Night of the Arts 2017

Self portraits, some in progress

Coffee Can Still Life

Some amazing still life work from RRG Freshmen students 2016-17. These are 1st year art students. A perfect example of why students should have the option to take art throughout high school, not only one year. Talent like this needs to built and encouraged in school, not exposed then thrown away. Unfortunately, these students of mine will not be taking art ever again in high school after their freshmen year unless they pursue it on their own time, take it privately, or switch schools. The schools in NYC that offer advanced art classes with required prerequisites are scarce and often difficult to get into. These are Title 1 students and do not have the finances to pursue art privately. Would you believe art is not an option to all students once they complete one year of it in public schools? NYC is one of the art capitals of the world. This is not equality for all students. #equalityforallstudents #brianbachisin #rrghst
#rrgart #highschoolart #nycart

Mixed Media Workshop

Consistent and constant communication is essential in the working relationship between teachers, parents, and students and leads to a smoother roadway to success for students. RRGHST offered an art workshop for parents that I was fortunate enough to facilitate. We had a peaceful evening of creating art together and got to all go home with a masterpiece!

Abstract/ POP Projects

By Carmen, Samayah, Hannah, and Chioma

By Oleksii

Dimitri, Rachel, and Kiara with some powerful imagery

Work by Melissa, Thania, Gardenia, and Adlin

Frida, Alejandra, Angel, and Mario layering bursts of color and gradation


 

Here are some finished products of the Abstract / POP Projects done in Studio Art 1. Seeing these in a photo does not do them justice because the actual size of most of these are 48"x 24" where the contrasting colors really pop. The individual projects are a smaller size of 12"x 18" or paired projects at 24"x 18".
Doing this project for numerous years I get to see how popular influences on our students change, differ, and have stayed the same since I was a kid. Such influences include super heroes old and new, musical tastes, fads, clothing lines, technology, television, film, and literature. The personal statements students made through their artwork range from happiness to humorous to dramatic to terrifying.
Some powerful images include our presidential candidates as villains surrounded by superheroes. A faceless black man in a hoodie in broken chains with a gun pointed at his head encapsulates the discrimination and violence we encounter too often in the present day. Biggee, Tupac, an old boom box, headphones, and a Compton lid are exhibited to let us know that old school hip hop culture hasn't been lost by this generation. Minions are funny enough as is, but a blue minion with fangs? Who doesn't like minions? Darth Vader riding T-Rex and Clifford the Dog being jumped by anime characters would make a fantastic story line too. There is a little something for everybody in these projects. Way to go RRG artists and thank you for collaborating, staying on task, following through, and delighting us with these amazing works of art.

Abstract/ POP Art Projects

Super heroes warding off corruption, by Hannah, Joshua, and Julian

Work by Hadiya, Trezell, Noelia, and Jerry

BLM 

By Kimberly Serrano

Work by Gisell

Here are some finished products of the Abstract / POP Projects done in Studio Art 1. Seeing these in a photo does not do them justice because the actual size of most of these are 48"x 24" where the contrasting colors really pop. The individual projects are a smaller size of 12"x 18" or paired projects at 24"x 18".
Doing this project for numerous years I get to see how popular influences on our students change, differ, and have stayed the same since I was a kid. Such influences include super heroes old and new, musical tastes, fads, clothing lines, technology, television, film, and literature. The personal statements students made through their artwork range from happiness to humorous to dramatic to terrifying.
Some powerful images include our presidential candidates as villains surrounded by superheroes. A faceless black man in a hoodie in broken chains with a gun pointed at his head encapsulates the discrimination and violence we encounter too often in the present day. Biggee, Tupac, an old boom box, headphones, and a Compton lid are exhibited to let us know that old school hip hop culture hasn't been lost by this generation. Minions are funny enough as is, but a blue minion with fangs? Who doesn't like minions?

Visual Journaling

15 minute writing reflection by Telaja Paige

"Kissed" backgrounds and collage created  in Advisory

Reflection on the studio process and subject matter

Andy Warhol artist study done as a journal page for our POP Unit

Response to journal prompts as a post project activity

One question Studio Art students are focusing on for the year is, "How could students use low stake writing to express their ideas about their own artwork and their progress as artists?" Visual journaling has become an integral part of the learning process in my art curriculum this year. NYC Art Teachers have been seeing and analyzing amazing journals at the citywide art PD's for the past two years. I am so proud of the efforts and results so far this year by freshmen art students and how I finally have integrated this into the coursework. Here are a few examples.

Visual Journals

One of many pages by student artist Anissa Middleton

Advisory journals

Beautiful pages by Jaralmi Lugo explaining process

POW! BOOM!  By Julian Morales

POP study using collage in journaling

One question Studio Art students are focusing on for the year is, "How could students use low stake writing to express their ideas about their own artwork and their progress as artists?" Visual journaling has become an integral part of the learning process in my art curriculum this year. We have been seeing and analyzing amazing journals at the citywide art PD's for the past two years. I am so proud of the efforts and results so far this year by freshmen art students and how I finally have integrated this into the coursework. Here are a few examples.

Freshmen repping RRG Art with a BOOM!!!

Meg Queener consciously working blacks and grays for her  abstract version of the astounding Broadway Musical Hamilton

A little South Park humor with a small detail of this piece by by Crisleidy, Mia, Tyree, and Alex 

Getting busy in the art studio

Hadiya, Trezell, and Noelia letting people know that minions are alive and well. 

Amazing natural talent from this group as Anissa and Dominic are engaged in visual journals.

The 2016-17 freshmen were assigned to create Abstract /POP art using line, shapes, color, patterns, value and favorite images from present day POP culture for their first project. Some classes worked in groups, some individually, and some in pairs. We critiqued the work of Sailor Jerry, Jackson Pollack, Picasso, Ed Hardy, and Andy Warhol to name a few. We brainstormed books, music, tv, film, and logos to chooses POP culture imagery for our projects.
Wow! These drawings are starting off with a boom! Powerful imagery through colorful abstraction and careful sketching is being exhibited by these freshmen. The talent and effort is shining through the first half of this project alone. Here are some works in progress and get ready for the next post of final projects.
#brianbachisin #rrgart #rrghst #studioart #artontoast