Week 12... Wikis all around!

Students returned from Fall Break to create wiki accounts, test pages to trouble-shoot, and began creating their own pages to publish. Lots of work in the Mac lab this week!


1st and 2nd periods Ceramics students had an IW on Slab Boxes due Mon (10/25). They began the week by creating wiki accounts and test pages to learn how the wired atelier* wiki (mulloy.pbworks.com) works. Tuesday they created pages to critique one of their own pottery pieces. Using the self critique form provided on the wiki as a guide, students wrote a few paragraphs about their work. Reminded before Fall Break and this week in class, students were asked to bring a bowl to use as a mold. After the wiki work was finished, students who were prepared with their materials on Wednesday made a pinched molded bowl from small balls of clay pressed together then smoothed to a finished surface. We discussed that most pottery surfaces used for food should be smooth, as to prevent food particles and dirt getting caught in the surface of the clay. Students who were not prepared with their mold bowls were asked to figure our some way to be productive and produce work to make up for their unpreparedness. I hope students learned a lesson about listening closely to instructions and making sure they remember to bring materials when needed! The week was finished by finishing up the past IWs and pottery pieces due before Mon (11/1).

3rd period Art 3/4/AP students began the much-anticipated 12 Layer Canvas project this week. Each student got an 18x24 canvas and each day gets new instructions for a new layer. They don't know what each layer will be, so there is not way for them to plan the final result, but instead learn to experiment and learn from the unexpected beauties of exploration! Their first instruction was "Create a 2"grid over the entire canvas." Their 2nd layer's instructions were "Paint in the squares." The 3rd layer's instructions were "Add tissue paper." Students are eager to hear the next layer each day, but I'm only revealing one layer at a time. It's amazing to see the different results each student produces from the same simple instructions! There is nothing due next week, as this week we are in process, but students should always be looking and sketching!

4th period Photography students had an IW on Digital Manipulation and 5 images due Mon (10/25). Students spent the entire week in the Mac lab working on the wiki. To improve the process of submitting photos and getting feedback, students will now create a new wiki page to submit each of their photo projects. Students will then post at least 15 comments on different classmates' images to provide a virtual critique of their work! I'm excited to see if tis new process improves the process of submission and feedback! This week students spent time creating pages for all their previously submitted assignments and posted them to the wiki! All pages of old assignments are due before Mon (11/1). Go check them out here and feel free to leave some positive feedback; students have taken some beautiful pictures!

6th period Art 2 class had an IW on a Masterwork due Tues (1026). 6th period students also began the week in the Mac lab creating wiki accounts, test pages, and trouble-shotting wiki issues. Wednesday students who were prepared with their Masterwork began a project to reproduce the Masterwork through collaged papers. First, students created a simple contour-line drawing of the Masterwork as realistically as possible, keeping all objects in proportion and replicating the image as closely as possible. Students will next assemble colored papers from magazine clippings to fill the spaces created by the contour lines with color. Just as the original artist used  strokes of paint to create the image they are reproducing, students will alter the original by creating strokes of colored paper to mimic the colors in the painting. I am excited to see the finished results! Examples of this project previously completed by other students can be seen on the online gallery at Artsonia here. There is no new IW due next Tuesday (11/2).

Week 10... In Between Finishing and Starting!

As this was an "off week" after the 1st quarter and before Fall break, most of the week was spent finishing up old projects and fixing IWs.

1st and 2nd periods Ceramics students fixed slab boxes, threw on the wheel, made platters, clay leaves, glazed bisque fired pieces, and caught up on IWs. The slab box IW is due after break (10/25), so there was a lot of time to get that ready!

3rd period Art 3/4/AP students spent the week finishing up Choice project #2 and the accompanying IW, due after Fall Break (10/25).

