February Project: James Castle

Project Title:  JAMES CASTLE

Rooster by James Castle

Description:

• An introduction to the artist, James Castle, who lived on a farm in Idaho.  He was born deaf and never learned to read or write.  He focused on what he could do; he cared for an observed barnyard animals.  Castle is known for his sketches and relief sculptures of farm animals using recycled materials for his house.  Design challenges involved construction, problem solving and knot tying.

Vocabulary:

• Disability
• Relief sculpture
• Recycled materials
• Construction
• Neutral colors

Resources:

• Book: Click, Clack, Peep, by Doreen Cronin

Materials:

• Cardboard
• Construction paper
• Tissue
• Paper towel
• Crayons

Examples of Student Work:

January Project: Mexican Amate Bark Painting

Project Title:  Mexican Amate Bark Painting

Example of Amate Bark Painting

Description:

• Amate paintings from Mexico are made from the bark of the wild fig tree.  Its bright, fluorescent colors, and stylized animals, plants and buildings are typical of this work.  The purpose of this lesson was to introduce students to imagery used in Mexican folk painting, to explore the concept of decorative art and to develop and to refine painting and overpainting skills.

Vocabulary:

• Amate bark
• Folk art
• Fluorescent (colors)

Resources:

• Book: The Parrot Tico Tango, by Anna Witte

Materials:

• Acrylic fluorescent paint
• Black sharpies

Examples of Student Work: