This evening we celebrate the creativity of our 8th Graders as they exhibit their independent art projects. Throughout this year, art has been centered on a theme of discovering the possibilities art holds, defining art for oneself, and appreciating the significance art can have in one’s life.
Accompanying each student’s work is an artist statement that expresses ideas about the importance of art and provides context for their work. After reading these, many themes emerge, including celebrating the freedom that art provides, the importance of accepting and embracing mistakes, the power of art to communicate powerful messages, the belief that art-making relieves stress, and more.
A major goal for 8th Grade Art is to provide the opportunity for students to connect their work with personal interests and passions. This exhibition, above all, celebrates their uniqueness and individuality. Students are given the opportunity to work as individual artists with unique perspectives. The curriculum emphasizes creative problem-solving, freedom of expression, and experimentation with new processes and media. After 2-3 years of building foundational art skills, and learning about a wide range of artistry through more structured projects, students are given the freedom in 8th Grade to develop their own body of work.
Students are encouraged to dream big, take risks, and create unique works that they feel personally connected to. Much learning occurs during the process as they brainstorm ideas, seek inspiration from practicing artists, work through failures, and develop an artistic skill set unique to each project.