{"id":13225,"date":"2025-02-19T09:32:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T14:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=13225"},"modified":"2025-02-19T09:35:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T14:35:30","slug":"guest-artist-ignites-students-creativity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/guest-artist-ignites-students-creativity\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest artist ignites students\u2019 creativity"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Students drew on a blank canvas of white paper that covered the atrium floor at Old Donation School Feb. 7, while others watched the abstract art piece come to life from the third floor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Cindy Butler Focke<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Chaos erupted on purpose recently at Old Donation School.<\/p>\n

Students descended upon a 24 by 28-foot canvas and began drawing in the school\u2019s atrium on Feb. 7.<\/p>\n

Their task \u2013 according to abstract artist Taylor Anton White \u2013 was to draw a picture of two people assembling a chair.<\/p>\n

He described the largescale project as \u201ca drawing experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea is how far collectively you can deviate from the prompt,\u201d he told students.<\/p>\n

Eighth graders Rohini Vanama, Ciyan Chan, Allyson Carlisle and Kiara Singh joined forces and created a smiling strawberry with two sharks on either side.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe kind of combined everything and added random elements,\u201d Kiara said.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly what White had in mind when he encouraged students to divert from the original idea.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From left, guest abstract artist Taylor White brought a unique art project to ODS that involved the entire school community. Middle school art teachers Andy Harris and Leigh Drake said the project allowed students to expand their creativity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Andy Harris is friends with White and a fan of his work. The ODS middle school visual arts educator invited him to spend the day as the school\u2019s guest artist.<\/p>\n

About every hour, sixth, seventh and eighth grade art classes took turns expressing themselves on the paper.<\/p>\n

They scribbled and drew whatever popped into their heads and used a variety of media, such as crayons, markers and charcoal.<\/p>\n

The artwork, a mishmash of people, places and things, was constantly transformed.<\/p>\n

Some students pasted paper on top of other\u2019s drawings and created something different. There were no rules, except for being school-appropriate.<\/p>\n

Leigh Drake, who also teaches middle school art at Old Donation, said they wanted a collaborative idea to involve and engage the entire school community.<\/p>\n

Students in the school\u2019s gifted visual arts and dance programs also participated. Others watched the artwork come to life.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From left: ODS eighth grade art students Allyson Carlisle, Ciyan Chan, Rohini Vanama, and Kiara Singh drew a strawberry adorned by sharks as part of the art exercise led by guest artist Taylor White.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Seventh grader Amelia Valentin-Machado said she was mesmerized by the art activity.\u00a0 \u201cYou have no idea what\u2019s going on,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can see a walrus and two seconds later it could be a backpack. It\u2019s crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asher Martin drew a large smiley face. \u201cIt\u2019s a fun way to express myself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The sixth grader said the project was not what he expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s different that someone tells us to purposely go outside the lines.\u201d<\/p>\n

White, a Richmond resident, served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Eventually he studied art in college, which he said changed his life.<\/p>\n

About 10 years ago \u2013 in his mid-30s \u2013 he became a full-time professional artist. His creations are exhibited in galleries worldwide.<\/p>\n

White\u2019s bio on the website of the Pulpo Gallery in Germany notes that his art \u201cdefies categorization, juxtaposing text, found objects and imagery such as cars, landscapes and inanimate objects, sometimes all within a single work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harris and Drake said the day was a success.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Students rotated about every hour throughout the day Feb.7 to work on a large paper canvas at ODS. They were encouraged to deviate from the task of drawing a picture of two people assembling a chair.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cStudents had the ability to take risks without judgment and be part of something bigger than themselves,\u201d Drake said.<\/p>\n

They were encouraged not to worry about what they considered a good or bad drawing, Harris said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe pushed students to let go of those constraints and to freely make marks to see what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

He compared it to problem solving. Sometimes it\u2019s best to take a break and return to look at something in a totally different way, he said.<\/p>\n

Harris said White has a unique style and the ability to lead students in new ways of thinking about art.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis creative perspective mixed with a crazy work ethic inspires everyone he meets.\u201d<\/p>\n

The plan is to display the finished graffiti-like art project in a local gallery.<\/p>\n

View the time lapsed video of the Old Donation art project in the making (about six hours of creation in 100 seconds): https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1vprqMPKjwiX8zwV_fsbaGAc6gEjGHL9F\/view?usp=sharing<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
ODS students worked with all types of media on a Feb. 7 abstract art project in the school\u2019s atrium, under the guidance of guest artist Taylor White.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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