Child Labor

Students in the eighth grade at Harlem Park have been discussing the issue of child labor. Students created posters to express their feelings on this subject and their thoughts on solutions to the problem. Carina's image 'This Could be Your Child' has been entered in a competition in which one entry from each country in the world will be chosen for an exhibit in Geneva Switzerland on the theme of children's views on child labor. For more on this exhibit visit: Geneva World

Prosperity Hens

During Kristin's residency at Harlem Park we started working on Prosperity Hens. These birds created by the seventh grade students are in the style of the traditional folk craft from Northern India. We added our own twists with feathers and felt shapes but will be stringing them with beads and bells just as they are in India when some more are completed.

Holi

Holi the Indian spring festival of color is nearing. If you would like to see some first hand celebration go to India Forums dance festival.  Click on the image to see the whole flyer.

Marigolds

 

I finally got all of the materials together and the second grade planted marigolds.  Marigolds are important in India as they are used to create garlands that decorate religious statues, temples and for people at funerals , weddings and other special occasions.

 The kids saved their milk continers and we cut them down. The kids counted their seeds and predicted how many flowers they would get. Each day a "gardener of the Day" is going to water the classes plants and record the number of plants that show growth.  The students are also creating their own journals and artwork to accompany this science unit. 

Mask Making

At JMES I have been making papier mache masks with the school wide enrichment class. 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades meet with me on Fridays for 45 minutes to make sculpture. I told the kids they could make an Indian person, animal or a demon form the story Rama and the Demon King. Many of the kids make tigers. Although I had a couple of men, a demon and just because... Lil Wayne. 

Elephants on Parade

First and second grade students worked with visiting artist Kristin Helberg and Morag to create their parade of decorated elephants.Each elephant has it's own quirky charm and the students loved working with the sequins and feathers to embellish their work.

Individual Miniatures

Examples of the individual miniature paintings. These three were painted by Eboney, Deandre and Kevin and were based on their sketches for their mural contributions and painted on watercolor paper imported from India.