April Showers Bring May Flowers…

and for the Art Docents we have the …

Art Show

Kindergarten Foil Workshop

Spanish Art History

French Art History

The year is winding up and we have finished with all of our print presentations.

During April, May and June we have several important items to cover with the Art Docents.

The Art Show is one of our large components of the Art Docent program and we have been working hard to get it ready. 

Thanks to Frances and her awesome committee on all the hard work they have put in thus far. 

The following lessons/workshops are ready to be taught these last few months.​

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KINDERGARTEN FOIL WORKSHOP

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Teaching Objective: 

Students will learn about sculptures, 3 dimensional objects, and materials used in sculptures by creating their own foil sculpture animal.

Explanation of Concept:  

Sculpture has shape (height, width and depth), it is not flat, and is three dimensional. 

Sculpture is not just art.  It can be created to be part of a celebration, a dance, a show or part of a building.  

Sculpture can be functional.  

Sculpture can be made of any material. 

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SPANISH ART HISTORY – 7th Grade
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LOGO SUBMISSION UPDATE

We received over 25 submissions!  

Thank you to Sue W., Stephanie D., Cheryl H., Elizabeth G.,
Beth R. and Stefanie J.
for you help in working on the committee for screening the logo submissions 

and presenting their top 2 choices to our Executive Board. 

We are not revealing the choice in public yet since we have not notified the students
yet of our decisions since we will be waiting to complete the vote
​from all the Art Docents at our next meeting.

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Thank you Jr. Art Docents!

Prints Update Project – Part One

Over the Spring Break we asked if any of the Jr. Art Docents could join us at the
Art Docent office to help out with our “Prints Update Project”.
Lucky for us…we had an awesome team of 4 Los Gatos High School students who joined us
along with Theresa B., Judith F., Julie F., and Emilie R.

Together we divided into teams, and in 3 hours we measured, cataloged, 
​and rated over 150 prints.  This is the first step in making sure that our
amazing Print Collection is kept up to date and looking great for the classroom use.

We will be meeting again to work on “Part Two”
on May 23rd @ 9 am in the Art Docent office
if anyone is interested in join in on the fun, please email either Stefanie at artdocents@me.com or Julie F.

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It’s time to Spring into Action!

Happy Spring,  Julie Ferrario

President of Art Docents of Los Gatos

Art Connections

 – Before I headed off for President’s Week, our February recess, I posted on the Art Docent Facebook site….this quote

“Enjoy the week off school – and discover ART in your travels or free time!”

Little did I realize how much my connections with Art Docents connected me to Art in the world today.

I took a trip to Washington D.C. to visit my newly relocated son during this vacation. One of our docents told me about the new portraits that were just unveiled, just before I left.

I was so excited to see if I could find time to visit the National Portrait Gallery while I was there.  It was so much fun to take what we teach in Art Docents and realize we are learning and being connected to our own world…making history today.

In our 5th grade lesson called, “Grade 5 Lesson Four: American Art – Portraiture, we cover the

State Standard: 1.3 which is to have students use their knowledge of all the elements of art to describe similarities and differences in works of art and the environment.

“George Washington After 1796”

Artist: Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828)
The Huntington Library, Pasadena, CA (approx. life-size)

We discuss both Color and Value with the students using these two famous American portraits.

Both portraits use color contrast to emphasize the subject matter, but how are these contrasts different? In the Stuart painting, the background is dark so that George Washington’s face in the portrait stands out.

In the Whistler portrait, the subject matter, Whistler’s mother, is dressed in dark colors with a lighter background, again emphasizing the portrait subject, but using a light background instead.

The background in each portrait creates a focal point, despite the very different use of color in these prints.

The white color in the Stuart print is predominately in the middle of the portrait; whereas, the lighter colors are spread throughout the portrait created by Whistler.  Note the use red in the rosy cheeks in both portraits

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“Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1”

Artist: James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)

The 5th grade students are presented with two prints to compare, but in this case, there will be two portraits to compare and contrast by two different American artists.

There will be differences in style, technique, and the medium used by the artists.

