AP Art

Hi! I'm Mrs. McElhattan, kids call me Mrs. Mac. This is my 9th year at MVHS, but I have been teaching art in the Bay area for 20 years! I am a Mom, artist, traveler, home renovator and (slow) runner. I am teaching Art One/Two Adv/AP Art and Computer Graphics I & II this year and look forward to working with you!

My areas of interest in art: drawing from life, figure drawing, painting, printmaking, collage & abstraction. I love graphic and interior design. I studied art at Carnegie Mellon University, SACI (in Florence, Italy), Wimbledon School of Art (London), Tulane University (New Orleans), and have done coursework locally at SF State, Cal State Easy Bay, and Academy of Art University.

Annemarie McElhattan (Mac-elle-hat-ann)

amcelhattan@srvusd.net

room 704

Available during student support & lunches!

Welcome to AP Art!

In AP Art (drawing, 2D and 3D) is a yearlong class where students embark on a self directed body of work to reflect their taste and interests. With a growth mindset, students research and cultivate ideas, techniques culminating in a body of work appropriate for submission for the AP exam in May.

Students will continue to develop, explore and expand techniques and ideation, in a variety of media, culminating in a sustained investigation of their choice. Our goal is to access and develop new techniques, current and historical art movements, and we will develop the skill of interpreting ideas in visual media using experimentation and revision.

Some teachers are 'commanders' and others are 'negotiators'. I am a negotiator which means that communication is key in my classroom. I will negotiate and help you along, but that is a two-way street, speak up! Being on time, prepared and participating/willing to try and fail shows me that you care about this class, and your grade.

Your challenge this year is to take yourself on a journey of discovery-to expose yourself to more options for your work, whether that be techniques and materials, looking at artists and going to museums and galleries, or pushing ideation/storytelling in your sketchbook-all of these things contribute to mastery. After so many years drawing and painting and looking and learning the thing that sustains me most is that it is never done, or finished, the process is the thing that sustains the artist, not the object created.

We use the content standards of the California State Board of Education to meet A-G requirements:

1 Artistic Perception 2. Creative Expression. 3. Historical & Cultural Context 4. Aesthetic Valuing 5. Connections, Relationships & Application

MISSION: Monte Vista believes that providing an excellent education is a shared responsibility involving the entire school community. We provide our students with learning opportunities that help them develop intellectually, emotionally, and physically in order to reach their full potential. Monte Vista provides a safe, equitable environment that fosters resilience and promotes ethical and emotional growth, lifelong learning, and informed citizenship. We provide a comprehensive support system that helps our students thrive.

MVHS STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO’S)

Critical Thinkers who apply their knowledge, skills and experiences to solve problems and actively seek out and listen to a variety of perspectives to draw informed conclusions.
Creative Contributors who engage in problem-solving, inquiry and innovative solutions to improve societal outcomes, demonstrate originality and imaginative ideas, and generate new and meaningful solutions.
Intentional Collaborators who demonstrate the ability to work within a group to achieve common goals, integrate diverse perspectives and ideas, and enrich the learning of both self and others.
Adaptable Learners who demonstrate the ability to adjust to new situations, respond productively to feedback, and to empathize with diverse views.
Effective Communicators who articulate ideas clearly in a variety of forms and contexts, listen with empathy to decipher meaning and intentions, and demonstrate the ability to give presentations for a range of purposes and audiences.
Ethical, Respectful, and Responsible Citizens who demonstrate compassion, empathy and respect to others and take responsibility for their actions.

[NOTE] Monte Vista is a No Place for Hate School. You may want to share how you will establish and reinforce a respectful and empathetic classroom community so that students from all identities, abilities, and perspectives feel seen and heard. Student safety is critical for effective learning and for feeling connected to school, adults, and peers. Embracing and celebrating diversity of lived experiences in the classroom environment can be viewed as an opportunity to enrich, and as a resource that can benefit everyone.