8th Grade

2/14/24 - Valentines

4th, 5th, 6th and some 8th grade students created valentines for The Ridge retirement home this year. They did some good!

2/10/2024 - Rose Windows

Rose windows are generally the centerpiece of any gothic cathedral in Europe or around the world, and are often discussed in traditional western art history courses. Students learned about these windows. We discussed that they often contain symbolic imagery and that many were constructed between years 1200 and 1400. Rose Windows were made to promote reverence and reflection in the cathedrals. They were often some of the most colorful things that someone might see in the 'dark' ages. We also made a cross-cultural humanities comparison to mandalas and their importance in Buddhism. We noted that both have radial symmetry, both are created for quiet reflection, and that both glass and (some) mandalas are made from sand.

Students made their own versions of rose windows. They learned to draw with compasses and they worked towards radial symmetry. They created these pieces with watercolors and sharpies.

Susannah, Ryan Bland

Vincent, Will

Ryan Belgique, Chloe

Sean, Michael

Alex, Madeline

Jade, Niko

Siena, Sloan

Caroline, Catherine

Jeter, Ali

Kennedy, Sam

Charlotte, Jameson

Beau, Maya

Lucy, Jack

Naser, Katie

Nami, Jude

Sofia

11/15/23 - Red Rock Slot Canyon Art

We've been discussing Southern Utah slot canyons and different regional artists that produce redrock art. In class, we looked at 5 different types of artists that have all focused their art on the same theme: Slot Canyons, particularly Antelope Canyon in Northern Arizona. We compared and contrasted art as a business for: graphic designers/illustrators, a fine art gallery painter, a fine art photographer, a quilter who was featured in a University art museum, and the installation artist who created the large 'canyons' walk-through art installation at the Salt Lake Airport. Students reflected on different types of artists, why they created their art, and whether these artists could earn sustainable fair pay for the labor they put into their artwork.

For several sessions afterwards, students broke down some slot canyon photographs created by a different local commercial photographer, Stephanie Dunn, who generously donated some images for the students to look at (https://www.basinandrangeimages.com/). The students studied the lines and tonal values in her photographs.

This was all done to bring regional art to the students, and to allow students to reflect on it, as per Utah state core art requirements.