 Through discussion and questions, the students should evaluate how or whether each painting has achieved unity and harmony in its composition

and use their knowledge of the elements of art while describing similarities and differences in the works of art presented.

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Back to my ART CONNECTIONS…

Barack Obama,  born 1961

Forty-fourth president, 2009–2017

Artist: Kehinde Wiley (born 1977)
Oil on canvas, 2018

Barack chose to have his portrait done by Kehinde Wiley, the first ever African-American artist to produce an official presidential portrait for the National Portrait Gallery,

The piece features Obama seated in front of a fortress of leaves.

From this deep green background emerges three types of flowers, each representing a part of the former president’s history.

The white flowers are jasmine, representing Obama’s birthplace and childhood in Hawaii.

The pink and gold flowers are chrysanthemums, the official flower of Chicago, where Obama became a community organizer and, ultimately, a senator of Illinois.

and the

purple flowers are African blue lilies, a reminder of his father, Barack Obama, Sr., a Kenyan man.

Artist:  Amy Sherald (born 1973)
Oil on linen, 2018

Sherald’s piece  presents the former First Lady striking a regal pose in a flowing white gown, speckled with colorful geometric shapes. The dress has captured people’s attention because of what a gorgeous garment it is, but there’s also a little more behind it: It captures Michelle’s modernity and openness during her tenure as First Lady. The design is based on the American brand Milly’s spring 2017 collection, which creator Michelle Smith says was inspired by a “desire for equality, equality in human rights, racial equality, LGBTQ equality.”

Smith said that while some people have described the dress as couture, the fabric is actually an accessible stretch cotton poplin.

She chose a “geometric minimal print” for the gown to exude”Mrs. Obama’s strength and approachable, forward-thinking style.”

Of the dress’s silhouette she added, “The dress reveals her beautiful shoulder and arms, which I think is very groundbreaking in a portrait of the First Lady.”

At the portrait unveiling, Sherald said she was drawn to this particular dress because it reminded her of

quilts made by African American women in the South.

“Milly’s design also resembles the inspired quilt masterpieces made by the women of Gee’s

Bend,

a small remote black community in Alabama where they compose quilts in geometries that transform clothes and fabric remnants into masterpieces,” she said.

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ART CONNECTION….with children!

And back to working with students to teach Art and Art Appreciation….making things current and connecting with our daily lives….here is a fun story from just this week

…this is just what the artist  was hoping for when she contemplated painting Mrs. Obama.

 The Baltimore-based artist considers the former first lady to be someone “women can relate to—no matter what shape, size, race, or color. . . .

We see our best selves in her.” Here, she portrays Mrs. Obama as both confident and approachable, in a dress by Michelle Smith’s label Milly.

Connecting in Art!

Julie Ferrario

President of Art Docents of Los Gatos

What Goes on Behind the Scenes

at Art Docents??

Continued Education for us All!

It is so important to our organization that we continue to stay fresh with our own education as Art Docents, Artists and Community Members.  This past month we had several important educational activities we participated in.  

We are looking forward to the second half of the year and getting ready for so many different things that support our program and classroom presentations.  Below are a few examples of who and how we continue to learn together….

ART DOCENTS

Kelly Martin, “Classroom Management in the Art Room”

At our January General Meeting we had a wonderful guest speaker, our own Art Teacher from Los Gatos Union School District.  

Mrs. Martin gave us the opportunity to refresh our skills in the classroom and generate consistent practices while our docents teach our presentations and workshops. – Thank You Kelly!

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STUDENTS of LOS GATOS

Continuing Education in the Schools with our Guest Artist Program:

Thank you Mary L. and Marissa D. for volunteering your time as Art Docents

to bring our Guest Artist Program this year!

Paula Lucia: Presenting to the Elementary Schools in Los Gatos

Stephen Bruce: Presenting to Fisher Middle school in Los Gatos

Thank you to our Guest Artists as well!

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ART DOCENT EXECUTIVE BOARD

We are proud to have SVCreates support our organization.  Annually they hold workshops for Non-Profit organizations and for their Grantee organizations.   SVCreates is a network of leaders who care about the cultural and aesthetic quality of life in Silicon Valley.  Their Local Arts Grant provide general operating support grants for small and mid-sized nonprofit arts organizations.  

