Click GST BOCES 
                               

and Gardner Road Elementary School 
visit the
Rockwell Museum of Western Art!

Art is the essence and reflection of the development of civilization. It is through art that we understand the daily life, physical surroundings and realms of ideas of particular cultures throughout history. Artists, like scientists, explore the new frontiers of thought and perception. The Arts ask us to reflect on who we are as individuals and who we are as a society. For a student, the observation and making of art is an invaluable opportunity which can serve as a focal point in the development of writing, thinking and communication skills.                        Gigi Alvare, Director of Education

Gigi stands with Cindy Weakland, Director of Public Programs, in front of the Art Trail "art packs." These Art Packs are part of an interactive self guided tour for children ages 8-13 focusing on works in the collection. Younger children (ages 4-8) also enjoy this activity with an adult's guidance. The art pack contains activities, puzzles and creative challenges, enhancing trips to the museum with families and small groups. 

A school tour begins as Gigi greets Joan Featherman's Fourth Grade Gardner Road students in the lobby. 



Students from Gardner Road offer their observations of "The Enchanted Goat." "It looks like the sky is coming down," exclaims one student. Another senses that the goat is a "sacred animal" or a "spirit the Indians believe in." Perceptive indeed. This painting was, in fact, created by Mario Martinez in 1995, a contemporary American Indian (Yaqui) artist who believes it is tremendously important that the Yaqui histories, traditions and visions be seen and continued. In his view, art by contemporary American Indian artists always challenge and expand the boundaries of what visual art in the United States is and can be. 

Gigi is pictured here in the museum's Education Center holding two old fashioned hobby horses made during Corning's SPARKLE celebration with colorful paper, scissors, glue and "a real stick from the enchanted forest." The Education Center is used for various workshops, classes and other fun and enriching events.

For more information about school tours, please 
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Gigi Alvare's Life as an Artist!

Not surprisingly, many arts administrators, teachers, curators and docents work where they do because they love art. Some of these also make art. Gigi Alvare is one such person. You may have already seen her work along the highway! This is because Gigi was one of the few selected to be a 2002 Billboard Artist. Below is the painting that was chosen to beautify the roadside in our region along with the artist's thoughts about it. 

Title: She Watches Over The Lakes
Medium: Sumi Ink and Pastel On Paper
Size: 1.5' x 3'

Being new to the Finger Lakes Region, having only lived here for just a few months, I found that the process of creating this piece was a means by which I could connect with the landscape, architecture, wildlife and stories of the area.
Landscape is not only the surface of the earth; it is also the receptacle of all that has passed through it. It contains within it the memory of geology, people and architecture.
The central figure represents a protecting feminine spirit who watches over the land, waters and towns of the Finger Lakes. She travels through mythical Time and space; past and present, day and night, exist simultaneously. She is inspired by Red Star Woman of Arthurian legend and Sky Woman of the Iroquois creation story.
The buildings represented in this piece are Corning Glassworks, Iroquois Longhouses, Rockwell Museum of Western Art, Corning Community College Observatory, Pleasant Valley Wine Company, Idlwilde Inn, Seneca Harbor Pier and farms and houses of the Finger Lakes Region.
The fish represented in the lake waters are Landlocked Salmon, Carp, Alewife, Largemouth Bass and Pumpkinseed.

The Rockwell Museum is lucky to have Gigi on their staff and Gigi is lucky to work in a place like the Rockwell Museum!

The Rockwell Museum of Western Art, completely redesigned and renovated in 2000-2001, owns one of the largest and finest collections of Western art in the East. From classic masterworks and historical objects to 
exciting emerging artists, this treasure of a museum offers students and teachers engaging new ways to look at America.

It is common knowledge that the arts, in addition to being immeasurably enriching in and of themselves, also enhance academic curricula, stimulate learning and aid in learning retention. No place is this more obvious than at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. In addition to its collection, the museum has, in fact,  worked closely with teachers from Corning-Painted Post and Horseheads School District in writing a curriculum to create pre and post visit writing assignments in order for students to have the most fun and get the most education from their tour. This most comprehensive curriculum  was designed to satisfy NY State mandated standards in the English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and, of course, Art!  In short, a student would be hard-pressed not to learn something about nearly everything during a tour at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. 

A visit last month impressed this visitor with the quality and diversity of works of art from various periods in history. Included in the collection are some powerful contemporary pieces by Native American artists working today. Old or new, all are guaranteed to stimulate spirited discussion and enhance learning retention as happened during a visit from Joan Featherman's 4th grade class from Gardner Road.  Read how working with the Rockwell Museum became an integral part of an interdisciplinary curriculum implemented by Mrs. Featherman by clicking on the  Arts Teachers in the News and Arts Students in the News links below.

