Be Water Wise DC Rain Barrel Decorating Contest

Three dedicated Maury student artists were selected to participate in a District wide rain barrel art contest through Be Water Wise DC. Under the supervision of Ms. Bomba and Mr. Rogers, these students developed an environmentally conscious deign for our rain barrel with unique images that convey the importance of water conservation and other pertinent local water issues. From April 27-May 18, all submissions will be on display at the District Department of the Environment located at 1200 First St. NE. Judges will be rating our finished product based on its aesthetic appeal, creativity, and most importantly, the educational value our barrel provides the viewer. The winners will be announced at a culminating Be Water Wise celebration.

Maury’s striking design was based on the elaborate silhouette work of contemporary artist, Kara Walker. Walker is an African American artist who explores powerful subject matter in her work. By displaying solid black cut outs on a stark white wall, she forces viewers to take a closer look at what the simple shapes are actually trying to communicate. Walker’s clean lines, stark contrast, and bold imagery served as inspiration for Maury’s rain barrel design. Students incorporated abstract symbols to represent permeable pavement, underground clean water storage tanks and elaborate pipe systems for filtering storm water runoff. Figures move across the monument laden city via green modes of transportation like skateboards and roller blades. Our cylindrical canvas demonstrates even the simplest duty–picking up after our pets to prevent waste from entering our watershed!

Our elaborate process of sanding, cleaning, priming, spray painting, designing and cutting handmade stencils, taping, spray painting again and peeling off our stencils to reveal designs in negative space was an authentic way for students to develop an idea and execute a concept from start to finish. Be sure to visit all rain barrel submissions starting April 27, at the DDOE!

Check out our step by step process below!

Step 1: Get inspired!

Step 2: Sketch BIG and sketch lots!

Step 3: Neatly cut your detailed designs into stencils

Step 4: Measure diameter of rain barrel and arrange homemade stencils accordingly

Step 5: Over the weekend, scrub that sucker on your back porch in the sun with water and denatured alcohol

Step 6: Invite a friend over to pass the time as you prime, let dry, then spray paint the rain barrel!

Step 7: Add a few coats of paint and make it shine!

Step 8: Bring rain barrel back to school and apply stencils with lots of painters tape

Step 9: Practice spraying your top coat and peeling away the stencils to be sure the negative of the image below is crisp and clear

Step 10: Head outside to spray paint every inch of the rain barrel black

Step 11: Peel away stencils–quick like  a band-aid

Step 12: Cross your fingers and thank your fabulous team for producing an educational and eye catching product from start to finish!

 

There’s nothing like an earthquake to get you excited about learning!

Hello studiomaury readers! Welcome to the official blog of room E220, Maury Elementary School’s spankin’ new art studio! After surviving an earthquake registering at a magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter Scale, I’d say there is nothing we can’t handle this school year. I’d like to draw special attention to the students of Ms. Hanni and Mrs. Jones’ class who handled the tremor with wide-eyed curiosity and composure. Here’s to us, guys! I will remember you always as the brave art students with whom I experienced my very first quake.

The earthquake is stealing the show–this blog is about ART! I hope you all tune in often to read about the happenings of our exciting new studio space and the artists who inhabit it. I cannot wait to get through the first week of logistics and procedures and dive into some real creation and learning. All I ask is that students respect their teachers, the materials, the art, and each other.

Thanks again to all the families who dropped in this weekend to help get the studio up and running. I appreciate your involvement and commitment to your child’s learning environment.

To a great year full of art and growth!

Cheers,

Ms. Bomba

Cubism? OR exactly 100 boxes of miscellaneous art supplies piled ceiling high in the new studio. Welcome to Maury, y’all!

And I’m spent! The studio on day 2 of the massive unpacking marathon. What a transformation!

Our computer lab and extensive art library, arranged thoughtfully by one of our fabulous parent volunteers on School Beautification Day. Many thanks to all who attended to get Maury in tip top shape!

Can you say, granite counter tops? Faucets coming soon!

Ask your child to tell you about Positive Paws, the new behavior management plan being implemented by all special subject classes this year. In the art studio we are focused on receiving 4s in all categories: Collaboration, Craftsmanship, Respect for Materials, Studio and Work, and lastly, Risk Taking. Students vote on their performance at the end of each day. The class that earns perfect 4s in all special subject classes for one week will be publicly recognized for their success.

Today we decorated our sketchbooks and learned about how artists use sketchbooks to enhance their own creativity. Some artists jot down notes, write poems, sketch drafts of future works of art, and glue inspirational images in their sketchbooks. On page one of their sketchbooks, our students finished the sentence, “This year in art class I hope to …” Some illustrated the conclusion of the sentence while others used words to express themselves.

The newest addition to the Maury Family! Our brand new, front loading, electric kiln for firing our ceramic creations! We will have to conduct a naming contest soon, for all great kilns must have a name.