“Art Museum” held at Thirkill

Through a grant from Art Works, students at Thirkill elementary were treated to a special course in art from the Museum of Art in Idaho Falls.  The museum, which bills itself as the “only art museum in Eastern Idaho” is both a gallery space and an educational facility.  Through its work, it provides remote clinics to some of the more rural schools throughout this region of the state.  Whether there may technically be other facilities that qualify as “art museums” or not in Eastern Idaho, the Museum of Art is certainly the largest and most well-equipped.  The permanent location in Idaho Falls includes 5 galleries, an interactive learning/art area, a classroom/workshop, and a gift store.  The Museum explains that it “serves as a cultural gathering place where individuals of all ages and abilities gain confidence and independence in the creative process through exploration and self-expression.”  

Last week, the gathering place was taken to the students themselves in Soda Springs.  “This has been really fun,” PTO Secretary Amanda Larsen said.  She was one of the many parents and volunteers in the cafeteria to help students participate in the museum.  “It’s going well, and they’re having a good time learning.”  

Larsen went on to explain some of the practical issues that led to the experience being brought into the school.  “With the money we earned from the running last year, we wanted to bring a good experience to the kids.  This is our ‘wish year’ and so this is one of the wishes we granted.  The art museum is in here for kindergarten and third and fourth grades.  They [museum teachers] are coming back on April 1 for first and second grade.  The fourth grade is also going to be taking a field trip to the museum.  We’re glad we get to do this!”

Art educator Jamie Blake spent the morning and afternoon at Thirkill where she presented an overview of art concepts and techniques to curious students.  The various kinds of mediums that artists might use were discussed, as well as the idea of how the work of artists can change over time to reflect different life experiences and approaches.

Students were first given a lesson in some art techniques and media, and then given the chance to put that learning into practice and generate a landscape artwork.  

Parent helper Alison Allen explained that Blake had brought in “different types of paintings.  They learned about the color wheel, and different types of art.”   

Students were given time to work on their own project, which involved using oil pastels to create a landscape which could either attempt to be abstract in nature, or realistic.  In some case, the direction was clear, while in others a certain mélange of both approached could be seen.  “It looks like there’s about an even split between the two types,” Blake said, walking among the various projects.  Some students used the opportunity to create and develop a completely imaginary place from whole cloth, while others attempted to capture the look and feeling of places that were meaningful to them.

A wide range of styles from the large and colorful to the finely detailed and subdued was on display.  And in fact, the second half of the event involved students displaying their art for each other to examine.  With their art works set up on tables throughout the cafeteria, students “toured” the output of their classmates, pointing excitedly at the creations they especially liked and talking about their own artwork with one another.

Throughout the event, parent volunteers, teachers, school staff, and others helped coordinate and manage the large room full of energetic kids.  Members of the PTO like Amanda Larsen were there to help out, as well as to see how the students reacted to the museum’s visit, which was supported through a combination of different resources at the school. 

Blake explained that “We are able to travel around to different elementary art classrooms within the Southeast Idaho area to teach them more about art and get them exposed to it.  It’s technically third and fourth grade classrooms that we go to.  But because Soda Springs is a rural area they qualify for all of the grades to get classroom time.”

In recounting the content of the lesson, Blake stated that “We talked about the different elements of art, the color wheel, and how artists change their style throughout their lifetime.  Then we let them choose between an abstract and a realistic landscape.  It’s about half and half usually.  We also like to give them access to materials that maybe they don’t use at home.  So right now we’re using pastels today.”

The final element of the event gives students a chance to show off what they’ve done.  “When they’re done creating, we’re going to quietly walk around and look at everyone’s artwork, so they everyone has a chance to observe what everyone else has created.”

Blake is an outreach educator at the Art Museum and is herself is a water color artist.

With curricular funds across the state for things like art and music always being scarce, experiences like this one are very important for providing a rounded approach to content within the schools.  Based on the reactions of the students to the “art museum,” the effects were very positive.