4th period Photography students spent the week in the Mac lab learning about Digital Manipulation and the online Photo Editing program Picnik. Their assignment, due 10/25 after Fall Break, is the take an original Photo they've taken recently and manipulate it 4 different ways. The original plus 4 different manipulations of the same image are due along with an IW on Digital Manipulation and Picnik. It's a free, fun site to edit your photos that simulates photoshop's filter with "Effects," you should try it!!

6th period Art 2 students finished their experimental images used their carved acrylic plates. Students created Photograms and Oil pastel Images on the other side of the acrylic plate. This experimental project yielded some unintended yet beautiful results, and the students were able to access the Photography darkroom as a surprise! An IW on a Masterwork is due Tues after Fall Break (10/26), which we will use for our next project.

Week 11.... Fall Break!!

Now that schools start in August instead of September, we are thankful for Fall Break!!!

Enjoy, look at some art, be safe, and have fun!

Love, Mrs. M

Art Sale THIS Weekend in Red Bank

Mrs. Mulloy purchased a booth to sell artwork at the Red Bank Market to raise $$ for supplies. Please come support us!
Sat, Oct 9th 10am-4pm

Art Sale Event page


Help will be needed Friday after lunch to prepare the goods for presenting and sales. Saturday, we'll need help manning the tent in 2 hour shifts. 
Extra Credit is being offered!

Week 9.. Homecoming! Already?

It's hard to believe it's Homecoming Week at SMHS and that we've already been in school 9 weeks, but here we are! This week students did not have class on Friday, as teachers have in-service. As we near the end of the quarter, please encourage proactivity among students in making sure their assignments are completed!**

1st and 2nd periods Ceramics classes had an IW on Glazing due Mon (10/4) and glazed their 4 intro projects last week. Students who are absent are responsible for finding a way to get these projects quickly finished on their own time within the week, as clay drying and firing schedules cannot be changed, and unfinished work cannot be graded. This week, students began making a Memory Box using the slab method. After planning their boxes and measurements, students rolled out slabs of clay to the size and shape they needed, then left them out flat to harden some. The next day, the leatherhard slab pieces were scored and slipped to the slab bases and reinforced on the inside corners with soft plastic coils to construct the form of the box. Students struggled in many cases with thin, cracking, dried-out walls, but learned the hard lessons of clay: follow instructions or disaster strikes! :) Students should choose someone to write a letter to or in memory of someone to enclose in their boxes when they're fired, and should also plan the decorative glazing they will incorporate once bisque fired. Their IW on Slab boxes is due Monday after Fall Break (10/25)!

3rd period Art 3/4/AP students worked on a choice project this week. Students may choose any subject matter, medium, and idea of their own to execute this week. Some are painting, some collaging, some making photograms, some are building frames; there is a flurry of creative energy during 3rd period this week! Full investigations on their projects including critiques, as always, are due Monday, (10/11).

4th period Photo class began the week with a day in the computer lab to begin investigating photographer Cindy Sherman and Portraits. This IW is due Monday (10/11). The photo shoot this week involves a partner. Students are to shoot 5 portraits of their partner, but each one should try to show a different "person" through hair, makeup, clothes, lighting, background context, props, etc. These 5 photos are due due Monday (10/11) as well. In addition, students are also rotating into the darkroom to create their won photograms! All students should have completed 1 successful photogram by next Friday (10/15).

6th period Art 2 students continued carving their portraits into their acrylic plates using nails and other strong, sharp objects. Although taxing on hands because of the amount of pressure students have to apply to carve into the acrylic, students are achieving remarkable results! This week's lesson: Art hurts sometimes! :) I am very excited to see the finished results of these experimental intaglio printmaking projects! The IW on Kathe Kollwitz and Intaglio Printmaking was due Tues (10/5).

**Special Note: Students who fall behind due to absences in studio-driven courses like Art should ask for an alternate paperwork assignment if time cannnot be arranged in the students's day to return to the art room and work. It is the responsibility of the student, however, to seek this alternate assignment before extended absences or proposed due dates.