist, will guide their students through the creation of classroom graphic novels. Each of these graphic novels will tell a self-contained story.
Upon their completion, all seven of these stories will be collected into an e-book anthology. This e-book will be made available on the Golden Spike and BTSALP Website for people around the world.
It’s time to celebrate – the arts in Utah and the Winter Olympic games. See BTSALP students perform Hamilton: The Making of a Patriot at the Utah State Capitol during Arts Day on the Hill. Do you know what an armature is? Fourth Grade students at South Summit Elementary School do! Learn all about their artistic process and check out their sculptures depicting Olympic sports. Read all this and more in the current newsletter.
Click here to see videos on our Facebook page of Summit Academy Bluffdale’s performance of Hamilton: The Making of a Patriot.
Arts Day on the Hill
The 2018 Utah Legislative session is up and running and so far the support for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program is incredible. February 5th was the annual Arts Day on the Hill where Utah arts advocates met with legislators at the state capitol to share all the amazing arts programming around the state. Performance and Visual Arts added to the day that was all about ART!
Alexander Hamilton
The Making of a Patriot
A Musical Play Written by Stephanie Skolmoski
Performed by 5th and 6th grade students from Summit Academy Bluffdale
Directed by BTSALP Drama Specialist Trisha Bowen
American History is part of the fifth grade curriculum. Lin-Manuel Miranda has created quite an interest throughout America with his musical Hamilton. How wonderful it is to stir up a desire to learn more about the history of America. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s unique style – using hip-hop and rapping – in a setting of over 200 years ago has truly made history come alive and appeal to all ages.
During this performance, we can see a glimpse of Hamilton’s life – how it began and the legacy he left, the world he lived in and the groundwork that he helped create for this new nation. The students were able to perform the main song for Speaker of the House, Greg Hughes, in his office at the capitol.
This original musical was written by Stephanie Skolmoski so grade school students can learn more about Alexander Hamilton and the history he was apart of. No single historical figure was perfect, but the foundations that they helped lay for us, today, are remarkable.
The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea & Athletic Postures
in the style of Alberto Giacometti
BTSALP Visual Art Specialist: Kathleen Briley
Proportions:
Using prompts and games such as Simon Says, students figure out body proportions and measurements
Stick figure drawing using folded paper for proportion was the next step followed by gesture drawing
Three students at a time “modeled” athletic poses for their classmates to sketch
Redraw:
Using their sketches, students redraw their gesture drawings to use as templates for Olympic wire armatures. 6 feet of 12 gauge aluminum sculpture wire is needed for each armature.
“Hey, we made wire armature sculptures today!” For homework, students took their redraws home and explained the process to their parents. Parents signed off after a successful explanation.
Taping:
Wrapping the armatures in masking tape was the next step
After the tape was applied each student chose a sport to portray (not all sports chosen were Winter Olympic sports)
Students modeled for each other as body parts were bent into position
Painting:
Stucco was applied to the base of the sculptures
Then each figure was spray painted black and finished off with a metallic tone on top
In the BTSALP world, Spring means showcasing student work at Art Nights, Musical Informances and Dance concerts. Click here to join us in celebrating another great year of the BTSALP!
The Utah legislative session is in full swing and BTSALP advocates are out in full force showing their LOVE for Arts Integration in Utah’s elementary schools. Read more about BTSALP’s advocacy efforts in our latest newsletter.
The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program is divided into seven regions under the direction of a college or university in Utah. This month’s newsletter spotlights the new visiting professor at Westminster College as well as schools located in this region. Click here and take a look at the wonderful things happening in these art spaces.
Third grade Dual Immersion students at South Summit Elementary School in Kamas, Utah, under the direction of Visual Art Specialist Kathleen Briley, celebrated their diverse community through food, music and art. Their dia de los Muertos celebration created memories that will take a long time to fade. Read all about this unique and inspiring celebration as well as other ongoing art projects in this week’s newsletter. Click here to view.