Their mission is to accelerate Silicon Valley’s creative culture.  

Their Purpose is…

1) Promote artistic excellence while reflecting the dynamic, diverse, and innovative character of Santa Clara County

2) Recognize and encourage non-professional, volunteer involvement as an essential part of Santa Clara County’s cultural environment

3) Stimulate local support, particularly at the grassroots level

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 Below you’ll see that this year we have attended two of the workshops and plan on attending another one in March .

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Stefanie J., our program coordinator attended:

Workshop: Grantwriting with Audrey Wong

New to grantwriting? Want to brush up on grantwriting basics? Need to take your skills to the next level? Join us on January 12th for a workshop led by Audrey Wong!

Jenny G., our treasurer and I attended:

Workshop: Financial Planning & Budget Development

A viable financial management strategy needs to address a vision for the future and incorporate the past and present positions of the organization.

Here Jenny and I are…at the workshop.  I’m so thankful to have Jenny on board as our Treasurer, she is a wealth of knowledge and so giving of her volunteering time!

Stephanie D., our VP of Public Relations and I are planning on attending:

Engage.Next 5.0: Audience Engagement & The Art of Relevance

March 16th to hear from Nina Simon on her book “The Art of Relevance” and her work on audience engagement and community participation in the arts.

We are so fortunate to have so many opportunities to further our own personal education.  The Art Docents believe in education for both our students and our great volunteers.  Thank you to Theresa B.,  Roxana K. and Elizabeth G., our Continuing Education Committee for bringing our docents so many opportunities to visit museums, take art workshops and practice our own art together.

Through volunteering, trying new things, teaching something, or just taking the time to listen to new ideas…I must agree that Michelangelo says it best….”I am still learning.”

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Julie Ferrario

President of Art Docents of Los Gatos

Happy New Year – 2018!

Mayor Rob Rennie has selected the Art Docents as a  

Small Business Big Applause recipient.

Please Join the Art Docents

Tuesday, January 16 at 7 p.m.

during the Town Council meeting

The Mayor and Town Council  would like to honor our organization on

Tuesday, January 16 at 7 p.m. during the Town Council meeting.

Each month they recognize one small business/organization that is selected

by the Mayor.  This takes place right after the Pledge and are typically

done by 7:15 p.m., with no expectation to stay for the entire meeting.

Every volunteer is what makes this organization great,

therefore we want to extend an invitation to all of our

Docents, Board Members and Supporters of the Docents.

We hope you will be able to attend the meeting on

January 16 at 7 p.m. as we accept the commendation.  

We look forward to seeing there!

The Art Docents are 45 years strong and still going!

45 years ago, in 1973….due to funding cuts in the Los Gatos School District, two volunteers, Ema Rau and Emma Hopp, founded the Art Docent Program.  They felt that Art Education was just too important to simply not teach to our students.

The mission of the Art Docents of Los Gatos is to provide high quality visual arts curriculum to students in Kindergarten through 5th grade in the Los Gatos Union School District, with the goal of fostering the development of flexible, innovative and creative individuals.

1. The Art Docents serve students in the Los Gatos elementary schools (Blossom Hill, Daves Avenue, Lexington, Louise Van Meter) and R.J. Fisher Middle School.
2. The curriculum is led by staff and trained volunteers who teach students the elements of art through sequential lessons and hands-on STEAM workshops, including foil sculpture, collage, printmaking, digital photography and scientific illustration.
3. Our program consists of four major components, Print presentations, Hands-on Workshops, Guest Artist Program and finally our Annual Student Art Show where we showcase artwork from each student in the district grades K-5 and some Fisher students.  
4. As we move forward, we have continued to update our curriculum to stay current.  We are the “A” in S.T.E.A.M.….putting Art into the mix of important subjects all students need for a more complete education.  We emphasize the basic principles of art with Color, Line, Composition, Design Elements, and Art History.  Our lessons focus on Critical thinking skills and vocabulary to discuss and contemplate what makes something art.  The A in S.T.E.A.M. is represented in some of the workshops we teach where we cover:
   1. Proportions and Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” drawing – we have 4th graders measure their own proportions with string and then practice drawing the human figure more accurately.
   2. Science: in the 7th grade we use preserved real spiders & bugs to teach students how to draw more accurately what they see when they study science.
   3. Online Digital Photography manipulation: is taught in the 5th grade based upon a lesson where we describe abstract photographic compositions
   4. Math: we are currently developing a 6th grade lesson that will introduce math students to the concept of BIG DATA ART and what it is to be a data scientist and using big data as an interesting art medium.

