Graland Assists Art Museum
Third graders in Dana Pease’s class recently participated in the inStill Project at the Clyfford Still Museum to help develop programming for future student visitors.
Third graders in Dana Pease’s class recently participated in the inStill Project at the Clyfford Still Museum to help develop programming for future student visitors.
The museum’s director of education and programs, Victoria Eastburn, worked with art teacher Cathy Naughton and other select teachers in metro Denver on the project. Approximately 250 local students participated.
“We worked collaboratively with teachers to develop and test lessons for future gallery experiences,” says Victoria. “Students helped by participating in the lessons at the museum and sharing their observations about the art and museum experience—allowing us to consider their reactions and learning for future planning.”
Students made two visits to the museum with focused activities and reported about their learning after each visit. They had the opportunity to see one of the rare museums devoted entirely to one artist and to enjoy his abstract expressionist compositions. The unique architecture was also a highlight of the gallery experiences.
The Clyfford Still Museum is just a year old, and the museum’s purpose with the collaborative project was focused on research and development for school and teacher programs. The pilot date for gallery experiences for a wider school audience is spring 2013, with a full launch intended for fall 2013.
To conclude the project, the museum is hosting a culminating event in December for contributing students and their families. The evening will include student reflections on the artwork as expressed in creative writing, art, and student-led talks.
"To connect with a museum and to develop ideas using my expertise in the classroom was a nice opportunity for me to grow as an educator," Cathy says. "A gallery has limits with art materials but wide open possibilities with concepts. It was nice to provide our students a different experience. I was impressed by their open minds and willingness to gain appreciation for Clyfford Still's style of abstract expressionism."
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The museum’s director of education and programs, Victoria Eastburn, worked with art teacher Cathy Naughton and other select teachers in metro Denver on the project. Approximately 250 local students participated.
“We worked collaboratively with teachers to develop and test lessons for future gallery experiences,” says Victoria. “Students helped by participating in the lessons at the museum and sharing their observations about the art and museum experience—allowing us to consider their reactions and learning for future planning.”
Students made two visits to the museum with focused activities and reported about their learning after each visit. They had the opportunity to see one of the rare museums devoted entirely to one artist and to enjoy his abstract expressionist compositions. The unique architecture was also a highlight of the gallery experiences.
The Clyfford Still Museum is just a year old, and the museum’s purpose with the collaborative project was focused on research and development for school and teacher programs. The pilot date for gallery experiences for a wider school audience is spring 2013, with a full launch intended for fall 2013.
To conclude the project, the museum is hosting a culminating event in December for contributing students and their families. The evening will include student reflections on the artwork as expressed in creative writing, art, and student-led talks.
"To connect with a museum and to develop ideas using my expertise in the classroom was a nice opportunity for me to grow as an educator," Cathy says. "A gallery has limits with art materials but wide open possibilities with concepts. It was nice to provide our students a different experience. I was impressed by their open minds and willingness to gain appreciation for Clyfford Still's style of abstract expressionism."
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
