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Greetings!
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4th Grade Student Artwork Inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe
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The other day my son, who is 10, told me yet another thing he wants to be when he grows up (also on that list:professional break-dancer, Olympic swimmer, electronic dance DJ.) He said that he wants to be an explorer/medical researcher - one that goes into the rainforest or outback and finds herbs and flowers that can be turned into medicines. As a dutiful father, my first instinct was to tell him "Be sure to work hard in math and science," which would have been a true statement, but would discount the importance of art in that pursuit as well. Because when he is in Micronesia searching for that rare Plumeria that has anti-malarial properties he'll need to sketch it in his field notebook, he'll need to have a computerized rendering of the flower designed for further study in the lab, he'll need to draw a 3-D model of the molecular structure, and he'll need to create effective poster presentations and slideshows to convince big Pharma to invest in his research. In schools that have Art In Action, our students are painting sunflowers in Kindergarten (after studying Van Gogh) and using oil pastels in their study of poppies in 4th grade (after studying O'Keeffe). They learn about light and shadows, color mixing, and creating the appearance of depth and shape. These are skills that my son will need in his pursuit of his career (and in the new one he'll come up with next week as well.) These are skills that we are helping to provide for 40,000 students this year alone. These are skills that your child will need, too. Ask us how to bring it to your child's school. Jeffrey Dollinger, Executive Director
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Atelier d'Artistes a Big Success
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 Thanks to our generous donors, we raised nearly $115,000 at Art in Action's 5th annual event, Atelier d'Artistes. Nearly 300 enthusiastic guests gathered for a wonderful day where we honored Judy Sleeth, Art in Action's founder, and celebrated 30 years of bringing art to children. The event took place on March 4th at the Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club. Craig Watson, Director of the California Arts Council, shared his vision of the arts and arts education in California and discussed his new initiative, CREATE CA. Students from Abbott Middle School in San Mateo, CA who have participated in the program since kindergarten, described the impact that art has had on their lives. View event pictures
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Artist, Mitchell Johnson, Supports Art in Action
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Local artist, Mitchell Johnson, has  donated a portion of the proceeds of the sales of his paintings in March to support Art in Action. Johnson believes that, "Painting and drawing are critical for child development which is why I support what art in Action does for children." We thank him for his continued and generous support.
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Rosies Workwear Raises Funds for Art in Action
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 We thank Rosies Workwear for raising almost $1,000 on behalf of Art in Action. Twelve artists were given a pair of white overalls as a "blank canvas" to create an original work of wearable art. These one-of-a kind overalls were displayed at Spirits of Africa Gallery in San Luis Obispo, CA, and placed online for auction with proceeds going to help Art in Action in its mission to bring the benefits of an art education to students everywhere. Learn more
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Join Us for Special Private Tours
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PTA Honors Superintendent Anne Campbell
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 San Mateo County Superintendent and Art in Action Board Member, Anne Campbell, was honored with the Golden Oak Service Award, California's most prestigious PTA award, in recognition of the significant contributions she has made to the welfare of children and youth in San Mateo County (CA).
Colleen You, president-elect of the California State PTA stated, "Superintendent Campbell is committed to working toward closing the achievement gap, achieving school funding reform, expanding access to quality preschool, and ensuring that all students in our county are prepared for success in the 21st century global economy. Superintendent Campbell has been a tireless supporter of what's best for kids and families."
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Showing Art in Your Community
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 CA State Assemblymember, Kevin Mullins, invited Art in Action to create a rotating display of children's artwork from schools in District 22. We visited during a recent open house and learned one of the students whose artwork was being displayed stopped by to meet Mullins. "This is what I love," he explained about his encounter with the student. We are excited that student artwork was the vehicle for this experience.
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Art in Action Puts the STEAM in STEM
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Most people in education understand the importance of emphasizing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). But to truly engage students in these areas, learning needs to be exciting and fun. One of the best ways to do this is through art which brings creativity, exploration, and imagination to STEM.
Art in Action puts the STEAM in STEM in our 1st grade lesson on Georges Seurat, where students create pointillist butterflies. The pointillist technique of painting dots of pure color next to each other to create form is a great way to learn about a key science concept. In our simplified version of pointillism, students need to know which primary colors to use next to each other to create the illusion called "optical mixing," where the brain comprehends the secondary color from a distance.
We chose to paint a butterfly in this project to connect with a topic typically learned in 1st grade math -- symmetry. Students sketch butterfly wings and make them the same on both sides. Then they paint a butterfly using pointillist dots with primary colors to create the illusion of secondary colors. The painted patterns are symmetrical, just like on a real butterfly.
The more senses utilized when learning, the deeper the learning experiences. Extending math and science lessons utilizing art can stimulate those experiences. Bright colors stimulate visual senses; sticky, slippery paint stimulates tactile senses; even the smell of paint adds to the experience.
Art can be much more than just a Friday afternoon activity after the learning is done. Integrating art in the classroom can connect the dots, literally, for an enriching engagement in STEM.
"The game is changing. It isn't just about math and science anymore. It's about creativity, imagination and, above all, innovation." - Business Week
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