Who are we….we are the community who cares about Art Education!

1. We currently have 63 Active Volunteers and 22 Sustaining Members
2. Executive Board (Volunteers)
   1. Julie Ferrario – President
   2. Stacey Closser – VP Programs A
   3. Theresa Bricker – VP Programs B
   4. Stephanie Draca – VP of PR
   5. Sue Nystrom Walsh – VP of Membership
   6. Sue Ward – VP of Fundraising
   7. Jenny Gifford – Treasurer
   8. Michelle Abene – Parliamentarian (past president)
   9. Judith Fishwick – Secretary (past president)
   10. Stefanie Johnston – Program Coordinator (paid position)
3. Board of Directors (Local Business people and artists)
   1. Bonnie Westman
   2. Julie Jenkins
   3. Darrell Monda
   4. Elizabeth Reigal
   5. Marie Cameron
4. Supporters of Art Docents
   1. Los Gatos Union School District Superintendent – Diana Abbati
   2. LGEF President – Ryan Rosenberg,  & Executive Director – Deborah Weinstein
   3. Home and School Clubs – Blossom Hill, Daves Ave, Fisher, Lexington, & Van Meter
   4. Town of Los Gatos
   5. City of Monte Sereno
   6. Los Gatos Community Foundation
   7. AM Rotary of Los Gatos
   8. PM Rotary of Los Gatos
   9. Silicon Valley Creates
   10. Los Gatos Community Foundation
5.  Thank you to our Friends of Art Docents.

History Club of Los Gatos
Los Gatos Morning Rotary
The Rotary Club of Los Gatos
Michael Rosenthal Gallery
JCO’s Place
Agilent Technologies
Los Gatos Music in the Park
Alain Pinel c/o Jeff Barnett

Diana & Edward Abbati
Abene Family
Maureen Cappon-Javey
Elaine Cardinale (in memory of Marge Brown and Patty Baker)
Dr. James and Maxine Carroll
Ros Edmonds
Fishwick Family
Friends of Patty Baker 
Candace and Douglas Grady
Hakkarainen-Marselli Family
Patti Hansen
Julie Jenkins
Donna Jensen-Madier
Mary Leonardis
Mary Martin
Louise Millman
Natalie Jo Nelson ( in memory of Jean and Larry Nelson)
Maureen Oates
Sue Nystrom Walsh
Dora Piccoli
Allison Redington (in memory of Marge Brown)
Elizabeth Riegel
Carol Tinsley
Mark Vantress
Carol Webb and Philip Chen
Bonnie and Dean Westman

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It does take a village to make it all come together for the students – Thank you all for supporting the Art Docents Program!  

Happy New Year 2018!

Julie Ferrario

President of Art Docents of Los Gatos

December Brings Holiday Happenings!

Art Docents are….

“Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead” 

Secondly it’s that time of year that we enjoy our annual Holiday Party.  

We will be honoring both new docents and those who have their 5, 15, and 20 year anniversaries.

….it’s such a nice chance to say thanks to all those who volunteer and are part of our program for many years!In January our newest Docents will head out into the classrooms

to carry on with teaching Art to the students of Los Gatos Union School District.  

Congratulate our “new” Art Docents, formerly our 2017 Training Class. 

Many thanks to our Trainers

Traci M., Janice J. & Julie H.

Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

From my November Art Challenge….I will sign off by posting my picture inspired by Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom From Want” Genre Painting.

I’m thankful for my family and all the volunteers who make the Art Docents’ a great program!

Julie Ferrario,

President of the Art Docents of Los Gatos