News from Art in Action

E-magination

Art in Action's Monthly Newsletter March 2010

Welcome to the Art in Action newsletter. Connect with current happenings at Art in Action, museum shows, local events, and fun activities for kids. Art in Action enriches children's lives through art.
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Letter from the Executive Director

March is Arts Education month. You and I know how important the arts are in giving a child a complete, both-sides-of-the-brain education. But sometimes art is seen as a frill, and is too easily cut from the program. How can you help get more art into our financially-troubled schools? Try this: Tell your friends how art has made a difference in your life, and ask them why art is important to them. Art encourages creative thinking, problem solving, and learning through multiple intelligences. Tell other parents, teachers, and the principal how art has enriched your child, and make sure the school has a quality, sequential art program. With the current emphasis on testing and convergent thinking, we need to keep the art program active in order to develop divergent thinkers and imaginative children. Start a wave of support for the arts by sharing your own experiences as you advocate for the best possible education for your children and our future.
Judy Sleeth

In This Issue

Atelier d'Artistes - March 9th

Local Business Makes a Point!

Thank You to the Susan & Richard Hare Foundation

School of the Month

Art Makes Math Come Alive

Art Advocacy

Fifth Grade Library Art Shows

Student Artists

Workshop Best Art Show - March 4

Book of the Month

Atelier d'Artistes - March 9th

Don't miss Art in Action's 2010 annual event, Atelier d'Artistes. The luncheon and silent auction will take place Tuesday, March 9, 2010 from 10 am - 2 pm at the Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club in Menlo Park. This event will feature internationally acclaimed sculptor Bruce Beasley as guest speaker and honor San Mateo County Arts Coordinator Dick Sperisen.
For reservations and more information

Local Business Makes a Point!

Thank you, Katie Weissenborn Vanoncini, Sandpiper Elementary School docent extraordinaire, for graciously providing the favors for Art in Action's Atelier d'Artistes 2010 fundraising event. Each guest will receive a sketch pencil and sketch book from General Pencil Company. The company has been owned and operated by Katie's family since 1889. General Pencil Company was one of the first pencil factories in America and proudly displays "Made in the USA".

A Big Thank You to the
Susan & Richard Hare Foundation

Art in Action thanks the Susan and Richard Hare Foundation for their recent gift of $5,000. Their donation will help us bring art to more students in the San Francisco Bay Area. Because of ongoing supporters like them, we have been successful in achieving our mission of bringing quality visual art programs to children. Thank you for making a difference.

School of the Month

Jessica Drummond, 5th grade teacher, at West Hillsborough Elementary School devotes 90 minutes monthly to an Art in Action lesson. With support from several parents, she teaches using the new Online Lessons and an interactive whiteboard which allows her to show a large format of the masterpiece as well as other examples of the artist's work. Her students are more engaged in learning about the artist and better understand the directions for the art lesson. Apple studies inspired by Winslow Homer and printed objects inspired by Andy Warhol decorate the classroom walls!

Art Makes Math Come Alive

The lesson on Victor Vasarely (Program Level 4) is a perfect way to help students understand the math concept of volume while learning to master the use of watercolors.

Did you know that the Art in Action website has over 100 websites to help you integrate art into your core curriculum?

Learn more

Geometry through Art
Color Test
Cool Math For Kids

Art Advocacy -
Celebrate "Art is Education" Month

California Alliance Hosts Advocacy Webinar
The California Alliance will host an online event on March 2nd to empower teachers, parents, and community members to act quickly to protect arts education funding in their school district.
Click to continue

Why the Arts Matter
Jerome Kagan Gives Six Good Reasons for Advocating the Importance of Arts in School.
"It is not possible to live by rationality alone," said cognitive-research pioneer Jerome Kagan during the Learning, Arts, and the Brain conference in Baltimore.
Read more
Advocacy Tips & Resources
Raise your voice at the district level to protect arts education in our schools. Share your knowledge, communicate your passion, and help educate others. Learn more
Read Art in Action board member Anne Campbell's views on 21st Century skills.

E-magination is a monthly art resource for parents and teachers using the Art in Action program. To suggest events, submit articles, ask questions or give feedback, email us or call 650.566.8339.
Copyright 2010 Art in Action

Fifth Grade Library Art Shows