Following are some examples of the outstanding art included in the collection at the museum. 

Thomas Moran, Clouds in the Canyon, oil on canvas.
1915. 20 1/4" x 25 1/8".

    
Artist(s) unknown (Dakota) Painted Buffalo Hide Robe,
c. 1883. Buffalo hide, pigments, 82" x 69". 

 Deborah Butterfield, Untitled, 
       2000,  Bronze, 45" x 56" x 16"    

Cyrus Dallin, On the Warpath, 1914. Bronze, 41 3/4" x 411/2" x 13

Norman Akers, Elk Calling, 1999, Oil on canvas, 66X60"

Emmi Whitehorse, Water & Mineral, January 2000.
Oil chalk on paper on canvas, 28" x 40 1/2".

The GST BOCES Arts in Education Directory lists over 75 outstanding artists who are highly qualified and  prepared to perform, give workshops and do residencies in schools. Because there are too many artists to include all on this web-page,  one or two artists may be highlighted each month. If you have news of an artist you would like featured on this page, please notify the Arts in Education Program Specialist

Joan Featherman,  the Rockwell Museum, 
and a little pond make a big splash at Gardner 
Road Elementary School!
Cassie, Chynna and Kyle tend to the fish in the pond contained within the atrium at Gardner Road Elementary School. 

 Question: What do you call a child who has so much fun learning about the Arts and Humanities, Math,  Science, Social Studies and Geography,  they don't even realize they are getting an education? Answer: A student in Joan Featherman's 4th grade class at Gardner Road Elementary School in the Horseheads Central School District ! 

Mrs. Featherman has proven herself to be an outstanding educator partly because she is always willing to go the extra mile for her students. Last summer, for instance, she worked with other teachers and the Rockwell Museum of Western Art to design a curriculum around  the museum's surprisingly eclectic collection. (See the SCT BOCES Art Museum in the News page for more on the Rockwell). This curriculum would meet New York Sate Learning Standards in several core areas, serving as an exemplary example of the way in which ART can not only entertain, motivate and build the self-esteem of children, but TEACH them about everything.

Another thing Joan did was to apply for a mini grant through the SCT BOCES Teacher's Center  to "create a pond habitat within the school building." The pond would be used,not only to learn about science and the environment, but would also become the pivot around which several other lessons would be taught. With staff and students working together, building and maintaining the  pond would satisfy many of the NY State Learning Standards in Math, Science, Technology, English language arts, the Arts and Social Studies.  

A Room with a View - Mrs. Featherman's class worked on the grounds and greens contained within the glass enclosed atrium. The words on the window read, "Our Native Americans saw a good thing and moved in. Why did they pick this place? Who or what will come next? There's more to come. KEEP WATCHING!" And "watching" is what Gardner Road students certainly do. For instance, when this visitor was present, there were children with their noses pressed against the window!

During my visit, the surrounding "acres"  were populated by Native Americans living in miniature communities built by students. They built longhouses using natural and synthetic materials, trying to keep them as authentic in design as possible.  Thus, the pond, along with a trip to the Rockwell Museum, became a catalyst for learning American History!

Kyle R. next to his longhouse

Jeff W. poses with his longhouse

Chynna W's  longhouse. See our Arts Student in the News page for more about Chynna..

E-mail:   mamcmahon@gstboces.org

sctboces web-page - www.gstboces.org

Westward ho Gardner Road!

GST BOCES 

Congratulates

Joan Featherman

Elementary Teacher at Gardner Road

Joan Featherman and Tom Bowman, the school custodian, check out the fish. Tom's role in the project was vital, according to Mrs. Featherman as he had many ideas and did much of the physical labor. 

Joan with her class at the Rockwell Museum. Gigi Alvare is on the left. The art the students will see will greatly expand their knowledge of American history, thus aiding retention of  lessons completed and enhancing those to come!

Prints from the Rockwell Museum adorn the walls and educate the students for many weeks before and after their trip.

WORKING WITH THE ART TEACHER, 
CARRIE ZIEGLER

You can learn a lot from a bandana from the Rockwell Museum of Western Art!  Just ask Dominic. Carrie uses these bandanas to teach design and about our American artistic heritage.

Carrie's class also did a lesson using "gyotako," the Japanese art of taking prints from a fish. Although Gyotaku originated as a measuring tool, it is now considered to be an art form.  Using gyotaku, a fisherman could both record the catch and use it as a meal. Length and weight are presented graphically, as is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional creature. It is easy to see how this lesson meets standards in many different academic areas. 

Joan and Carrie discuss enhancements for the pond and other cross-curricular activities.